A grandmother spent £130 return flights to take her granddaughter 1,400 miles away to Lapland for just nine hours so the youngster could go sledging and meet Santa.
Siobhan Cucina, 55, wanted to surprise her granddaughter Grace for her 14th birthday with a trip to Lapland, Finland.
Ms Cucina revealed she had a pair of tickets and the pair caught a 6.30am flight from Stansted Airport before landing in Rovaniemi Airport, Finland at 11.50am local time.
Ms Cucina and her grandchild then spent nine hours in Lapland, during which they walked around Santa’s village, went on a reindeer sleigh ride and even got to meet the big man himself.
Then, the pair caught the 9.15pm flight back to the UK, landing at 11.50pm.
Ms Cucina, who is head of security at Stansted Airport, said: “You do really feel like you’re in Santa’s home and it snowed which made it the perfect day.
“We crossed the Arctic circle and got a certificate to say that you crossed it, which was really nice. We visited the animal park to see the reindeers and in between we got plenty of hot chocolates.
“I would 100 percent book again for next year and it was truly magical – just what I imagined where Santa would live.”
Ms Cucina had always dreamed of taking her granddaughter to Lapland and booked the tickets in October, in time for Grace’s birthday on November 19.
Ms Cucina added: “Grace was extremely excited, and it took her a couple of days to register that she was actually going. She hardly slept the night before.”
When they landed in Lapland, they walked around Santa’s village and the Arctic circle. The pair spent £50 on a reindeer sleigh ride and £35 to see Santa, with Ms Cucina spending £420 on the trip in total.
She continued: “I would say my favourite activity was the reindeer sledge ride, it was really cool. The whole day felt really Christmassy and it was snowing which made it more authentic.”
Return flights – £130
Picture with Santa – £35
Food and drink – £65
Seven minute reindeer sledge ride – £50
Arctic Circle certificate for two – £12
Guest house – £70
Gifts – £50
Transport to and from airport – £8
Total: £420
