Name: Aurora Nights
Address: Office 8 Empingham House, 1e Uppingham Gate, Ayston Road, Uppingham, Rutland
Rating: 4.88

“Every guide , driver etc exemplary. Abisko Mountain Lodge excellent. One point which is nothing to do with Weekend a la carte is that if you go to sky station the cold weather clothing the station supply is compulsory and as we already had clothing on supplied by Abisko Mountain Lodge we struggled getting the suits on. I think you should be advised of this so you can wear your own gear (ski suit) and then put sky station gear on. We had a fantastic time (didn’t see lights) and would not hesitate to use Weekend a la carte again in the future”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Great holiday and full of amazing experiences. Everything was well organised and all the activities and pick-ups went exactly as planned. Abisko Mountain Lodge was lovely - staff exceptionally helpful and friendly, food was excellent every night. Highlights were the photography evening and the dog sledding. Realise there's a lot of activities to fit into the time, but not having a 9.30 start after the late visit to the sky station the evening before would have been good. Only gripe was the snowmobiling activity - we were complete novices, but we didn't get any chance to practice trying out the snowmobile before we were off at some speed across sometimes tricky and rough terrain - we often lost sight of the activity leader as she speeded off ahead of us, as we tried to keep control of the snowmobile at a slower pace. Perhaps offering an alternative to snowmobiling would be possible?”

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Posted 4 years ago

“An amazing few days that lived up to everything it promised!”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Fantastic holiday packed full of amazing activities. Particular highlights included the dog sledding and snowmobiling in Kiruna and the wilderness photography tour in Abisko. A no show for the Aurora, but it didn't matter because the whole experience was truly magical. Lots of memories for future years to come for my Dad and I. Thank you to Weekend a la carte for organising such a fantastic trip and to both the lodges in Kiruna and Abisko for making us feel welcome, cosy and relaxed from the start.”

Aurora Nights 5 star review on 12th February 2020

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Posted 4 years ago

“Just returned from a fantastic northern lights experience in Kiruna (Mattarahkka). Can’t commend the trip highly enough and in particular the arrangements for the activities and the staff at the Lodge who were so helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to experience an arctic experience - we did snowmobiling, dog sledding (twice) visited the Ice Hotel and a enjoyed a Sami evening. We saw the Northern Lights twice during the 5 days we were there which was the icing on the cake.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Our travel arrangements were well organised, we even had help when the rail link was closed due to repairs and the road was closed with snowdrift. The hotel accommodation was was good and the food available was delicious. The activities were well organised and great fun. There were daily opportunities to see the Lights and we succeeded with a magnificent display. Even if luck had not been on our side we thoroughly enjoyed our trip.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Customer service from start to finish was excellently”

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Posted 4 years ago

“We had a great stay at the Abisko Mountain Lodge. The food was great, the activities were perfect [weather helped here as others in the lodge weren't so lucky] and the service and staff at the lodge were fantastic [they made the holiday an experience we will never forget and can't be praised highly enough]. One issue was the size of the room which is tiny by anyone's standards and the lack of noise insulation which affected our ability to get a decent nights sleep. The transfer through Stockholm airport going out wasn't as easy as it could have been and coming back was chaotic with only 20-25 mins from when our plane landed to when the next flight was due to take off. With no clear direction to the connecting bus [which we couldn't find] we had to rush the whole length of the airport going back through security and only just made it on to the connecting flight to Heathrow [we were not the only ones forced to do this and we believe at least one person missed the flight]. The time slot was so tight that our baggage didn't make it on to the flight and we had to wait until the next day to get it back. It was a shame as it spoiled what had been a perfect break [clearer direction from SAS staff that matches the printed itinerary is a must for what is a very tight connection if there is any delay with the flight from Kiruna]. This holiday deserved a Very Good rating but was let down by the accommodation and the connecting flight arrangements.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Positives:- The quality and content of the trips was very good and I think it is fair to say our party was satisfied with them. The snowmobile, dog sledding and IceHotel visits were very enjoyable. The food produced by Mikko’s mother was excellent and my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our meals as we did the barbecue in the tent. Negatives:- On day one, upon arrival we were only given a vague outline\times of the plans for our trip and these were delivered by Mikko in disinterested way as if he just wanted to be somewhere else. The guy needs a few lessons in customer care and PR if I may say so. I thought he should have played more of a part in helping manage our stay, instead I think I am right in saying he went to ground for the rest of our stay and we never saw him again after the first afternoon/evening. It was left to his mother to not only to manage the catering, but pretty well anything else that required doing or deal with our questions. A disappointment was the lack of fire in the sitting area after the first day which after all is part of the attraction of being there . In the end we took it upon ourselves to keep it alight. Not good. No care or attention was paid to the faulty WiFi router in the public area which meant for most of our stay there was no internet. International travellers demand this facility as a matter of course in a first world country whether people like it of not. The comment that came back to us was “what do you want the internet for?” How crass to say that and shows a poor customer relations attitude. Anybody knows that to manage international flights online the day prior to departure these day requires a reliable WiFi. May be customers need to be warned right at the start that to all intent and purposes there there’s virtually no internet unless one has the facility to “roam”. It was also disappointing that though there is a small bar area, there was no one to serve us especially before dinner. This is essential given the limited nature of the minibar fare. I would have thought the serving of drinks would be a profitable given the markup often applied when selling to guests. There were a number of other smaller issues, some of which Roger our occasional guide did his best to resolve, but was having to multi-task in a big way to try to do it. Not a venue to return to I am afraid.”

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Posted 4 years ago

Dear Adrian Thank you for your very frank and forthright feedback. We do not get many negative reviews so I have investigated this thoroughly. Firstly all activities were delivered to our usual high standard which I think is acknowledged in your review . We get many positive reviews on these every season so it’s good to know in your case the same high standards were maintained. Moving onto the lodge. Mikko apologised that he could not be there the whole time as he had family commitments but assured me that there were always 2 people around for the activities. With 8 of you staying there that should have been enough but he apologised if the fire was not lit in a timely fashion. The bar operates on an honesty system but if this was not explained to you then once again he apologised. I am glad you made use of the mini bar. I understand that Mikko, when he found out you were not 100% satisfied, covered your drinks bill from the last night. The lodge is marketed for what it is a small intimate home away from home lodge with 7 rooms. It is not a 4 or 5 star retreat – we could have suggested a hotel stay if that was what you were looking for – but for the vast majority of our clients the informal nature of the lodge goes down well and the main reason why people stay there is a base to see the northern lights and sample some great arctic experiences. The description of the break and the price it carries I think fairly sets the expectation. I am sorry that your flight was affected by a technical fault coming home and this resulted in a stay in Lulea for the night. I trust that you found that by making myself personally available over the weekend to assist you through the disruption helpful and spending time guiding you through how to make a claim for the delay useful. We share and discuss and action all learnings and appreciate you taking time to give us this feedback Kind regards Kevin Collins Managing Director

Posted 4 years ago

“Fantastic break in Iceland for New Year. Everything from the enquiry to the break itself was perfect. Thank you.”

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Posted 4 years ago

Thank you for your kind review, and delighted you had such a wonderful time! Regards Abigail

Posted 4 years ago

“We had a fabulous weekend, everything went as planned from first contact with yourselves and throughout the weekend in Lulea. The snowmobiling and dog sledding were very exciting and great fun. Special thanks go to both Goran for his advise on collecting us at Lulea airport and Graeme who went out of his way to find clear sky for the Northern Lights, but unfortunately they were not to be found. A couple of items to mention; it would have been useful to know that (1) the Tourist Information was opposite the Clarion Hotel, and (2) the address we were going to for the dog sledding when collected from the hotel by taxi. We definitely recommend Weekend a la carte Aurora Nights and hope to travel with you again in the future.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Activities - Excellent . Food - Excellent. Staff - Excellent. Just a few comments: Room was very basic - difficult to move around particularly with all the clothes, suitcases etc. Shower was excellent. Pity the Sauna was limited from 4pm onwards. It would have been nice to use during the early part of the day after an activity. Whilst we appreciate the limited daylight hours - it would have been nice to start the day activity an hour later particularly when there is an evening/late night activity the night before. All in all a fabulous experience and would highly recommend.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Loved it. Be prepared for things to be switch around due to the weather, but everyone is so friendly they will do anything to help. Food was amazing. It was looking iffy on seeing the lights very cloudy but we saw them briefly on the last night. Two bits of advice, check you artic gear we gave the sizes before we went but they didn't have one of them, so one of us missed the night photography. All sorted the next morning. And 40 minutes for a transfer on the way back is very tight, we nearly missed the flight.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“A very well organized trip packed schedule for the long weekend with a well-timed mix of activities. The standard room is VERY small with beds in an L-shape and very little baggage space with also having to store the arctic wear we spent the weekend moving cases on and off the beds as we moved around. Food was very good - but got caught at the end of the holiday with an "extras" bill for the daily specials - which we didn't realize was £13 each time. Although we do know that drinks were extra - we had the Lapland menu on the first night and had the recommended wine with the first 2 courses - no mention that this was going to cost us nearly £60 The husky ride and Skidoo trips cannot be faulted, they were great fun and the guides were really friendly and gave us loads of information of their skills and the local and regional area of Sweden The photography evening was also very good, very knowledgable guides and also was really handy on getting tips and tricks about taking decent photo's. The only disappointment was the Sky Station Visit - it felt like we were dropped off and held to ransom in an expensive cafe for 3 hours - we had no idea if we were supposed to do anything, go anywhere or how we got home. In general, I would totally recommend this trip we did have a great time, food, people and activities were great - the only let down was that for the price paid- it felt like we were robbed when it came to the accommodation as it felt like we were staying in a youth hostel - I think you really need to set peoples expectations of the rooms”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Kevin and the team were very helpful and informative right from my first enquiry to the final details arriving before departure. It took the worry out of doing activities in an environment that was so different to our previous experiences. And what an experience it was. Nice one Kevin! The Ice Hotel was a unique experience, like staying in an art gallery. The ice sculptures were stunning. Being a guest meant that we could access the cold areas when it was quiet and so appreciate the skills of the artists to our hearts content. The colours both inside and outside made for a magical experience. With the pre- booked activities, it was certainly 'all go.' Early mornings and late nights were necessary to make the best of the experience. The Ice Hotel restaurant was great for breakfast and dinner with a good choice of well prepared and presented local food. The Old Homestead restaurant was not so good. In fact we'd go so far as to say that, it wasn't worth the nearly 1km walk for average food and poor service. (This was the only negative part of our wonderful experience). The night we spent in an art suite was surprisingly comfortable. The advice given and the lovely warm sleeping bag provided meant that we slept remarkably well. We survived. Sadly, we forgot to pick up our diploma to show that we had in fact survived, but we have the memory etched in our minds. The dog sledding adventure was so lovely. The care given to the dogs was commendable, they were well trained and friendly. The small number of guests (there were only 8 of us) made for a better experience. The instruction given to us on how to drive the dogs was thorough and gave us confidence. Driving a team of dogs over a frozen lake really was a 'WOW' experience. (Don't forget to take some video when you're the passenger to record both the dogs running and the beautiful landscape.) The welfare of the dogs was clearly a priority, to the point that we had to give the dogs a 'warm down' massage on our return to the kennel. It provided some lovely photo opportunities. I must admit that the thought of snowmobiling was leaving us a little anxious. We needn't have been. We were well kitted out and given instructions on how to operate the snowmobile and what go do to keep safe. Being the only guests on that day, we had the guide to ourselves. It was an exciting adventure through woodland, over a frozen lake and up and down a hill. Sadly, the misty weather on that day meant we didn't get to see the views from the top of the hill. Abisko Mountain Lodge was a real gem of a place; warm, cosy and with very welcoming staff. Our double superior room was a good size and well fitted out. We were provided with great quality outdoor equipment which kept us warm and dry. The food, especially at dinner, was outstanding. Reindeer, slow roast Moose, Arctic Char, local cheese and Cloudberries can all be recommended. The trip to Abisko Sky Station was excellent. The chairlift to the top of the mountain was exciting. It being dark, you get to appreciate the lights in the valley below and the flashing lights on the other chairs as you ascend and descend the mountain. Once at the top, we attended the informative talk by our guide about the Aurora. Having stood around for a while in the snow, we were suddenly rewarded by the green glow which signalled the arrival of the Aurora. It was well worth the wait in the snow and the cold. The train trip to Narvik gave us a chance to enjoy stunning scenery whilst having bit of a well earned rest. They really were magnificent views and our first glimpse of a fjord was exciting. We visited Narvik on a Sunday, and apart from the excellent museum and cafe, there wasn't much else open. I'm sure the point of this trip is the train journey which, was good. With time being limit in Narvik, don't expect to do much there. Our last night was spent on the wilderness photography trip. Small numbers meant that we got personal attention and tuition. Being photographic novices, we were keen to learn some new skills. We enjoyed a couple of hours learning how to take creative night shots. Sadly, we didn't get to see and photograph the northern lights before our trip ended, we thought, a little early. We did get to see the northern lights again later that night by walking up the tracks at the back of the Mountain Lodge. Our Weekend a la carte Aurora Nights adventure was coming to an end! The transfer back to the airport was well organised, as was the whole trip. In fact we had a great trip with a range of exciting experiences without any hassle. Thank you Kevin and the team at Weekend a la carte for a first class experience.”

Aurora Nights 5 star review on 23rd January 2020

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Posted 4 years ago

“Fantastic experience felt spoilt throughout, the tasting menu at the ice hotel was superb. Would highly recommend the experience”

Aurora Nights 4 star review on 15th January 2020

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Posted 4 years ago

“Fabulous programme of activities, all seamlessly organised from the lodge which we also couldn’t recommend more highly. Mikko and his team were utterly charming - food was great, rooms v comfy and amazingly homey - great touches like biscuits and tea/coffee in front of roaring fires on comfy chairs and great music playing. Couldn’t recommend the whole experience more - it was incredible.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Great experience for the whole family. Excellent organisation and it all went like clockwork.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“We had an exceptional holiday in Swedish Lapland. Mikko and his family (including Emma and the delightful Barbro who cooked us wonderful meals) were great hosts both at the hotel and in managing the snow-mobiling, which was great fun. The hotel itself was perfect for us in size, quality and atmosphere. The reindeer/Sami day was also fun, but perhaps the highlight was the day with Ylva and the dog sledging. Everybody liked her hugely, especially her attitude towards her huskies. Her support team were great, and the whole day was terrific. So we commend your choice of 'suppliers' of the activities - all were great. Thanks for a memorable few days. Best regards Graham Hunt and family”

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Posted 4 years ago

“Fantastic trip, everything was organised really well and we even saw the Northern Lights - perfect! Thank you for making a special birthday into a stand out memory”

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Posted 4 years ago

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Postal Service
On-time Delivery	Greater than 94%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Email, Telephone
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour
Customer Service	4.9 out of 5

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