Star Arctic Hotel & Activities - Saariselkä

Pooja K.

Perched on a peaceful hilltop overlooking town of Saariselkä, this hotel offers a picture-perfect Arctic retreat. We stayed for two nights in a View Suite, and the name doesn’t disappoint—floor-to-ceiling windows frame a stunning panorama of the snow-kissed valley below. The room was everything we hoped for: sleek, spotless, and cozy, with all the essentials thoughtfully provided.

During our stay, some melting snow caused minor waterlogging near our room. We requested a room change, and the staff handled it graciously, even helping us move our things. That level of service really stood out.

Speaking of service—everyone we interacted with was warm and welcoming. Breakfast was generous, offering a good spread to suit most tastes, and the in-house restaurant shares the same incredible view. We dined there one evening and tried the Fried Arctic Char and the Reindeer Top Roast. While the reindeer initially came more well-done than we’d requested, the staff replaced it without hesitation—and the second attempt was absolutely spot on.

All in all, it was a nice stay. Highly recommended for anyone looking to unwind in Lapland’s magical landscapes.

Kate H.

My travel partner slipped on ice and broke their arm. The hotel was very helpful in navigating emergency care, medical resources, and providing us with the support (to go meals) throughout the stay. They made special arrangements so that my travel partner was able to see the aurora after the injury. They also helped with travel insurance claim afterwards.

Other than the injury, I’ve had an absolutely amazing experience with Star Arctic hotel. The staff are super welcoming and helpful, even when I’m asking silly and basic questions. Food is really nice, delicious and with a good variety throughout our stay. Rooms are clean and comfy, I loved the sauna especially. Scenery is breathtaking. Even just staying there is a blessing. Activities are fun and staff is welcoming and considerate. 10/10 would recommend.

Despina S.

I never thought I’d be writing a review like this.

I had booked and prepaid a stay at Star Arctic Hotel in Finland, excited to finally visit a place I’d been dreaming of. But life had other plans. On the very day I was supposed to fly, my father died suddenly. Everything stopped.

In the midst of shock and grief, I reached out to the hotel, hoping for some human understanding — not a refund, just a simple gesture of compassion: a credit for a future stay. Instead, I was met with a cold, transactional response. “You should have purchased travel insurance,” they told me. As if preparing for death is something we ever imagine we’ll have to do.

I pleaded with them. I sent documentation. I explained. Their eventual response? A 25% discount on a future booking — not even close to the cost of what I’d already lost. That was their version of sympathy.

Yes, the booking was non-refundable. But in moments like this, policies should take a backseat to basic human decency. So many hotels, even budget ones, offer grace and flexibility when tragedy strikes. Sadly, this hotel chose to hide behind their policy and wash their hands of any empathy.

This experience has left a bitter taste that has nothing to do with money — and everything to do with how people treat one another in their darkest moments. If you decide to stay here, I strongly urge you to protect yourself with insurance, because you will find no compassion from the hotel itself, no matter the circumstances

sputniked

Stayed for 5D4N, half in the Aurora Glass Cabin and half in the Scenic Suite with Sauna. We managed to catch the northern lights on one of the nights in the glass cabin, but the other nights were unfortunately cloudy :(||We did 2 activities with the hotel — 3.5h husky experience and reindeer feeding & herding, and also had one dinner at Restaurant Kanis.||What we loved:|- Winter gear (overalls, gloves, shoes etc) is provided, with many sizes available. Toboggans are also available for free. |- Service was good, with 24h reception. |- Tour experiences were well done, with local partners who were passionate and helpful. We particularly enjoyed the reindeer experience!|- Proximity to ski lift and toboggan run.|- Rooms were clean and well-maintained. Heating/drying cabinet in the suite was very useful. ||What could be improved:|- Location is rather inconvenient if you don’t drive. The ski bus only comes up a few times a day and not at all in the night, so it’s tough to have dinner in the town center. It would be great if the hotel could provide its own shuttle for guests. |- No proper aurora alarm system. |- Breakfast was 99% exactly the same every day. Although the food was pretty good, it gets a bit boring if you’re staying for many days. |- It would be good to have fans available, as it got a bit stuffy in the rooms.

Frank L.

Amazing hotel in Lappland. Great service, all the activities like husky and reindeer sleighing, aurora hunting or snowmobile tour were perfectly organized and a once in a lifetime experience. Great for kids, our 6yr old boy had so much fun. The hotel itself is on top of a hill and a perfect spot to see the northern lights. We saw them for two nights. Food is splendid too. We would be very happy to come back.

Zaani Z.

English
A Stellar Stay at Star Arctic Hotel
Our experience at the Star Arctic Hotel was nothing short of magical! From the moment we arrived, we were enchanted by the stunning design and the cozy, luxurious atmosphere. What truly made our stay exceptional, however, were the guides. Every single one of them was Finnish, highly professional, yet incredibly relaxed and fun, making every activity and excursion an absolute joy. Their deep knowledge of the local area and their engaging personalities transformed our trip into an unforgettable adventure. We left feeling refreshed, inspired, and already dreaming of our next visit!
Français
Un Séjour Étoilé au Star Arctic Hotel
Notre expérience au Star Arctic Hotel fut tout simplement magique ! Dès notre arrivée, nous avons été enchantés par le design époustouflant et l'atmosphère chaleureuse et luxueuse. Ce qui a vraiment rendu notre séjour exceptionnel, cependant, ce sont les guides. Chacun d'entre eux était finlandais, très professionnel, mais incroyablement détendu et amusant, faisant de chaque activité et excursion un pur plaisir. Leur connaissance approfondie de la région et leurs personnalités engageantes ont transformé notre voyage en une aventure inoubliable. Nous sommes partis rafraîchis, inspirés, et déjà en train de rêver de notre prochaine visite !
Deutsch
Ein Sternenhafter Aufenthalt im Star Arctic Hotel
Unser Aufenthalt im Star Arctic Hotel war einfach magisch! Von dem Moment unserer Ankunft an waren wir von dem atemberaubenden Design und der gemütlichen, luxuriösen Atmosphäre verzaubert. Was unseren Aufenthalt jedoch wirklich außergewöhnlich machte, waren die Guides. Jeder einzelne von ihnen war finnisch, hochprofessionell, aber unglaublich entspannt und humorvoll, was jede Aktivität und jeden Ausflug zu einem absoluten Vergnügen machte. Ihr tiefes Wissen über die Region und ihre einnehmenden Persönlichkeiten verwandelten unsere Reise in ein unvergessliches Abenteuer. Wir reisten erfrischt und inspiriert ab und träumen bereits von unserem nächsten Besuch!

Katharina S.

What a wonderful hotel with a even more wonderful team!
We had a great stay and everything was perfect, the food, the rooms, the ambiente, the activities.
Everybody was so friendly and always make us smile. Especially Maria is such a super waitress, she was always so courteous and make us laugh with her sayings at the dinner or breakfast.
Thanks to everyone, you made our trip very magical 🙂

andreaT8805SO

Wir verbrachten 6 Nächte im Star Arctic Hotel im Rahmen einer Pauschalreise. Die Hotelanlage besteht aus mehreren einzelnen Häuschen und dem Hauptgebäude mit Restaurant. Die Lage am Berg ist wunderschön, das Schigebiet in unmittelbarer Nähe. Allerdings ist der Verleih der Ausrüstung im Tal und somit etwas umständlich. Wobei das Schigebiet sehr einfach ist und die Liftanlagen sehr veraltet sind.|Die Zimmer des Hotels sind einfach und zweckmäßig, besonderen Komfort darf man sich nicht erwarten. Eine Herausforderung ist die sehr steile Treppe in den Schlafbereich. Das Essen im Restaurant ist sehr gut, ebenso das Frühstück. Leider werden Speisen am Buffet nicht ausreichend nachgeschlichtet. Die vom Hotel organisiert Ausflüge waren top, wenig begeistert hat uns der Ausflug zu den Rentieren.|Unsere Kritikpunkte: 1) das Bett ist eine Zumutung-die Matratze durchgelegen und die Auflage wandert darauf herum, sodass immer mehr Spalt entsteht 2) das Hotel bietet keinerlei Annehmlichkeiten, für Sauna und Whirlpool wird eine extra Gebühr von 150€ verlangt 3) die Verdunkelungsvorhänge bedecken nur einen Teil der Fenster