Finland bucket list trip & More News Here

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — I’ll admit, this was some loopy journey! But I solely had a short while to play with and was touring solo. I additionally didn’t thoughts layovers because it was cheaper, and I can at all times use the lounge to get modifying and work finished! So, right here you go.

Getting there (and again)

Legs 1 and a couple of: Phoenix ⭢ LAX ⭢ London Heathrow

Sadly, American Airlines suspended its direct Phoenix-London flight when COVID-19 hit. It simply began again up this week. Anyway, I obtained a one-way to LAX and went throughout the pond from there. Because I had a while, I headed to the lounge to observe the Super Bowl. The One World Lounge at LAX could be very good! My favourite lounge there, Qantas (which I may also use as a One World Emerald member), hadn’t re-opened but and the American lounges at LAX are often packed. I discovered an affordable round-trip on American from LAX to London Heathrow for $645. I selected this route to make use of my systemwide upgrades to get into enterprise class each methods. (I do love a lie-flat seat and refuse to spend the cash on one. So, I at all times use systemwides or miles).

Legs 3 and 4: London ⭢ Helsinki ⭢ Kiitilä, Finland

I used AA miles (solely 22,000) to get from London to Kiitilä, Finland, by way of Helsinki. I needed to spend the evening in Helsinki (I arrived 45 minutes earlier than they removed the adverse COVID check requirement, which I introduced with me anyway.) I stayed on the airport Hilton (nice breakfast!) and took the morning flight to Kiitilä on Finnair. I booked all of it on American as a result of Finnair is a companion.

Heading dwelling

I set it as much as spend the evening in Helsinki after Kittila after which fly again to London by way of Finnair utilizing my American factors. I spent just a few days in London — after all, heading to the Ted Lasso pub — after which dwelling.

There is a direct flight from Los Angeles to Helsinki on Finnair, which is a One World airline. That would have been a a lot simpler solution to go, however I needed to make use of my miles/systemwides to improve to enterprise class. I couldn’t do this on the Finnair flight as a result of it’s operated by Finnair and never American. I selected to improve and simply have a layover in London. That’s the one factor I’m spoiled with. I’ve solely paid for enterprise class as soon as in all my years of touring. But I improve to enterprise internationally on a regular basis utilizing miles/systemwides. I’m additionally versatile sufficient that I can select the flights the place I can assure an improve. I knew I’d spend just a few nights in London on the way in which dwelling, so it made sense to undergo Heathrow. There is a British Airways direct flight (additionally an American companion) from Phoenix, however I at all times attempt to fly my most popular airline.

Where I stayed

Levin Iglut! The place was began by Tauno Mäkelä, a father with an unbelievable imaginative and prescient. His 4 daughters now assist with the operation. I emailed them to carry the one igloo they’d left. I didn’t need to guide it but as I nonetheless needed to affirm I may pull this entire factor off. I obtained an unbelievable reply from Katriina, one of many daughters. It seems she was an trade pupil in Glendale years in the past.! She agreed to carry the igloo for just a few days to permit me time to guide my trip. She was superb. Her sister Marita joined her after I arrived, and we now have grow to be associates. Katriiina helped me plan my itinerary whereas I used to be there. I fell in love with them and their place. One of the suites grew to become accessible on my first evening, so I obtained to expertise the suite and their common igloo — each improbable.

What I did

I packed a ton into three days! It began with a go to to Samiland, the place I met Ante Aikio, probably the greatest ‘Yoik’ singers in Finland. His mission can be to coach individuals in regards to the indigenous Sami tradition. Katriina, Marita, and their nephew Aleksi (whom I employed to shoot a bit of video this time as I didn’t need to depend on my iPhone footage fully) joined me for a meal at their improbable restaurant at Levin Iglut, Restaurant Utsu. It’s really probably the greatest spots in all of Levi for a meal.

The subsequent day was spent at Reindeer & Fishing, a standard reindeer farm the place we rode sleighs and discovered about reindeer. We additionally obtained to ice fish and snowshoe. It was a packed day, and Petra, our wilderness information, was hilarious and superb. That evening, the sisters needed me to expertise one other genuine Finnish dinner. There are two seatings, and the meal features a Sami efficiency, as properly.

▸ WATCH: Truly one of the crucial magical experiences

My last day was spent snowshoeing — this time with the normal picket snowshoes — in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. It was a VERY snowy day (as you’ll see within the photos). James, who began the corporate GreenTrek Lapland along with his spouse, was an unbelievable useful resource and information. He even made some flapjacks to present me some vitality as I completed the morning hike. I had simply sufficient time to get again to the lodge and alter for the Finnish smoke sauna and ice swimming! In Finland, this can be a large deal — going from scorching to chilly. They put our chilly plunges to disgrace! Immel Kartano is the place I went. I had a good time, nevertheless it was the coldest water I’ve ever been in! While I didn’t see the northern lights (We got here shut, however the full moon could have affected issues.), I’d return in a heartbeat.

▸ WATCH: I additionally tried ice fishing. It positively examined my persistence.

Coldest. Water. Ever!

Thank you, Katriina and Levin Iglut (and everybody else I met alongside the way in which) for an unbelievable three-day trip! And thanks, Aleksi, for documenting most of it!

More photos!

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