The hotel is situated right by the big lake. The rooms are small but neatly organized. The owner was super nice to us and told us about attractions to see when we were staying there. Also she cooks like a godess: I recommend eating dinner in house when you are staying there.
Breakfast is served on a plate and varys every morning.
A sauna with jacuzzi can be rented (70 €). The sauna is in a separate building, the jacuzzi is outdoors.
We have just returned from a lovely stay at Aurora Estate. The hotel is in a great location right on a frozen lake which is a magnificent viewing point for the northern lights. Really close to the ski resort and a few bars and restaurants. We hired our own car which I would recommend. The owners and restaurant staff were all accommodating and couldn't do enough for you, willing to do anything they could to make your stay great and organised our safari for us. The room was quite small but decorated nicely and really cosy, we even got a view of the aurora from our bed! The food is all made from scratch and it shows, its amazing! We loved the wine too. Everything about this hotel is perfect. The only slight disappointment was the price to use the hot tub and sauna. It's €70 per room and maybe could be a little cheaper then it might get more use. I think most hotels in the area have free private saunas. Other than that we loved our stay and will be back! Holly and Richard xx
Aurora Estate is located on a big lake near Yllas ski area. However, the location in winter isn't very attractive at first sight. It's just off the main road, on the midst of a (windy) plain. In the immediate vicinity of a roadside cafe, a scooter rental outfit, a gas station and a few other randomly placed houses. Our welcoming at the estate felt as cool as the winter plains! We just got our room key and a few curt instructions what not to do (i.e. smoke on the balcony). Our room was very small (13m), no place to put our suitcases, also due to a big, rustique, wobbly wooden clothes rack (with dangerous points attached to it), that doubled as a cupboard. A chest of drawers, a chair and 2 beds (with synthetic duvets) completed the room. Very low windows (under the eaves), so had to bent to our knees to look outside. Bathroom small, but adequate, with a good shower. Sauna and (much promoted) hot tub have to booked in advance and paid for extra: 70E for 2 persons!! And that on top of the 13m room price of 178E. In the end we decided not to have dinner in the restaurant (although it's featured as good), because of the unfriendly ambience. We experienced the restaurant for breakfast the next morning. A really great view towards the lake, seeing the rising orange, red sun (we had luck: a clear day). Breakfast itself (served - no buffet) wasn't sumptuous. For the 2 of us: half a plate of salad, a bit of omelet with sausages/bacon, a couple of mini croissants and 2 pieces of bread and a small bowl of yoghurt. I asked for a second serving of yoghurt, which clearly wasn't appreciated (but served). All in all, it's an ok place (the design is good, it's clean), but the location is off track: 15 minutes drive to ski area Yllas and 45 minutes to ski area Levi. Not enough value for money, certainly not if you compare it to lively, pittoresque Levi, where you can get more spacious, luxurious dwellings for less money.
Hi,
Aurora Estate is located at original Ylläsjärvi village and the buildings around have been built in an original style, how ever our yard and close surroundings are traditional lappish village style.
To my first impression you seemed, really happy about the place and everything we we´re talking quite a while at you room after I had taken you there, helping with you luggage. I was telling you all the same things that we tell to all of our guests, including the fact that smoking at the balcony is not allowed because the ventilation system in right above it and also there is two rooms on both sides and if they have open windows, the smoke goes in the rooms. You seemed really happy about everything at your arrival and at the time we were talking by the room we were laughing together.
Our interior has been greately valued especially the clothing racks, which are part of our community history. Unfortunately we can´t please everyone with our interior solutions, but this far everyones loved it all.
As you asked of the sauna, it had a booking but as I told you, there was a second time avalable that day later. We do take all the bookings to sauna and unfortunately it´s not avalable all the time, since it is very popular with the jacuzzi.
That 70€ (for our hotel guests) includes 2 hr private time in sauna and Jacuzzi, heating, cleaning, shampoo, soap, towels, firewood for fireplace and towels.
I am sorry that you felt that it was unfriendly ambiance, for what we recall our converstions about everythin we´re very nice and we told that we can also tell you about other restaurants at Ylläs area, if you don´t want to eat with us. We don´t expect our guests to always eat with us and are glad to tell about other services in the area too.
Our breakfast is highly liked too and it´s always prepared as the guests arrive to make sure it´s all fresh. And everythin you can get more absolutely, and as I my self was at the breakfast, I recall asking you if I could bring you something more, as I did the youghurt and coffee as you requested. As you propably noticed we also serve high quality Nespresso coffee at breakfast
From our place it´s 3 minutes drive (4km) to ski resort. And cross country ski tracks go 200m from us, as the snowmobile track too.
Levi is a very different type of ski resort from Ylläs yes, and really nice place too.
Ylläs is more authentic and original and levi is more built Alpine style.
All and all, I am are sorry that you felt this way and hope that you come and visit us again. Also I am sorry that we didn´t have any idea of your feelings so we could´ve somehow helped at the time you were visiting us.
Warm regards
Heidi
I visited this picturesque hotel for one night and it was probably the best hotel experience I have ever had. The overall atmosphere and also the food was so surprisingly good that I just have to recommend this place for everybody.
I arrived after a long trip from North Cape. I did not expect anything special. But I was proved wrong. Very wrong. Right after my arrival I was welcomed in a very nice and charming way. The owner showed me my room which was perfectly nice and cosy. I enjoyed Dinner in this beautiful restaurant and was astonished by the quality of food. I got interested as I was so nicely surprised and heard a bit of the background story to this place which was very interesting. The place is run by two very young girls and I must say - my deepest respect for what they do. And the energy they put into it. Fantastic to experience this. The estate is located on a lake. Not nearby - 20m from the lake. So in winter they arrange snow safaris, lunches for groups, and of course accommodation. When I was there I was the only guest for overnight stay (they have only 7 rooms at the moment but soon will have more). The owner who is the chef at the same time came in and made me the best breakfast I had in my entire trip. I'm so happy to have enjoyed this place and this fantastic people. I can only recommend. I'm for 35 years in the tourism business but you do not see such a professional and charming hospitality at the same time. Definitely a must!
