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

“Excellent trip. Very well organised; we couldn't fault the Company, everything was as described and all went according to schedule. We were unlucky and had bad weather and a couple of trips were cancelled but every effort was made to offer us alternative activities. A special thanks to Chad at Abisko for the " alternative" trip moose hunting - and yes we found some. We were very lucky and on our last night in Kiruna we saw the Aurora - albeit weakly but we still saw them. I would certainly recommend Weekend a la Carte and we will certainly look to them in the future if we have any other short breaks etc.”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Anne Thanks for the kind review. I was kept up to date with the challenging weather conditions you experienced. Sound like it was a once every 5 years storm that swept through Abisko. Fortunately the team are ultra professional and know that the main aim is to ensure that you have a great time despite. I am delighted they achieved this and will feed this back to them. Thanks for traveling with us Kind regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“Having spent 2 nights at the ice hotel in karuna and 3 nights in the abisko mountain lodge I a happy to say that it was just amazing and everything went perfectly. . You have to take a pause after the first day and realise that it is not as intense in that part of Sweden as it is in England and what you are doing that day with regards to activities will happen just at a pace that is in keeping with there life style . I don't mean this in a negative way in fact it is a good thing as you relax more and enjoy it . . The excursions were fabulous and it is essential that these are booked before you go as they are always full and we did talk to people who had not booked and we're not able to go on any . . The ice hotel staff were friendly and all positive about there jobs which makes a difference. When you get to the abisko mountain lodge you are treated like a member of the family it is so friendly and casual which is great . The only thing that is a slight negative is that you have no choice when it comes to the evening meals at the lodge . It's a starter ,main and dessert which it great and we'll cooked but it's a no choice menu . . . But you do develop a taste for reindeer! !!. Lol . . My advise to anyone would be go on holiday there , use weekend a la carte to book it , book every trip that you want to go on before you go and you will have a fantastic time that you will never forget . . .”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Martin Thank you for your review and positive words and endorsement for the service we provide. I know what you mean by ' Lapland time' but once you are into it time seems to really slow down. 3 days seems like so much longer because you pack so much in. I will pass on your gratitude to the lodge as well who work hard to ensure that our guests have a once in a lifetime experience. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“A thrilling experience. The lodge was friendly, warm and homely. Lodge staff showed flexibility when faced with changing conditions and late arrivals. The activities were interesting and exhilarating. We would strongly recommend this centre to anyone.”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Ann and Stuart Thanks for the review and the very detailed feedback sent through to me on email too. Delighted you had such a good time and will pass on your appreciation to the team at the lodge. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“Excellent, the people at the lodge were brilliant, husky sledding and snowmobiles great, unfortunately the weather was cloudy at night so didn't see the aurora, maybe next time. Ice hotel not to be missed. All in all I would highly recommend Weekend a la carte.”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Andrew Thanks for your review and delighted you had such a good time. Thank you also for the recommendation that counts a lot when you are arranging travel for clients. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“Excellent package, hotels were both lovely, car hire excellent and super jeep your excellent. Only disappointment was the food at the Ion hotel. Hotel is great location, very nice but the good is very very expensive and very tiny! No good when you've been hiking all day and there is no alternative. Only are there one night bought supplies to eat in the room the second night”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Christina, Thankyou for your feedback and for your kind rating. I am delighted that you had a good time and enjoyed the SuperJeep Tour. I have passed on your feedback as to the food price to Hotel Ion as I am sorry that you felt you had to bring a picnic in at night due their pricing structure at the restaurant. Regards Abigail.

Posted 9 years ago

“We had a wonderful time. All pick ups were prompt, the activities such as the Husky Sledging and Snowmobiles were proper long adventures of about 3 hours each, the food was excellent and well presented and everyone was very kind, polite and helpful. Our room in the Abisko Mountain Lodge was a little on the chilly side though it was -30 outside that particular day and was very basic - we felt 2* equivalent which did not match the lounge area and the quality of their food and service which was excellent. Also their snowsuits were the oldest and bulkiest. The lodge does need an update. We paid for dinner at the Abisko Sky Station which was excellent, though sadly no Northern lights that night as it was too cloudy. Ironically we did not see the Northern lights on the two excursions planned for seeing them as it was cloudy, but we did see them on the other two nights which was another highlight of the trip. The guide taking us on the trip to Norway was very entertaining. Máttaráhkká Sami Northern Lights Lodge near Kiruna was modern, had fantastic snow suits and a hands on, helpful owner in a beautiful location. Though the rooms were on the small side they were very well designed, modern, warm and each had a mezzanine sitting area. We took the snowmobiles directly from the front door and had a wonderful guide in Casper. The Ice Hotel was in a great location. The Ice rooms were beautiful - worth having an Art Suite as you get a private warm cubicle with a bench to change in and store your stuff as opposed to a locker in a communal changing room. The food was fabulous. I think we all agreed we would love to do this trip again and would definitely use Weekend Al La Carte again.”

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Posted 9 years ago

“The weekend was wonderful and all arrangements worked smoothly. We drove the Golden Circle in beautiful sunshine which enhanced the views. Our guide for the Northern Lights (Valdi) was friendly and knowledgeable and we were lucky to get a glimpse of the dancing lights. We were booked for the Thorsmark jeep trip but Valdi suggested we drive to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano as the weather forecast was good and the views would be amazing. Having no experience of either we agreed to the suggestion, we had a great day in the super jeeps although several hours were spent at the top of the glacier as one of the jeeps in the convoy became stuck. However Valdi made sure we were ok and continued to entertain with his history of Iceland and his stories of trolls!”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Ann. Thankyou for taking the time to feedback and I am delighted you saw the Northern Lights , had good weather and had such a great time despite the superjeep getting stuck. Regards Abigail

Posted 9 years ago

“The holiday was well organised and the travel arrangements worked very well. The hotel was very good and coped very well with my wifes dietary requirements. We would have no hesitation in booking another holiday with you. Many thanks Robin & Jackie Procter”

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Posted 9 years ago

“Just back from a 3 night break to Swedish Lapland, from start to finish the organisation was stress free & we felt confident we would be well looked after throughout. The trip was amazing and all activities were once in a lifetime experiences whereby we felt fully involved. All the guides during the planned activities went above & beyond to ensure our trip was memorable. We were lucky enough to see The Northern Lights during a trip to the aurora sky station in Abisko which was an incredible experience. The staff in the lodge we stayed in couldn't do enough for us, they were always on hand & extremely friendly. The lodge felt like a home from home. I can't speak highly enough about the trip & would recommend to anyone. Thanks Weekend A La Carte...”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Deborah Thank you for your review and we are delighted you were so well looked. It sounds like you got to see the northern lights from the aurora sky station as well. I have seen them from there a number of times and there is something quite special about looking out over the vast expanse with lights flashing above you! Hope you have got some great memories and thanks for traveling with us. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“We had a fantastic time. Both tours were very exciting and the guides were excellent. Hotel ranga was superb and ticked all the boxes. Hotel centrum was a little disappointing as we were "upgraded" to an apartment which was outside the main hotel. The room was very good but we found out we were above the store/staff quarters of a restaurant next door and we were kept awake until 13.30 ish both nights. All the recommendations you made worked well and we saw everything and more that we didn't expect. We saw the aurora on 3 nights out of 5 and had a lot of wow moments. Thank you !!”

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Posted 9 years ago

Good morning Robert, Many thanks for your lovely feedback on your Iceland trip. I will forward your feedback to all concerned. I will also check with Hotel Reykjavik Centrum in regards to the room, because they did confirm this at booking stage with me, so my apologies for this. I hope this notwithstanding you will consider us again for your next break! Kind regards Hannah

Posted 9 years ago

“We had a great trip with Weekend a la carte. The booking process was very easy with great communication from Kevin. They even managed to get us an extra activity included for the same price which was a lovely surprise. The flights and hotel were all comfortable and I'd really recommend the Abisko Mountain Lodge. We had a new room which was amazing, and the icing on the cake was the food at the lodge – it was way more than I could ever have expected. Absolutely delicious. The trips that we did were all great (Snow shoe walk, husky sledding, aurora photography class – where we saw the lights and the Aurora Sky Station.) Unfortunately one tour was cancelled (trip to Narvik in Norway) due to very bad weather, but I suppose this is to be expected at times due to the extreme weather. An alternative trip was quickly arranged, and although it wasn't what we were expecting, it was still a good day out with friendly, informative guides. Thanks again – we will hopefully be booking with you again! Laura and Gavin Wride, Derby, UK”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Laura Thank you for your very positive review and delighted you liked the trip so much! I will pass your thanks to the team in Abisko too! Thanks for traveling with us. Kind regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“We had a fantastic time, planning was faultless, the selection of venues and the accommodation was simply outstanding. We were lucky to see the Aurora on two of the three nights in Abisko, and the sky station was definitely worth the trip. Thanks for an unforgettable holiday!”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Kenneth Thank you for your review and delighted having come all the way from Australia you managed to get to see the lights! I will pass on your thanks to the lodge too. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“This was a long weekend of a lifetime! The itinerary, the activities, the guides, the lodge were excellent. The location and scenery was fantastic. All of the activities alone make this holiday very special and to top it all we did see a great display of the northern lights on our last night on the Sami experience. The snowmobiling is exhilarating, ice-hotel incredible, the dog-sledding magical, and being pulled in a sleigh looking up at the stars at night, then warmed up with Moose stew was lovely. If anyone is looking for the whole experience of the arctic, this really is the holiday to choose.”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Richard Thanks for the review and i am thrilled that you had such a great trip! I will pass on your thanks to the team on the ground too. Appreciate you traveling with us Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“This was a fabulous holiday. Just a few comments, not intended to be complaints, but hopefully helpful. There was a little confusion with the pick up at Kiruna airport. Your information had stated to look for a contact / rep bearing a Weekend A La Carte sign. There wasn't one, and we were left at the airport with another party, who were also expecting to be picked up by your rep. When we eventually phoned Miko, your contact, he established that the rep had been holding a sign for Abisko Lodge, and when nobody approached him, he just left. Even though we were the only 4 people remaining he didn't approach us to check who we were waiting for. As a consequence we waited over an hour to be collected, which was very frustrating. Perhaps some clarity of instruction is required. The other comment relates to the hot tub dinner at the Mattarahkka Lodge. The dinner was lovely, but the hot tub was not heated sufficiently. Although set to 38 degrees, which probably was still a little low for the climate and should have been more like 40 degrees, it didn't reach beyond 35.5. We could only tolerate it for about 5 minutes, and feel we didn't really get much value out of this particular extra expense. Finally a little shelf storage would have been useful in this lodge. That said, we really loved this place. It was welcoming and friendly and the activities were very well run. We would definitely recommend it, and indeed the whole holiday.”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Jacqueline Thanks for the review an sorry I have not replied sooner. I am delighted you had such a great time but note also the two mishaps you experienced. I have advised the lodge on both matters and will ensure that we improve on this. I am pleased you still manged to afford a 5 star rating for the break and I thank you for traveling with us. Kind regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“We cannot rate this holiday highly enough. Our time in the cabin was truly magical, and Saeli and his team looked after us in every respect. We had lots of fun learning about Iceland, and we were constantly surprised by the stunning scenery and fantastic people that we met. The northern lights even managed to make an appearance (even though it was slightly cloudy). We would definitely recommend this for anyone looking to get away from it all, and experience as much as Iceland has to offer in a short break.”

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Posted 9 years ago

I'm so delighted you had such a wonderful time in Iceland. It certainly is a special cabin built to a very high spec and Saeli is a special find - Him and his team really do try above and beyond to give you a great time. Very pleased the Northern Lights appeared for you as well to top off your break. regards Abigail

Posted 9 years ago

“Everything went as planned - no delays - Abisko Lodge is great, very friendly with no pressure. All trips went like clockwork and the transport and drivers were good, and we did see the Northern Lights. When I plan to go away again (not yet) I will definitely contact you again”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Pearl Thank you for your positive review - so pleased that all went well and you had such a great time. We would be delighted to advise on other destinations in Swedish Lapland if you ever wish to experience the Arctic again. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“Great service, great food. No double bed :( Friendly staff. Basic but comfortable rooms”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear David Thanks for the feedback and delighted that you enjoyed the break. Mountain Lodge does have mostly twin rooms - sorry they did not have one available for you. Thanks for traveling with us. Regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“The first tour company (I forget the name), was particularly good. I'd definitely recommend them.”

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Posted 9 years ago

I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for rating us 5 star

Posted 9 years ago

“Me and my grandfather visited Kiruna for three days with Weekend a la Carte and everything was magnificent! From the flights that were booked to the service at the Lodge to all off the activities that were organised for us, we enjoyed every bit of it. All of the staff were friendly and extremely helpful wanting to make our stay the best that we could have. The food was exceptional!! Even though we unfortunately did not get to view the Northern lights (due to the weather being cloudy) we were not all that fussed because everything else that was organised for us made up for it - the snow mobiling, the dog sledding and the Sami experience - all of this made the trip something that we will never forget!!”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Lauren Thank you for the positive review. We always feel more pressure when we know clients are traveling from Australia with us to do the trip! I am delighted you had such a great time but sadly you did not get to see the Northern Lights. Hopefully you will get another opportunity in the future. Kind regards Kevin

Posted 9 years ago

“The trip from start to finish was absolutely magical. As experienced travellers we rate this in out top 2 breaks. Daily itinerary was at the correct pace. Food and drink fab. Hosts friendly. Rooms and surroundings great. Felt relaxed and at home. We definitely would book again. A real treat and luxury break. We were lucky enough to see the northern lights whilst in the hot tub after our delicious meal. Totally mind blowing. Thank you so much. X”

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Posted 9 years ago

Dear Sharon Thank you for your review and sorry about the delay in responding to your note. I am thrilled you had such a great time and have passed on your comments to the team on the ground. Thanks for traveling with us, Regards Kevin

Posted 9 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

Aurora Nights Reviews