Star Arctic Hotel Saariselkä
We visited Star Arctic Hotel Saariselkä in March 2024 for a four night-stay during our wedding weekend. Our guests stayed at different chalets across the centre of Saariselkä and we wanted to have more privacy and a place to relax during all the busy chaos. We did the organization of our wedding in cooperation with the hotel so it made only sense to book accommodation via them. We also knew that the location of the hotel was amazing. Located at the top of the Kaunispää fell you feel completely alone and are able to relax while having breathtaking panoramic views of the landscape.
Read our review to discover our experience and get valuable tips to make the most of your stay at Star Arctic Hotel Saariselkä.
Different Accommodations Types
Star Arctic Hotel Saariselkä offers different options for your type of accommodation. For travellers fascinated about the Northern Lights the hotel offers Aurora Glass Cabin. Here you have glass windows through which you can watch the sky while lying in bed. For more space and luxury you can opt for a scenic suite either with or without a private sauna. You will find a comfortable bed but also a sofa and a small table giving you more space to unwind after a long day outside. The private sauna adds a piece of luxury to your stay. Most suites with a private sauna are strategically positioned in front of other suites, providing uninterrupted panoramic views of the stunning landscape.
Breakfast & Diner
If you book a stay at Star Arctic Hotel Saariselkä breakfast will be included. We have seen many breakfast options at hotels but were very pleasantly surprised by the breakfast offer at Star Arctic. The hotel is fortunate to have large glass windows in the restaurant, allowing you to soak in the breathtaking views while enjoying your coffee.The breakfast itself was of great quality and has everything you need to start a cold winter day. Even if you desire a glass of champagne or mimosa in the morning, you will find this here. Another option is having breakfast delivered to your room for extra charge. You are able to ask everything you want and they will bring it to your cabin correctly on time which makes an ideal romantic morning.
Travellers can also book the half-board package including diner at the restaurant of the hotel: Restaurant Kaunis. You will get served a well prepared three-course dinner accompanied by excellent wines. Even without the half-board package you can choice to have dinner at Restaurant Kaunis, making it accessible for both hotel guests and visitors from outside the hotel.
A must experience of the restaurant and bar is ordering a cocktail with cloudberries. The restaurant uses this local ingredient in lots of courses but also in their drinks and the taste is very well.
Tip: try to request a window table when making your reservation - if you are lucky you have a chance to witness the Northern Lights.
Activities
The hotel also offers a variety of activities and practical gear. Upon arrival you can borrow warm clothing so you don't need to buy lots of winter gear if you don't have these. You can book all must-do activities via the hotel: husky adventures, snowmobile tours and Northern Light excursions.
Some activities will start from the hotel itself but others will take you to their so-called Wilderness Center, located about 25 minutes from the hotel. Here you will find the husky-farm and reindeers wandering around. They also organizing a special dinner here during the week which is phenomenal. You will be in the complete wilderness and the setting and vibe of the center will give you an ultimate Lapland feeling.
For guests staying in an accommodation type without a private sauna there is an option to book the shared sauna. You will have private use to this sauna combined with a hot tub but it comes at a quite expensive additional costs.
Location
The location of the hotel is beautiful at the top of the Kaunispää fell. A short walk from the hotel you'll find the Kaunispään Kolmiomittaustorni, which is a lookout tower from which you even have better views. The younger travellers and the adventure seekers will be happy to hear that the start of the toboggan run starts near the hotel. The toboggan run is 1.2 kilometers long and it's definitely not a boring experience. It will bring you to the skiing center and you can get back up by chairlift.
Besides the chairlift there is a bus from the city centre which brings you back to the hotel but the schedule varies and doesn't run all the day long. The walk from the hotel to the village will take you approximately 35 to 45 minutes but when you need to go back you walk uphill. It's a beautiful hike and will give you a small workout but can be challenging given the weather circumstances. There is not a shuttle bus provided by the hotel and taxis are extremely expensive so without your own rental car this is something to be considered.
Final Review
We absolutely loved our stay at Star Arctic Hotel Saariselkä and had the convenience of our own rental car which made it easy to move around. As sauna enthusiasts we were thrilled to have our private one in the suite, given the prices of booking the "shared" one are over 100 euro's. Given the price of the rooms I would say this is quite expensive to charge on top.
Definitely worth booking your stay but think about your type of accommodation and transport to avoid disappointments!