Running laps round the UK on low prices

Think a trip to Finnish Lapland is too 'deer'? Think again. AMY JONES speaks to family travel expert Jen Carr for her tips

- AMY JONES

Jen, right, her friend and son

Lapland in Finland is one of the most magical destinations during this time of year, offering visitors the chance to meet Father Christmas, see the Northern Lights, and feed the reindeer all set among an enchanting snow-covered landscape.

We spoke to family travel expert Jen Carr who booked a trip to Finland for an extra touch of merriment, and she managed to save a whopping £500 - making it cheaper than a visit to Lapland UK.

Ahead of the festivities, Jen, 36, from Nottinghamshire, was originally planning a trip to the UK-based winter wonderland with her six-year-old son, her friend and their son, having previously visited Finland with her family.

However, as she was looking into prices, she discovered that a trip to the UK destination in either Ascot or Manchester could set them back a whopping £1,100.

Jen explained: "I was asking on my socials how much people were spending on Lapland UK because I know it can be quite competitive to get certain tickets, and the prices get ridiculous. A few families told me that they'd spent over £1,000 on it just for a day ticket and a hotel."

Determined not to let the expense ruin their Christmas plans, Jen thought: "Surely you can go to the real Lapland for that?"

This led the mum-of-two to research cheap flights on Skyscanner from various locations in the UK and for different dates in December.

Jen discovered the cheapest airports to fly from were Birmingham and London Stansted. She booked Ryanair direct return flights from Stansted to Rovaniemi, which departed on Monday, December 15, for £103 per person (£412 in total), with hand luggage only.