Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki

The food is usually what makes me nervous when we travel, but here it was really nice. I love olearys, and the kids do too. They make children feel welcome when you're eating out abroad, unlike what we're used to at home. We also loved the organised activities, and the free Holiday Club sledges are handy for getting around the hotel. When we visited in late December, we saw the northern lights six times during our seven-night stay. It was properly snowy and felt like Christmas, and after our visit even my 11-year-old believed in santa. Bring warm layers, plus hand and foot warmers from the pound shop. We're a family of five from the UK, soon to be six, and the staff are always warm and welcoming. The rooms are lovely and clean, and I love the decor throughout the hotel. We go every year, and I can't wait to return next year. I've already booked!

I came away cold to the bone, with my ears still ringing, and not relaxed at all. The water was so loud it was deafening, bouncing around the single hall where the spa is, with all the surfaces reflecting the sound from the waterfall and water jets. The pools felt cold at 30°C, and even the "hot tubs" were only 31°C. It's a beautiful place, full of plants, but the main reason people go to a spa, to relax, just wasn't there for me. I can't recommend this "spa" to anyone.

I only went to the spa. The waterfall was the part I liked best, but the whole place is small and seems more suited to families with kids. The dome has jacuzzi pools, video aquabics and one short slide. There are two saunas, one dry sauna with a view outside and a mixed steam sauna for both genders, plus a cold plunge in the shower area. The dressing room has been refurbished, but the spa needs renovation urgently. The tiles were painted during an earlier refurbishment and the paint is now peeling away. Its 90’s architecture is outdated and the venue is already in REALLY bad shape. Luckily, refurbishment planning is underway. Kuusamo definitely needs a proper spa.

Our kids were disappointed when we found out Kuusamon Tropiikki didn't open until 12, which is pretty late for a family. So we ended up at Angry Birds Activity Park, basically a kids' playground, and had no choice but to pay 56 Euros to get in. We had to pay for the adults just to watch the kids play too. Total rip off!