Bit of a strange one to be posting up at this time of year, but we are in our final year with all the kids still believing so wanted to try and book a good one for the last time. We usually try and book away for the night and make a weekend of it, We've done a fair few. Mostly around NI but also centre parks.
Just wondering if anyone could recommend one plus a nice family hotel to stay at. Happy to travel but ideally 2-3 hrs from Tyrone. Someone mentioned Palmerstown?
Have been to
Santa's cottage newry
Donegal Lapland
Innisowen gateway hotel
Todd's leap, Ballygawley
Centre parks
Jackson's hotel
Oakfield park
Any good ones down south?
Craigavon Shopping Centre.
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 21, 2023, 02:23:52 PM
Bit of a strange one to be posting up at this time of year, but we are in our final year with all the kids still believing so wanted to try and book a good one for the last time. We usually try and book away for the night and make a weekend of it, We've done a fair few. Mostly around NI but also centre parks.
Just wondering if anyone could recommend one plus a nice family hotel to stay at. Happy to travel but ideally 2-3 hrs from Tyrone. Someone mentioned Palmerstown?
Have been to
Santa's cottage newry
Donegal Lapland
Innisowen gateway hotel
Todd's leap, Ballygawley
Centre parks
Jackson's hotel
Oakfield park
Any good ones down south?
Wild Ireland, near Buncrana, do a trial also around Christmas. Self-guided iirc. Only lasts an hour or so but ok.
Santa's magical forest in Pomeroy. Tickets not released but it does sell out in a matter of days.
Quote from: gaafan2 on July 21, 2023, 05:57:56 PM
Santa's magical forest in Pomeroy. Tickets not released but it does sell out in a matter of days.
Funny we've been there too. It's a good spot and very well run.
Next step is lapland lol
Quote from: tyrone08 on July 21, 2023, 07:13:59 PM
Next step is lapland lol
Fella in work is taking his to lapland this Christmas. Seems mad. Santa isn't real folks so don't be spunking thousands taking the wains!
Santa is a euphemism for happiness and innocence so spunk away, your children will be on twitter soon and hate everything.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on July 21, 2023, 11:36:25 PM
Quote from: tyrone08 on July 21, 2023, 07:13:59 PM
Next step is lapland lol
Fella in work is taking his to lapland this Christmas. Seems mad. Santa isn't real folks so don't be spunking thousands taking the wains!
😂 I've some bad news for you about Mickey Mouse....
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 21, 2023, 02:23:52 PM
Bit of a strange one to be posting up at this time of year, but we are in our final year with all the kids still believing so wanted to try and book a good one for the last time. We usually try and book away for the night and make a weekend of it, We've done a fair few. Mostly around NI but also centre parks.
Just wondering if anyone could recommend one plus a nice family hotel to stay at. Happy to travel but ideally 2-3 hrs from Tyrone. Someone mentioned Palmerstown?
Have been to
Santa's cottage newry
Donegal Lapland
Innisowen gateway hotel
Todd's leap, Ballygawley
Centre parks
Jackson's hotel
Oakfield park
Any good ones down south?
Glenarm Castle do a good one
The Jungle outside Moneymore is pretty good. Have heard the Slieve Donard one is the best about but it's really dear and you'd probably need to be booking now!
Quote from: Tony Baloney on July 21, 2023, 11:36:25 PM
Quote from: tyrone08 on July 21, 2023, 07:13:59 PM
Next step is lapland lol
Fella in work is taking his to lapland this Christmas. Seems mad. Santa isn't real folks so don't be spunking thousands taking the wains!
I done it a few years ago. Best holiday I ever had. Was an unreal experience and the kids still talk about it now.
Quote from: take_yer_points on July 23, 2023, 11:54:11 PM
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 21, 2023, 02:23:52 PM
Bit of a strange one to be posting up at this time of year, but we are in our final year with all the kids still believing so wanted to try and book a good one for the last time. We usually try and book away for the night and make a weekend of it, We've done a fair few. Mostly around NI but also centre parks.
Just wondering if anyone could recommend one plus a nice family hotel to stay at. Happy to travel but ideally 2-3 hrs from Tyrone. Someone mentioned Palmerstown?
Have been to
Santa's cottage newry
Donegal Lapland
Innisowen gateway hotel
Todd's leap, Ballygawley
Centre parks
Jackson's hotel
Oakfield park
Any good ones down south?
Glenarm Castle do a good one
would agree on that Glenarm castle was one of the best we visited
Quote from: marty34 on July 21, 2023, 05:21:38 PM
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 21, 2023, 02:23:52 PM
Bit of a strange one to be posting up at this time of year, but we are in our final year with all the kids still believing so wanted to try and book a good one for the last time. We usually try and book away for the night and make a weekend of it, We've done a fair few. Mostly around NI but also centre parks.
Just wondering if anyone could recommend one plus a nice family hotel to stay at. Happy to travel but ideally 2-3 hrs from Tyrone. Someone mentioned Palmerstown?
Have been to
Santa's cottage newry
Donegal Lapland
Innisowen gateway hotel
Todd's leap, Ballygawley
Centre parks
Jackson's hotel
Oakfield park
Any good ones down south?
Wild Ireland, near Buncrana, do a trial also around Christmas. Self-guided iirc. Only lasts an hour or so but ok.
The older I get, the more shite these experiences become! Thought the experience in the Mourne mountains was the best, maybe because it was the first! One of those mentioned here, included a Santa who was so drunk he vomited while we were in the room. Went to an outdoor job over the bridge in Derry last year, thought it was awful. Oakfield in fairness was decent, but unfortunately its mostly outdoor & was raining heavily the evening we went.
A friend of mine brought his kids to Lapland, reckons it was very expensive but well worth it.
Times are moving on, the kids grow up awful quick, personally if i was to do it again would take the hit & go to Lapland. They are only young & innocent for a short time.
Must have a look at Glenarm. Would love Lapland but can't justify the funds unfortunately.
Anyone been to Lapland lately?
Who is best to book it through or what are the prices like?
So many options available online that it is difficult to find the best deal
We were looking but 4 days/ 3 nights for 5 was around 6 grand. That's with all included, sleigh ride, husky ride, snow mobiles etc. expensive for the short duration but would love to do it.
That's nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.
It's a bloody nightmare booking these things as you need to be on it almost immediately or you'll get no tickets. We've done train things this last two years in downpatrick and whiteabbey and they've been ok (for a small toddler but wouldn't be much use up the ages I don't think). They were small places with a small set of enthusiasts putting a lot of effort in.
Might try for glenarm castle or the slieve donard this year.
Went to Slieve Donard a few years back and thought it was decent (pricey but aren't they all). Went to Mourne cottage 3 yrs in a row and hope to never see it again lol
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 24, 2023, 12:39:47 PM
We were looking but 4 days/ 3 nights for 5 was around 6 grand. That's with all included, sleigh ride, husky ride, snow mobiles etc. expensive for the short duration but would love to do it.
Who was that with?
Tell them early that Santa doesn't exist.
Quote from: Taylor on July 24, 2023, 12:31:30 PM
Anyone been to Lapland lately?
Who is best to book it through or what are the prices like?
So many options available online that it is difficult to find the best deal
So it yourself and save fortune. You can save a few thousand by booking it yourself in advance
Quote from: Taylor on July 24, 2023, 04:08:31 PM
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 24, 2023, 12:39:47 PM
We were looking but 4 days/ 3 nights for 5 was around 6 grand. That's with all included, sleigh ride, husky ride, snow mobiles etc. expensive for the short duration but would love to do it.
Who was that with?
Think it was Santa Claus trips from memory.
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 24, 2023, 08:19:37 PM
Quote from: Taylor on July 24, 2023, 04:08:31 PM
Quote from: trueblue1234 on July 24, 2023, 12:39:47 PM
We were looking but 4 days/ 3 nights for 5 was around 6 grand. That's with all included, sleigh ride, husky ride, snow mobiles etc. expensive for the short duration but would love to do it.
Who was that with?
Think it was Santa Claus trips from memory.
I'm not sure of the cost but there was a family beside us here did the lapland trip but they didn't even stay a night. Think it was a very early flight out and home on a late flight that same day. Seemed a lot of travel but they did a couple of activities, met the main man and away home. Depends on the funds available I suppose.
Most people that go say it's a great experience for the kids but not everyone can justify it. Wish I had done it but the funds just weren't available at the time.
615 for a kid for a day and 699 for the adult. A list of activities the length of your arm to do but I dunno when you would get time to do them!
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on July 24, 2023, 10:41:44 PM
There are fairly sensible people discussing this Lapland thing.
Mind blowing.
Don't think of it as seeing santa. Think of it as a holiday. It's a fantastic part of the world and is being one of the most beautiful places I have seen and I have done a fair bit of travelling.
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on July 24, 2023, 10:41:44 PM
There are fairly sensible people discussing this Lapland thing.
Mind blowing.
No different than Disneyland. All a bit of fun for the kids only minus the queues!