Parents had to console their children after a £4,000 ‘trip of a lifetime’ turned out to be one big series of disappointments.
Families on the festive TUI holiday say they arrived at Kuusamo, in Finland to find there was no snow, the activities were ‘disastrous’ and ‘dangerous’, and Santa was happy to share that he didn’t actually live there.
They also claim they were warned to stay away from an ‘angry reindeer’ and that a Christmas feast included in the cost ran out, leaving them hungry.
With unseasonably warm temperatures and heavy rain, snow has washed away at several Lapland resorts, which lead travel company TUI to cancel several trips on Wednesday.
But by then, hundreds of families were already on there way or had arrived.
Dad-of-three, Ricky Edwards, from east London, told The Sun his six-year-old daughter was left dismayed by the visit.
‘She turned to me and said, “I don’t believe that is the real Santa.”‘
‘When we met him, he said, “I don’t even live here. This is my holiday home.”‘
Meanwhile, Mrs Claus had a mobile phone visible in her pocket, he added.
Ricky said he understood that the lack of snow couldn’t be helped, but there was no excuse for several other issues.
He claimed himself and other families were turned away from the banquet hall, where they were supposed to enjoy a ‘traditional Christmas dinner’.
‘We got turned away and were left in minus eight degrees to get a coach back to the hotel. At least ten of the kids were in tears,’ he said.
He heard from families that did manage to get in that the quality of the food was poor.
Another family said they feared for their safety after taking a sleigh ride on a lake that was ‘melting’.
Natasha Walden, 36, said the sleigh had to stay right on the edge of the lake where the ice was thicker, and that she could see cracks everywhere.
Natasha and Scott Walden, 36, from Northampton, said they were left fearing for their safety when they and their two children were taken on a sleigh ride on a lake that was ‘melting’.
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The family were also told not to touch a reindeer tied to a tree because he was angry.
TUI told The Sun its team closely monitor the weather forecast and snow had been predicted on the dates the families visited but did not fall.
It said it would be in direct contact with them to discuss their concerns.
The Metro has contacted TUI.
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