Departure Lounge: Stay at Santa Claus' official post office

Plus: distillery days out, family holliers in Greece, marvellous Milan, and a post-Christmas trip to Krakow

Sat, 09 Dec, 2023 - 02:00

Jillian Bolger

Hiring elves

Santa’s Official Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, is expecting over 30,000 letters daily from around the world, this Christmas.

To help the elves, Santa Claus’ Cabin has been listed on Airbnb for guests, who stay free of charge once they’re willing to join the elf roster in the Arctic Circle.

Chief Post Office Elf and Airbnb host Katja will show guests how to sort the post, help the elves to stamp each letter with a special Arctic Circle postmark before it goes to Santa Claus, and learn about the day-to-day workings of the Polar post office.

After tending to elf duties, guests will enjoy traditional Finnish meals, snowmobiling, a traditional sauna, and trip to see the Northern Lights.

Santa Claus’ Cabin is minutes from his post office and the dress code includes a felt hat with jingling bell and freshly ironed elf tunic hanging in your wardrobe.

Booking opens December 11 at 12pm EET at airbnb.com/santa.

Distillery days out

If winter is the ultimate whiskey-drinking weather, it’s also a great time to explore some of Ireland’s distillery experiences.

28 Irish whiskey distilleries offer visitor experiences, with add-ons like tastings and themed masterclasses.

Activities include:

Roe & Co Distillery’s Liberties special festive tour, with a gift to take home, for €60 per person.
Killarney Brewing & Distillery Co’s Christmas events in its restaurant and bar.
Jameson Distillery in Dublin 7 is hosting cocktail-making masterclasses and premium whiskey tastings, at the award-winning visitor experience.
Lots more options at irishwhiskey360.ie.

Pick up a Distillery Passport and keep a record of your Irish whiskey experiences.

Deal of the Week

Kraków, 2 nights, €353pp, Dec 26.

Twixmas in snowy Poland sounds postcard-perfect.

Depart from Dublin on St Stephen’s Day and land in the medieval walled city of Kraków for a full-on festive experience.

You’re staying at the well-regarded Hotel Alexander I, a three-star that’s a short walk from Kraków’s Old Town, with its atmospheric market square and 20th-century wartime history.

Breakfast included; book with loveholidays.ie.

Greece is the word

If you like the idea of a luxury family holiday with green credentials, Greece’s Sani Resort has just won four 2023 World Travel Awards, including — for the fifth time — the World’s Leading Family & Beach Resort.

The first certified carbon-neutral resort in Greece since 2020, it was also recognised as World’s Leading Sustainable Resort. Located on the Kassandra peninsula in a 1,000-acre ecological reserve, you’ll find private beaches, over 40 restaurants and bars, sports academies, kids’ clubs, and a private marina.

Doubles from €149 per night, on a half-board basis.

Book by January 31 2024 to enjoy a 10% discount on your summer holiday.