Lapland cabin holiday: frequently asked questions

Booking & payment

Q: How do I book a cabin with Valkea Homes?

You book online at valkeahomes.fi. Choose your dates, pay on our own checkout page, and your confirmation arrives by email straight away - there is no waiting for a reply. If you would rather ask something before you commit, email us at info@valkeahomes.fi and we will help you find the right cabin.

Q: What is the cheapest way to book?

Booking straight from valkeahomes.fi. Our own site is always the best price for the same cabin, because there is no booking-platform commission added on top of it. You also deal with us directly, from the first question to the day you leave.

Q: How does payment work?

You pay when you book, in full, on our own checkout page. You can pay by bank payment or card, and with Apple Pay or Google Pay on devices that offer them. Card details are handled by our payment provider, Stripe, and are never stored by us. An invoice can be arranged, but please email us first so we can set it up.

Q: Is there a minimum stay?

The booking calendar on each cabin page shows what is available - if you can select the dates there, you can book them. For a special request, such as a shorter weekday stay or a single night outside the season, send us a message and we will see what we can do.

Cancellation & changes

Q: What is your cancellation policy?

Bookings cancelled 28 days or more before the arrival date are refunded in full, automatically. Cancellations made later than that are not refundable. You can do it yourself: the confirmation email contains a link to your booking, and the cancellation is there.

Q: What if I have to cancel because of illness or another unexpected reason?

The 28-day rule applies whatever the reason, so we recommend taking out travel insurance for your trip. What a policy covers differs from insurer to insurer, so check the terms of your own. If something serious happens, get in touch anyway and we will tell you honestly what is possible.

Q: Can I change my booking dates?

Get in touch and we'll see what's possible. Date changes made well in advance are usually straightforward, provided the new dates are open.

Check-in & access

Q: What are check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 18:00 and check-out is by 11:00. The exact times for your cabin are in the cabin guide we send as soon as your booking is confirmed. If your travel schedule needs a little give, ask us in advance and we will see what is possible on the day.

Q: Can I drop off luggage if I arrive early?

Yes. You can bring your luggage to the cabin from 12:00. Send us a message in advance so we can arrange it. Please bear in mind that the cabin may not be cleaned yet when you get there: our cleaner can come at any point between 11:00 and 18:00, and the cabin is ready for you from 18:00.

Q: How do I get the keys?

Key handover details and cabin-specific instructions are in the digital welcome guide we send right after your booking is confirmed.

What's included?

Q: Are bed linens and towels included?

Bed linen and towels are not included in the price. You can add them to your booking, and the price is shown when you do. They must always be ordered in advance - we cannot arrange linen once you have arrived.

Q: Is final cleaning included?

Final cleaning is an optional extra at almost every cabin, and you can add it when you book. Our approach is built on trusting our guests, which is what keeps our prices where they are, and every cabin is inspected and cleaned to a high standard between stays, so it is always clean when you arrive. One thing is worth knowing in advance: ordering final cleaning does not mean you can leave the cabin as it is. Even with cleaning ordered, the cabin must be left tidy, as after normal use - dishes washed and put away, rubbish taken out to the bins, and any linen and towels you hired stripped off the beds into one pile.

Q: Is firewood included?

Each booking includes one 40-litre bag of firewood. If you get through it, you can buy more - just ask our customer service or the cabin caretaker, as extra firewood cannot be ordered online. Your cabin guide has the local details.

Q: Do all cabins have WiFi?

Yes - every cabin we publish on this site has Wi-Fi. The network name and password are in your cabin guide.

Q: Do the cabins have a sauna, and how does it work?

Every cabin on this site has a sauna - all of them electric apart from one wood-heated sauna. An electric sauna is ready in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The heater timer usually runs three to four hours at a time, and some heaters will not start at all if the timer is set beyond that. The instructions for your own sauna are in the cabin guide.

Q: Are kitchens fully equipped?

Every cabin has a fully equipped kitchen with dishware, a stove, a fridge-freezer and a microwave - and every single one of them has a dishwasher too. Smaller appliances, a coffee maker among them, vary from cabin to cabin, so check the cabin listing for what that kitchen has.

Pets, smoking & house rules

Q: Can I bring my dog or other pet?

Pets are welcome at most of the cabins on this site - the cabin listing tells you whether yours takes them. A pet must always be declared in advance: an undeclared pet found at inspection costs €60. The pet fee itself is €20 per pet for the whole stay at most cabins, and a little more at a couple of them; you see the exact amount when you book. Guests are responsible for any damage their pet causes, and pets are not allowed on sofas or beds.

Q: Is smoking allowed?

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside all of our cabins, with no exceptions. If there has been smoking indoors, the guest is responsible for the resulting cleaning costs. Smoking outside is fine, provided all cigarette butts are collected and disposed of in the outdoor waste bin - they may not be placed in the indoor trash.

Q: Can I host a party or bachelor weekend?

Parties and bachelor or hen groups are possible by prior arrangement - please mention it when you book. The same goes for extra guests: any temporary additional visitors, or a party, must be agreed in advance with us, the caretaker or the owner.

Q: What is the maximum number of guests?

What applies is the maximum number of guests stated for the cabin, not the number of beds. At most of our cabins the stated maximum is higher than the bed count, so check both figures on the cabin listing, and ask us if you want to know how the extra places are arranged. Any additional guests must be agreed with us in advance.

Travel & getting there

Q: Where are your cabins located?

We have cabins from southern Finland up to northern Lapland - at Lake Lohja, in Pyhätunturi, Luosto, and the Ylläs / Äkäslompolo area. Each region offers a different kind of holiday with the same standard of accommodation quality.

Q: What are the closest airports?

• Pyhätunturi & Luosto: Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)
• Ylläs & Äkäslompolo: Kittilä Airport (KTT)
• Lohja & Lake Lohja: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)

Q: Do I need a car?

A car is recommended for our Lapland cabins - it gives you flexibility for skiing, hiking, restaurants, and excursions. Airport transfers and bus connections reach most destinations, and several of our cabins are within walking distance of resort centres. For Lohja, a car is essentially needed.

Q: What about winter tyres?

On Lapland roads, winter tyres and some winter-driving experience are essential. If you are driving your own car, check the condition of your tyres before you set off, and check the Finnish winter tyre rules in force for your travel dates.

Q: Do any cabins have EV charging?

Some of our cabins have an EV charging point - the cabin listing tells you which. Villa Arcus at Pyhä is one of them. Please note that charging needs the permission of the owner or the caretaker, and an additional fee may apply.

Best time to visit

Q: When is the best time to see the northern lights in Finland?

The aurora season runs from around September to late April. The best conditions need clear skies and full darkness, which makes the darkest months of the winter the most promising. Northern lights can never be promised - they depend on the weather and on solar activity - but the longer you stay, the more chances you get.

Q: When is ski season in Lapland?

At Pyhä, Luosto, and Ylläs the ski season usually runs from late November well into May. The busiest months are December to April, and the best snow conditions generally come later in the season.

Q: When is ruska - the Finnish autumn colour?

Ruska is Lapland's most colourful autumn period, usually somewhere between mid-September and early October. Pyhä and Ylläs are known for spectacular ruska. The peak is short, and its exact timing shifts from year to year with the weather.

Q: When is the summer season?

Lapland summer is short but intense - roughly June through late August. Around midsummer the nights barely get dark, and hiking, fishing, and mountain-biking trails are at their best. At Lohja, summer is the prime cottage season: warm lake water, sauna, and long lazy days on the shore.

Q: What is there to do in your destinations?

In Pyhä, Luosto, and Ylläs the focus is downhill skiing, cross-country trails, snowshoeing, husky and reindeer farms, hiking, and fishing. At Lake Lohja the focus shifts to swimming, rowing, fishing, plus golf and hiking trails nearby. The cabin welcome guide always includes our local favourites.

Support & emergencies

Q: How can I reach you during my stay?

Our customer service is on +358 10 299 3033 and info@valkeahomes.fi. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00 and Saturday 10:00-18:00 - that is when we answer fastest, and when non-urgent matters are best raised. For a genuine emergency at the cabin you can reach us outside those hours as well, and your cabin guide also carries the caretaker's number for problems on site.

Q: What if something breaks during my stay?

Let us know right away by phone or email and we'll handle it. Small maintenance items (a bulb out, an appliance hiccup) we can usually resolve quickly. Accidental damage isn't something to stress about - just let us know so we can put things right for the next guest. One practical note from our booking terms: report a fault immediately to the caretaker or the owner, and if it is not put right, to us within 72 hours; a written complaint should reach us within one month.