Hi,

Holiday Club Kuusamo is really in the middle of nowhere, I would not choose that. Iso-Syote I don't know about.

Pyha has nice slopes for more 'advanced' skiers but there really is not much more than just the hotel and the slopes.

Ruka is a little bigger resort and it has easier slopes too for beginners. Ruka Suites is situated almost perfectly in the 'other' side of the central square. Not ski in - ski

out, but almost. Out of your short list, I'd choose Ruka.

I would consider even staying in Rovaniemi http://www.laplandhotels.com/?deptid=8461

Slopes OK for beginners and only a few km's outside the city, giving more possibilities for non-skiers.

Note that in Jan it will be cold and dark in Lapland.

we have just returned from Holiday Club in Kuusamo and had a fantastic holiday. You do have to get a ski bus to Ruka for the ski-ing but the slopes are wide and open. In the Holiday Club area we found plenty to do. We tried cross country ski-ing (from the door) a couple of times, we went dog sledding and snow mobiling. My husband went ice carting and tobogganing. We were able to go swimming every evening and then a sauna before dinner. We have come home for a rest!! It was very cold but appropriate gear is issued when you go out on snowmobiles, sleds etc. A balaclava is a necessity as are thermals and the camera needs to be kept inside the clothes or the cold affects it temporarily. However the sun was shining and it was quite an experience. Other guests who ski-ed or snow boarded every day would still go back there because of the setting and other activities. It is also only a 10 minute transfer from the small airport. Have fun (as we did)

Hello,

In your case I would opt for Ruka. I have understood that UK tourists like Ruka when I have read all kind of forum discussions. I have seen very little negative comments. I was in Ruka 3 years ago in April and it was fine.

I think a chalet nearby the slopes would be best but that’s rather expensive. So why not the Ruka Suites?

Ruka is a large place so I think you don’t have problems with queues to the lifts. I would avoid the periods when the Finns have there Easter or winter holidays. Then it can be busier than normal but I think it would not be so big problem there. If someone knows more about this please tell. I would like to hear that experience too.

If you are beginner in skiing it is better to ski on the slopes of Eastern Ruka (Ruka Itä and Vuosseli on the slope map of the Ruka www-site). There are nice and long blue slopes and there is also a slope restaurant called SkiBistro with a terrace and a nice view to the slopes.

Then about the weather. I have lived one year in Lapland so I have some experience in that. I do not want to scare with the weather but I prefer to go to Lapland in March or in April. More light and the risk for very cold is minor.

If you travel to Ruka in January or in February for one week there is a risk of maybe 20 percent that you have some afternoons with -25 or even -35 degrees. It can be also colder and for even for the whole month but then you have very bad luck. For extreme cold days you can find there something else to do than skiing.

Here you find some information in English about December weather in Finland:

http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate_11.html

Good luck for you journey!

Sorry, a little correction to my last message. My expression was little bit inaccurate.

In January or in February it can not be colder than -35 for the whole month. Ruka is not Siberia.

Some days or maybe one week it can be -40 but not for the whole month. But it can be beetween -25 and -35 for the whole month. Please tell if somebody disagrees.

Yes, I agree about the possible weather conditions. Better prepare for the extreme cold and then have a nice surprise than the other way round.

Sun does not get much over the horizon in Jan, so days will be short.

Technically Ruka is not in Lapland. The scenery around Ruka is forest. In Ivalo/Saariselka there will be more open landscape, the kind you usually see in Lapland brochures.

We went on a family holiday in January to Ruka with Inghams. I would really recommend Ruka, we had a fantastic holiday and would not hesitate to return there, in fact I don't think I would consider anywhere else now for a ski holiday. We stayed at the Rukahovi hotel which was great maybe next time I might consider tying the ruka suites or the chalets. There is plenty of things to do if not skiing, we went on mini husky and reindeer safaris and will definatley go on longer ones next time. Wish we had gone out on skidoos (one for next time I think). Skiing was great, it was the kids first time and they loved it. There were no queues to talk of even when the resort guide had mentioned that the slopes would be busy due to it being a bank holiday weekend. Very quiet slopes which was fantastic and a dream to ski on. My husband has just come back from the French Alps and said the ski queues there were a nightmare compared with Ruka. Weather was cold but not as cold as I had expected it to be. The three layer method is a must. We took our camcorder and camera and had no trouble with them freezing or playing up, just keep them next to you, under your jacket and take them out when you want to film etc.

Hope this helps and have a fantastic holiday!

We are also plannig a trip to Helsinki in Jan. 2007 (4 people)and we are thinking of travelling to Kuusamo to stay at Holiday club Kuusamon Tropiikki as we are RCI timeshare members and it's on our listings.We don't ski, so don't need the slopes ,but we do want to see the Northern Lights and take a reindeer and husky sled trip.do we need to travel out of Helsinki to do these things?If so how long does it take and how much does it cost to travel from Helsinki to Kuusamo -Train or Plane? Is the local airport operating at that time of year. How much does the reindeer and husky rides cost eachfor about 1-2 hours? -many thanks Sharon, Australia

"we do want to see the Northern Lights and take a reindeer and husky sled trip.do we need to travel out of Helsinki to do these things?"

Yes, most likely. Reindeer sledges I've only seen up north, huskys are rare also here in southern Finland.

Northern lights, that varies, but they are definitely more common in Lapland. I've never seen them and I've been in Lapland quite a few times, so can't promise you seeing them.

I'd fly to Kuusamo, it's less than an hour. See www.finnair.fi. Yes, the airfield will be open during the winter season.

Driving from Helsinki takes 8-10 hours and the train I'd guess about the same.

thanks for your prompt response- do you know the prices of the reindeer/dog rides or if not , do you know any websites I can access for more info and prices?

funny how my reply is posted at 8.04 pm -here in Melbourne it's 10.05 am Thursday-Would love as much info.as possible or websites for lapland day tours we are thinking of staying at the holiday club Kuusamon Tropiikki which i believe is 3.5 KMs from Kuusamo is this correct? how hard is it to drive on the roads there for that distance in January?Is it worth car hire?