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DevonTravelKT
Exmouth, United Kingdom

Amazing experience

4.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 5 Jan 2025via mobile
We travelled to Bears lodge at the start of December, however like many I was sat in Tui the day before we travelled in tears due to the snow melting.
We flew just after 6am from Bristol so it was a very long day for our small children. We arrived at the hotel to what I can only describe as chaos. Lots of people arriving at the same time all crammed in a very small space. Luckily after queuing for half an hour we were told our lodge was actually ready early.
The lodges are in the most beautiful location and were spotless. We had a small kitchenette which was handy for preparing snacks for the children. I couldn’t fault it at all.
My main gripe was the food. It was poor. As a vegetarian one night the only option was soup as dishes were not replenished (even if you asked). I asked for some bread to accompany my soup and after 45 minutes gave up.
I have a very fussy 4 year old who hardly ate a thing the whole time we were there. When I asked if there was something else she could have I was told a blunt ‘no’. The reason I asked as a previous reviewer said the staff accommodated a fellow fussy child. One night the chips were so overcooked they were not even edible.
The festive finale however was lovely (just no veggie gravy but that’s fine) I had a carrot gratin which was really tasty.
Waiting staff were rude, dismissive and muttered under their breath. I always treat others as I wish to be treated so always act in a polite way so I found it rather odd that they were so rude at times.
We did a walk around the lake in daylight and in the dark and toasted marshmallows by the lake. We spent a day sledging down onto the lake which was so much fun.
We also ventured out to SCV, very commercialised but ticked the boxes for our little ones (reindeers, Mrs Claus, sending postcards to family).
All in all an amazing trip and amazing memories for our children.
Special thanks to the lovely handyman/groundsman who despite limited English was so friendly and helpful.
Date of stay: December 2024
Room Tip: Take snacks
Trip type: Travelled with family
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Siina Bear's Lodge, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapland Hotel Bear's Lodge, responded to this review
Responded 12 Jan 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and we’re glad to hear that you and your children had some wonderful experiences during your stay at Bears Lodge.

It’s great to know you enjoyed the location and cleanliness of the lodges, as well as the activities like the walk around the lake, toasting marshmallows, and sledging – those sound like memorable moments for the family!

However, we are genuinely sorry to hear about your dining experience. We completely understand how frustrating it must have been to face limited options and delays, especially when traveling with young children and dietary needs. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the lapses in service and the lack of appropriate food options, particularly as a vegetarian. We strive to accommodate all guests, and we’ll certainly take your comments on board to improve our food service in the future, including the speed of replenishment and staff responsiveness. We will also review staff training to ensure that everyone maintains a polite and professional demeanor at all times.

We truly appreciate your understanding and your recognition of the positive aspects of your stay, as well as the kind mention of our handyman/groundsman. Your feedback helps us to continually improve and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future for an even better experience.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
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Reviewed 27 December 2024 via mobile

It advertises as a 3 star and that’s accurate on the most part. The positive is its location, I would be happy driving up to the hotel expecting 5 star. The hotel and lake it sits on is stunning.

The small gripes. Rooms are basic quality but perfectly fine. The reception is very small and they don’t seem to open up some of the other areas when busy which would be a quick win. The hotel through the winter is just full of people on package holidays with lots of activities managed by the travel company (we were included in those numbers) so it does get very busy at times.

Our biggest issue was with the evening staff letting people get far too rowdy and letting kids and adults bang around the corridors till 2am. We explained the issue to the staff on the first night, it died down the second night and the 3rd night was even worse.

On balance I probably wouldn’t to the hotel again but they did have around 6 cabins that are of course a premium and we would keep them in mind for any potential future trips.

Date of stay: December 2024
Trip type: Travelled with family
Thank 932jefferyp
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siina Bear's Lodge, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapland Hotel Bear's Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded 28 December 2024

Thank you so much for your review. Nice to hear that the location met your expectations. However, we apologise for the inconvenience and we will try to improve our services in the future!

You are warmly welcome to stay with us the next time!

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Reviewed 21 December 2024 via mobile

This hotel has an amazing situation in a beautiful frozen lake surrounded by beautiful trees. If you plan your trip will you can have amazing experiences, snowmobiling, husky and reindeer sleigh rides and more.

The lodges are lovely with log fires and sauna’s, some have jacuzzi baths.

However, the food provided by the hotel is simply the poorest I’ve had at any hotel and the staff give the impression they do not want to be there.

If you take children as a Christmas treat I recommend you take your own sledges as they are not provided… which I cannot understand.

Overlook the poor food and hospitality, which you can because it is a winter wonderland and you’ll have a great time.

Room tip: Book a lodge if you can, it will make your holiday much better.
Date of stay: December 2024
Trip type: Travelled with family
Thank jonathanb781
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siina Bear's Lodge, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapland Hotel Bear's Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded 22 December 2024


Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed the stunning location and the amazing experiences like snowmobiling, husky rides, and the beautiful lodges. We’re sorry to hear that the food and hospitality didn’t meet your expectations, and we appreciate your comments as we always strive to improve. Despite these challenges, we’re happy you were able to embrace the magic of Winter Wonderland and have a great time! We hope to welcome you back again for a more enjoyable stay.

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Reviewed 18 December 2024

Arrived at Winter Wonderland hotel for three day Santa Lapland trip. Absolutely stunning scenery en route, beautiful approach to hotel amidst the snow covered trees, wonderfully lit up with festive lights. Waited a while until rooms were ready however, collected full snowsuit and accessories from warehouse during bus ride from airport, so everyone got kitted out in their clothing gear and went out to the winter slides. On check in and access to the rooms, everything really clean, beds comfy, plenty of extra bedding if needed and easy access to all areas. Great fun for all ages and children so excited to be in the snow. Fantastic activities arranged and visits made to various experiences. Excellent indoor and outdoor activities put on for daytime and evening at the Hotel, including Captain T performances, fun and games, singing, dancing, silent disco and even a game show for the grown-ups. Outside was sledging, snow mobile for children, marshmallow toasting, snowman competition, warm drinks, festive music playing throughout. Children thoroughly entertained over three days within and outside the hotel. All of the TUI representatives and TUI elves and entertainers were professional, polite, full of fun with the children, stayed in character and provided a magical experience. Food at the hotel was beautiful, plentiful and catered to dietary needs. There was even an ‘aurora borealis’ monitor by staff to provide alerts for potential sightings, of which we viewed some spectacular scenes. An absolutely amazing time and would love to return. Thank you so much!

Date of stay: December 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank 707shirleyb
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siina Bear's Lodge, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapland Hotel Bear's Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded 22 December 2024

Thank you for this wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that you had such a magical Christmas holiday at Bear's Lodge. It sounds like you made the most of all the activities, both inside and outside the hotel, and that your children had a fantastic time in the snow. We're also delighted that you enjoyed the food, entertainment, and the special touches like the aurora borealis monitor. We’d love to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience! Thank you for sharing your memories with us!

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Reviewed 18 December 2024

We’ve just returned from a 3 night stay at Bears Lodge (Winter Wonderland) with TUI. I’d read some mixed reviews so was a bit apprehensive, but can honestly say our stay was just magical from start to finish. The hotel itself is set round a frozen lake within a forest. The scenery was spectacular and it was very cosy at night with twinkly fairy lights outside. We stayed in a log cabin complete with log fire and sauna. The cabin was so warm and cosy and very clean. I really wouldn’t call it basic like some of the reviews I’d read. My children (and us!) enjoyed tobogganing down the hill onto the frozen lake. We also really enjoyed the food. Again, some of the reviews had said the food wasn’t the best, but it was honestly so good… really tasty and lots of different options, including plenty of options for gluten free people (like me). Breakfast was also delicious, again with lots of options including full English, continental, porridge and different types of homemade bread.

The Tui day was absolutely amazing… one of the best days of my life! We did so much in the day (husky ride, Santa visit, reindeer visit / talk, ginger bread decorating, elf school) and it was extremely well organised. The snowmobile ride to see Santa made me quite emotional. The secluded location made it feel very special and intimate. I snuck my children’s letters to Santa to the elf who greeted us outside his cabin and Santa welcomed them in by name. There was also a good balance between outdoor/indoor activities so we weren’t out in the cold for too long. The elves and the reps made the day really fun. My children really enjoyed playing in the snow with them.

I’m so pleased I booked Bears Lodge with Tui. It exceeded our expectations and I can’t really find the words to say how wonderful it was. Just pure magic!

Date of stay: December 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank RCoulsting
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siina Bear's Lodge, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapland Hotel Bear's Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded 22 December 2024

Thank you so much for this incredible review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your stay at Bears Lodge exceeded your expectations and that you had such a magical experience. It's wonderful to know that the beautiful setting, cosy cabin, and the variety of activities all contributed to making your trip unforgettable. We're also so glad to hear that the food and TUI day were highlights for you and your family. It sounds like you truly embraced the Winter Wonderland experience! We hope to welcome you back again for more magical memories in the future. Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback!

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Reviewed 18 December 2024

A bit of a long review but hope it helps.
We have just returned from Winter Wonderland hotel holiday via TUI, with our 3 children 10, 8 and 5. This was our 2nd visit, with the 1st being when we got married there 9 years ago. We didn’t think this could top the last one. How wrong we were. It was simply mind blowing.

We arrived at Birmingham airport and were greeted by TUI reps and elves who entertained the kids with magic and games. Which helped break up the time before the flight.

On the plane we sang songs and were given an activity pack which helped keep the little ones occupied. We also had a mini English breakfast which was nice and filled a space.

Upon landing we had to jump on a bendy bus to the terminal (which we were pleased with as it was -28c) and then through passport control (which took ages). After grabbing our cases and being directed to the coach, we stopped off at the clothing warehouse for people to get snow suits and other bits if they needed them but there wasn’t time to try them on. My wife was given a suit which was too big and we were able to exchange it at the hotel the next morning (only available for certain times).

On the coach on the way to the hotel (all in all about 40 mins travel time), we sang more songs and got some info about the stay. Yes they talked about booking excursions but wasn’t too full on.

When we arrived at the hotel, which is in the middle of a stunning forest next to a beautiful lake, around 4pm for check in, we were greeted with a white landscape, primarily frozen snow and lake but still looked spectacular.

To note they brought all the cases up from the car park to the hotel door which was a nice touch.

After checking in we grab our bags and went to our rooms (we had 2, one with 3 single beds and one with 2). The rooms are basic but warm and have tv, kettle and hair dryer and some of the best hotel showers I’ve ever used.

We then got in our snow suits and when bum boarding on the hill down to the frozen lake. The kids loved it. The hotel provided the bum boards.

Next was off to dinner. The hotel has 2 restaurants but both serve the same food, with the upstairs being a bit more private dining style and downstairs being more large tables and sharing.
We enjoyed the food which ranged from salad and pasta and meats to chips and nuggets, with nice simple desserts and plenty soft drinks. Our kids, who are usually very fussy, always managed to find something to eat. They also provide lactose free and a lot of gluten free options. And of course they have a couple of bars however the prices (across Lapland I think) we quite high. Also to not we soon reloaded to just wear what you want, no formal dress code.

As for entertainment the TUI team were genuinely awesome, really getting involved with the kids and making them laugh all the time (and most
Importantly trying to tire them out!).
In the afternoons and evenings there is always something going on from roasting marshmallows to sledging, hockey, kids snow mobiles on the lake, to dance alongs and activities in the evening.

On the morning of our 1st full day, we woke up to fresh snow and quite a bit at that. We went down for breakfast as we had to be on the coach early for our Santa day. Firstly the breakfast has a good choice with eggs, bacon, sausages, potatoes, cereals, toast etc. and most importantly plenty of coffee! Again always found something to eat.

We then headed off on the coach (15min journey to the Santa day) of course singing more songs! I won’t go into the activities too much as I don’t want to ruin the day however I will say it completely blew our minds and exceeded all our expectations. There is a stop mid way through to get warm and have a drink if you want and late lunch is provided back at the hotel at the end of the activities.
All in all the day / activities lasted around 4 1/2 hours.

After the lunch we then spent most of the afternoon either bum boarding, roasting marshmallows or playing in the snow.

I will add at this stage that I can not fault the Santa day or the TUI team, I don’t think it would have been anywhere near as magical without the fresh snow fall or the lake being frozen / safe to be on , so that is a big consideration.

The evening meal was much the same good food, with more bum boarding and snow play after. We then went down to the evening entertainment where the kids went feral but had a great time.
Mid way the entertainment through however the rep advised us that we may be able to see the northern lights. We made our way down to the car park and managed to get some pictures of the aurora.

The last full day / free day we spent at Santa Park. I’m only adding this to advise that if you want to go to anywhere in or around Rovaniemi such as Santa Park or Santa Clause Village etc not through TUI, it will be approx €90 to €110 taxi each way depending on number of people. You can book the taxis through the hotel reception and through the taxi drivers.

There was then the Festive Finale which was a Christmas meal which again want bad, some cabaret and then earlier evening entertainment.

The final day was travelling back very early with an hour trip to Santa Clause Village for some last minute shopping (not enough time to do / see everything) To note if you are the early bus like we were some shops weren’t open.

Some final recommendations / advice
* Have a neck warmer / snood
* Tap water is safe to drink
* Take lip cream / Vaseline due to cold and room air is dry
* Take bottles of water for all activities
* Prices for the same things increase at SCV and airport
* Wear 2 pairs of thick socks. Especially for the kids as made a huge difference for them
* Also for the kids I’d recommend thermal base, track suit and then snow suit depending on the temperature
* Order taxis via reception for a fixed rate
* Download the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts
* Keep an eye on the many notice boards for announcements

I’d like to add that yes the TUI excursions are more expensive then if you do DIY however the TUI ones usually have transfers included and an elf / guide.

Finally I wish to say a huge thank you to the TUI reps, entertainment team and elves, you guys are nuts!!! (But amazing)

Date of stay: December 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
1  Thank Quinlovin
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siina Bear's Lodge, Guest Services / Front Office at Lapland Hotel Bear's Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded 22 December 2024

Hello! Thank you for your thorough review and nice words, we are looking forward to seeing you again here some day!

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