2024 Pre-Christmas Trip To Europe
Forget Disneyland, the most magical place on Earth is a tie between Frankfurt, Prague and Rovaniemi in December!
We’re taking a group of families on the trip of a lifetime to see Christmas markets that have been running for 700 years, Santa’s Village at the top of the world on the Arctic Circle and one of the prettiest cities in the world. You can even choose to spend a night in a hotel made entirely of ice!
It’s an amazing opportunity for families to create very special memories, while helping their kids get a new perspective on the world, build independence and make lots of new friends.
We take the fear and stress out of travel, so you can concentrate on making memories with your kids.
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This trip will start on 4 December 2024 in Frankfurt and end on 19 December in Rovaniemi
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The ticket price includes accommodation at premium hotels for 14 nights, a sleeper cabin on the night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, a train ticket from Frankfurt to Prague with a sightseeing stop in Dresden and flights from Prague to Helsinki.
We can organise a package for you that includes flights to and from Australia for an additional cost. Please email us if you would like to discuss this option.
You’ll travel around Europe with a group of families and a trip co-ordinator, who will make sure everything runs smoothly and all of the kids have lots of opportunities to bond and make friends. But this trip is a collaboration, not a rigid tour with set times and generic activities.
The trip co-ordinator will also let you know what tours and sights are available in each area and will suggest activities for the group to do together.
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Our trips are designed specifically for families.
We want kids to have the time of their lives and we want adults to have the kind of relaxing holiday that just isn’t possible if you’re stressed about entertaining the kids the whole time.
You’ll travel with other families and a trip co-ordinator, who will suggest activities along the way, make sure everything runs smoothly and help the kids get to know each other.
We also set up a private group chat for people who are going on the trip, so that everyone can get to know each other before it starts and share photos along the way. -
If you have kids in your life and you’re keen to make amazing memories and show them the world - this is for you.
Kids have more fun when they travel together and parents get to relax and enjoy their company, instead of constantly worrying about entertaining them.
Most of the people who join our trips are homeschoolers, but families with school kids are very welcome too.
Our trips are not the usual group tours. Everything is built around giving kids an opportunity to make friends, have amazing educational experiences and travel at their own pace.
The day-to-day experience of our trips is also very different. We set up a private group chat to talk about options and get to know each other before we go. It’s perfect for a quick shout out to the group if you’re heading out to the market and want some company. If you want to spend time alone, that’s totally fine too. -
As with all of our trips, you’re welcome to join in as much or as little as you like. It’s totally up to you.
Everything is very flexible. We understand that some people love to be constantly on the go and surrounded by friends, and others need time to themselves and rest days to recharge.
We just want everyone to have an amazing holiday, feel comfortable and have a memorable experience safe in the knowledge that they’re not alone if they need support.
How much does it cost?
The price is $4780 per person. Kids aged 4 and under are free.
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Very cold! That’s what makes it so much fun!
Last time we were in Rovaniemi it was -25C, but -10 is more likely.
In Frankfurt and Prague it’s likely to be closer to 5 degrees during the day and zero at night.
You don’t need special expensive gear - just plenty of layers. We’ll help you figure out what to pack and how to stay comfortable, no matter how cold it gets.
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Rovaniemi is just below the Arctic Circle, so when we are there the sun will rise at 11am and set at 1:30pm.
But this doesn’t mean you’ll be walking around in total darkness all day.
One of the magical things about Lapland is the extremely long sunrises and sunsets, so for hours every day you’ll see soft pink and purple skies, which makes the landscape look pastel. coloured It’s unbelievably beautiful.
The tour operators are all set up for the long nights, so most of the activities are designed to run at twilight or when it’s dark, plus in December there are Christmas lights everywhere.
We think it’s the best time of year to visit and the kids will love the novelty of it
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Prices in the countries we will be visiting are fairly similar to Australia.
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around $22 and a 3-course meal at a mid-range restaurant costs around $65.
A Coke costs $4, a bottle of water costs $2.71 and a loaf of bread costs $3.50.
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Tipping is customary in restaurants in Frankfurt and Prague - usually around 10% if you’re satisfied with the service. Tips are not expected in Finland, even in restaurants.
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The cities we are visiting are major tourists hubs, so most people speak some English. Most of the signs, menus and product descriptions are in multiple languages, including English.
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Finland and Germany both use the Euro. Czechia uses the Koruna.
Here’s what we have planned:
Days 1-4: Frankfurt
We’ll pick you up from the airport on day one and take you to our first hotel, where we’ll spend four nights.
The Christmas markets in Frankfurt are iconic, with great food, massive Christmas trees, beautiful fairy lights and rides for kids. The market at Romerberg Square has been operating since 1393 and is only a few hundred meters from our hotel.
There’s lots to do in Frankfurt, or you can take day trips to amazing places like the Rhine Valley, Neuschwantein Castle, the Black Forest or Rothenburg.
Day 5: Frankfurt to Prague via Dresden
We’ll catch the train from Frankfurt to Dresden on day 5. We’ll spend a couple of hours looking around the historic city, then head to Prague.
The train from Frankfurt to Dresden has incredible views of the Elbe River Valley, but don’t worry if your kids aren’t super into landscapes. There’s a restaurant car, free wifi and the seats have power points. Plus they’ll have their new friends to hang out with.
Days 5-9: Prague
We’ve never met anyone who’s been to Prague and isn’t in love with it. It’s amazing.
We’re staying right in the centre of the Old Town for four nights, in a hotel that was built in 1330. It’s just a few steps from the city’s biggest Christmas market, with its flame roasted ham and hot mulled wine.
We recommend the Cold War underground bunker tour - it’s super fun for kids and gives a great overview of the area’s history without being dull.
Day 9: Prague to Helsinki
We’ll head to the airport on day 9, for a 2-hour flight north to Helsinki.
We’re booked into our Helsinki hotel for three nights, but we’ll only sleep there for two, because we’re catching the night train to Rovaniemi late on the third night.
Days 9-11: Helsinki
There’s a really fun day trip on day 10 if you’re feeling adventurous - Estonia. Huge cruise ships cross the Gulf of Finland multiple times every day, and the trip takes just two hours. Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, is a super charming city with lots of things for kids to do.
Of course there’s plenty to do in Helsinki if you’d rather not catch a boat - the Science Centre, ice rinks and Maritime Fortress are definite winners.
Day 11: Helsinki to Rovaniemi
Day 11 is a pretty special one! At 11pm we’ll leave our hotel rooms, head to the train station and jump on the Santa Claus Express!
We’ll spend the night in a sleeper cabin, tucked up in comfortable bunk beds, while we make our way up to the Arctic Circle. The journey takes about 12 hours.
The conductor will deliver breakfast to your cabin in the morning, so you can eat in bed while you look out at the beautiful snowy landscape.
Days 12-16: Rovaniemi
We’ll arrive at Rovaniemi on the morning of day 12, ready for something magical.
There are so many things to do - Santa’s Village, dog sledding, snowmobile rides, reindeer sleigh rides, ice floating in a survival suit, rides on an icebreaker ship, trips to frozen waterfalls and dinner at the ice restaurant, just to name a few. We’ve done most of them and would be happy to recommend operators or book tickets for you, but it’s important to book as early as possible. December is peak season and everything sells out many months in advance.
We’re staying in the centre of Rovaniemi for four nights, to be close to the restaurants and shops, but if you would rather stay at Santa Claus Village, spend a night the ice hotel or stay in a glass domed igloo to look for the Northern Lights, we can arrange that for an extra cost. Most of these are nearly sold out already, so please let us know as soon as possible if you’re thinking about doing any of them.
We’ll say goodbye to all our new friends on the morning of day 16 and each start our journey home. There are cheap direct flights from Rovaniemi to London, and it’s easy to go anywhere from there.
If you’re heading straight back to Australia, you’ll be home just in time to dominate Christmas lunch with amazing stories about your adventure!
Don't just take our word for it