Invisible Forest Lodge — Hotel in Rovaniemi sub-region

This place has the potential to be incredible, but it’s so poorly thought out that it fails miserably.||On first impressions it is incredibly unwelcoming. The main building that houses the restaurant and reception is like a warehouse. There was a few xmas trees lit up at the side, but one wasn’t lit and was falling over. There were 2 lantern stands on either side of the main doors. One didn’t have a lantern on it, the other had a lantern with the door open and no candle or light inside. There was a couple of sledges lying around the entrance. It was not welcoming at all. As it’s all mirrors, you only see yourself and the crooked xmas tree and sledges. The main light isn’t even a warm white so it’s just very glaring. ||You are given a door code and have to make your own way to the lodge suite. It was 7 pm when we arrived and -20. It’s pitch black with no lights lighting the way. You pass all the bins and an open plastic shed that you can see all empty cardboard boxes and tin cans for recycling. A couple of sweeping brushes and a few metal barriers on the ground. This is the worst first impression. All this should be back of house so guests can’t see this. If you have to have it on display, house it in wood that makes it blend in more. The path to the lodges isn’t lit up so it’s a massive health and safety issue. On arriving at the door there is a light sensor that doesn’t stay on long enough to put in the key code for the door. You are standing in the dark waving your hands in the air to get the light back on only for the key code not to work in the -20 temperature. We had to get the receptionist to come out and recode the door.||The room is very basic, not what you would expect for £4000 for 3 nights. There is a difference between minimal chic and basic with poor materials. I don’t get the idea of having a mini kitchen and washing machine/ tumble dryer when there are no wardrobes in the place. This is supposed to be a relaxing break away and you end up living out of a suitcase like a student. Giving the vibe that you never really settle into the place if you have one foot in your suitcase at all times. It’s not marketed as a hostel! There wasn’t any finishing touches like shower caps, cottonbuds etc. The shower gel and shampoo were exactly like staying in a premier inn. In fact the shower gel wasn’t even shower gel, it was hand wash. The robes were not good quality and the towels smelt as if they hadn’t been dried properly. The Wi-Fi box was situated in the corner of the room on the wall. It had a bright white light that due to poor layout shone right in your eyes while you were lying on the bed trying to sleep. The clock on the microwave did the same thing. Poor layout with no thought. We had to get tape from reception to block out the lights.|The concept of the invisible forest lodge is good but it doesn’t work in reality. Past 2.30 pm the lodge and forest are completely invisible. The majority of people come to Finland for the snow. To see the magic of the place blanketed in snow. To sit and gaze at the warm lights reflecting the glitter in the snow. You come here for the scenery. But because there are no lights lighting up the trees or lights outside of the suites, come 2.30 pm everything is in total darkness. You can’t see the lodge or the trees. There is no point having mirrored walls if once it gets dark( which is the majority of the time) it reflects nothing because you have no lights outside. You are inside your suite looking out at total darkness only your reflection. You have to close the curtains as anyone can see in, and what is the point in keeping the curtains open if you can’t see anything. We all know it gets dark early in Finland so why don’t they light up the snow. It is after all the show piece. Even in the restaurant at dinner, you look out the window and all you see is your own reflection. You might as well have no window at all! Also there is a sauna in the middle of the restaurant. Very off putting. Who wants to see someone sweat it out when you are having a romantic meal!!!||The whole place seemed to reflect very poor organisation and poor management skills. It gave the impression that it was run by management that had absolutely no hospitality experience. You are paying for quality and high standards and are not getting that.|The kitchen is on display as a focal point. Fine, but make sure your guests can’t see a pile of dirty saucepans piled up, or a kitchen staff member leaning against the counter eating a banana, or washing a bunch of grapes for the buffet and eating some herself. There should be a separate place for staff to have a break and take their coats off. One man was in the kitchen with his coat on and a few minutes later he was icing a cake. It screams cross contamination.|Another example of no thought to layout, is the buffet hot plates. They are situated at the kitchen window with 3 central lights hanging down, but when you open the lid it pushes the light backwards as there isn’t enough room for the serving tray and lid.||We brought up these issues when we were leaving. The response was it’s the Nordic way!! The lady we spoke to was quite defensive. We’ve been to Finland in winter 3 other times, and it is not the Nordic way for the place to be unwelcoming and pitch black!! Finland is all about the light, whether it is the incredible northern lights in the sky or the warm white glow of light reflecting the frozen glitter in the snow. It’s all about the use of light and the magic it creates. Yes in the day time the forest at the lodge looks beautiful, ( although during this time you are usually out doing activities and not in the lodge to see the lodge in daylight) but once the natural light fades, you should be able to see the magic of the dark through well placed artificial light to accentuate the natural rawness of nature.||Overall the concept could have made this place spectacular, but due to poor layout, design and a lack of hospitality experience, it is at best a one star rating. We will return to Lapland, but not to this hotel. The potential is there though, if the above points are...

This place has the potential to be incredible, but it’s so poorly thought out that it fails miserably.||On first impressions it is incredibly unwelcoming. The main building that houses the restaurant and reception is like a warehouse. There was a few xmas trees lit up at the side, but one wasn’t lit and was falling over. There were 2 lantern stands on either side of the main doors. One didn’t have a lantern on it, the other had a lantern with the door open and no candle or light inside. There was a couple of sledges lying around the entrance. It was not welcoming at all. As it’s all mirrors, you only see yourself and the crooked xmas tree and sledges. The main light isn’t even a warm white so it’s just very glaring. ||You are given a door code and have to make your own way to the lodge suite. It was 7 pm when we arrived and -20. It’s pitch black with no lights lighting the way. You pass all the bins and an open plastic shed that you can see all empty cardboard boxes and tin cans for recycling. A couple of sweeping brushes and a few metal barriers on the ground. This is the worst first impression. All this should be back of house so guests can’t see this. If you have to have it on display, house it in wood that makes it blend in more. The path to the lodges isn’t lit up so it’s a massive health and safety issue. On arriving at the door there is a light sensor that doesn’t stay on long enough to put in the key code for the door. You are standing in the dark waving your hands in the air to get the light back on only for the key code not to work in the -20 temperature. We had to get the receptionist to come out and recode the door.||The room is very basic, not what you would expect for £4000 for 3 nights. There is a difference between minimal chic and basic with poor materials. I don’t get the idea of having a mini kitchen and washing machine/ tumble dryer when there are no wardrobes in the place. This is supposed to be a relaxing break away and you end up living out of a suitcase like a student. Giving the vibe that you never really settle into the place if you have one foot in your suitcase at all times. It’s not marketed as a hostel! There wasn’t any finishing touches like shower caps, cottonbuds etc. The shower gel and shampoo were exactly like staying in a premier inn. In fact the shower gel wasn’t even shower gel, it was hand wash. The robes were not good quality and the towels smelt as if they hadn’t been dried properly. The Wi-Fi box was situated in the corner of the room on the wall. It had a bright white light that due to poor layout shone right in your eyes while you were lying on the bed trying to sleep. The clock on the microwave did the same thing. Poor layout with no thought. We had to get tape from reception to block out the lights.|The concept of the invisible forest lodge is good but it doesn’t work in reality. Past 2.30 pm the lodge and forest are completely invisible. The majority of people come to Finland for the snow. To see the magic of the place blanketed in snow. To sit and gaze at the warm lights reflecting the glitter in the snow. You come here for the scenery. But because there are no lights lighting up the trees or lights outside of the suites, come 2.30 pm everything is in total darkness. You can’t see the lodge or the trees. There is no point having mirrored walls if once it gets dark( which is the majority of the time) it reflects nothing because you have no lights outside. You are inside your suite looking out at total darkness only your reflection. You have to close the curtains as anyone can see in, and what is the point in keeping the curtains open if you can’t see anything. We all know it gets dark early in Finland so why don’t they light up the snow. It is after all the show piece. Even in the restaurant at dinner, you look out the window and all you see is your own reflection. You might as well have no window at all! Also there is a sauna in the middle of the restaurant. Very off putting. Who wants to see someone sweat it out when you are having a romantic meal!!!||The whole place seemed to reflect very poor organisation and poor management skills. It gave the impression that it was run by management that had absolutely no hospitality experience. You are paying for quality and high standards and are not getting that.|The kitchen is on display as a focal point. Fine, but make sure your guests can’t see a pile of dirty saucepans piled up, or a kitchen staff member leaning against the counter eating a banana, or washing a bunch of grapes for the buffet and eating some herself. There should be a separate place for staff to have a break and take their coats off. One man was in the kitchen with his coat on and a few minutes later he was icing a cake. It screams cross contamination.|Another example of no thought to layout, is the buffet hot plates. They are situated at the kitchen window with 3 central lights hanging down, but when you open the lid it pushes the light backwards as there isn’t enough room for the serving tray and lid.||We brought up these issues when we were leaving. The response was it’s the Nordic way!! The lady we spoke to was quite defensive. We’ve been to Finland in winter 3 other times, and it is not the Nordic way for the place to be unwelcoming and pitch black!! Finland is all about the light, whether it is the incredible northern lights in the sky or the warm white glow of light reflecting the frozen glitter in the snow. It’s all about the use of light and the magic it creates. Yes in the day time the forest at the lodge looks beautiful, ( although during this time you are usually out doing activities and not in the lodge to see the lodge in daylight) but once the natural light fades, you should be able to see the magic of the dark through well placed artificial light to accentuate the natural rawness of nature.||Overall the concept could have made this place spectacular, but due to poor layout, design and a lack of hospitality experience, it is at best a one star rating. We will return to Lapland, but not to this hotel. The potential is there though, if the above points are...

So we chose invisible forest based on instagram hype amazing pictures . ||We arrived to a self check in process not what you would expect for £5500 for 4 days . Check in was hard work and we arrived at 1pm after a early flight she advised that check in was 4pm (check out 11am) but a lodge was ready but is was €60 extra again fine if it’s the Ibis at £100 per night but again £5500 !!! ||We reluctantly paid it as we where tired they gave us a code to the door and we went of to investigate as it did not work on the lodge until 2pm .||We arrived at the 2pm the code did not work so we had to call to get the door sorted . I have to say the cabin and setting was beautiful however it did feel like they had run out of money on the finishing touches .||1. the robes as per picture moth eaten and not the beautiful white thick quality as you would imagine ! |2. The towels looked thread bear and again not what you would envisage for £5500|3. The shower door completely pointless|4. No extra little bits like shower cap / cotton buds little welcome chocolates ect.|5. Hair dryer like from Ibis ||Another thing would be taking someone to the lodge and just that little extra care .||That a side we decided to relax and look forward to new year eve . However we were still awaiting our luggage we called to reception and nothing arrived after 1.30 hours ||I laid on the bed and to my horror a very bad stain which was on the duvet .||I called to reception no answer so I called the other number and a guy answered and I said I needed to speak to the manager and asked him to come to the lodge .||He arrived very promptly and clearly was very flustered to the point of a bit aggressive . I pointed out the duvet and the no bags after 1.30 hours .||He took it very personally and became very agitated. He did get someone in Whilst he was there to change the bed and did get the bags sorted but when I pointed the issues we had out he got very exited . I told him to calm down and let’s resolve The issues I did say that for the money we have paid we don’t think it’s good value and especially the issues we had suffered .i did say with the failing we had suffered I will expect a reduction on the room rate for the first night . He was very aggressive to this comment told us no money would be refunded and I was blackmailing him !!! Wow I notified him to look up the word black mail as this is nothing to do with asking for a partial refund due to there significant failing .||I had to point out to him on many occasions to calm down .||Very unprofessional and clearly a huge lack of management skill set !!! ||He said I will send a bottle of wine and that’s all you are having wow !!! Indeed said wine did arrive and clearly been removed from the chip shop counter.||He mention are we coming to the party ? There was apparently a new years party which we knew nothing about . No one told us on check in ||We decided to go to the party and aero we for the New Year’s Eve buffet |1. cold selection extremely poor . |2. Sushi rice was hard |3. Pasta so hard to shot off my plate |4. Bread or should I say rock cake from local bakery When did she bake it ? I think she might have started the Xmas break early .|5. Cold rice |6. Cold mash |7. Nothing all ready on time yet 5 “chefs “ in the kitchen |8. Cheese board slopped on with still label on board |Just in general very poor for a normal dinner let alone new year eve . These can’t be chefs if they are they are certainly not proud of the rubbish they were churning out .||I think it’s a case of too many cooks spoil the broth ! ||That an aside we decided to enjoy the night . But I am not sure how they party in Finland but I have seen more excitement at a wake !||The restaurant manager asked us what we thought of the food and the only things we could say was nice was the salad yes salad . No danger here of getting in the Michelin guide anytime soon.||We managed to depart the excitement to return to the room and enjoy the hot tub .||The manager was at breakfast next day and was sheepish around us . Again the breakfast was poor and just no thought put into it . Everything cold that should be hot and not sure what happened with the scrambled egg but it resembled cat vomit .||We avoided the restaurant from there on in . What a shame as this could be a massive asset as you are in the middle on nowhere.||The rest of the stay we stayed in the cabin and ate out .||After doing some investigating the manager was actually the owner . No background or experience in hotels or lodge parks or even restaurants and that was pretty similar for the whole management team hence my title of the review “ blind leading the blind “ how can someone manage a team with no experience. And it showed ||the whole team zero customer service skills and some of them to the point of rudeness . (Owners wife ) ||We then went out for the day and returned as we swapped for the igloo . Again they just gave us the card and sent us on our way to locate it in the dark . Why not get people of the snow mobile and take them there then it’s already and exciting part to the stay .||We found it in the dark actually . really nice but basic but they did specify this so not surprised . I had the best night sleep and was very cosy .apart from the power cutting off but we called and this was resolved quickly.||I will now post this and the owner will do one of two things . Protest and ignore this and live in denial that everything is ok when I believe they have spent too much money on the aesthetics and not enough of the finishing touches and they are in a bit of trouble .||If he goes for the first option I would love to have first refusal in purchasing it from the administrators in 12 months !!! ||Or he will take note of a well travel customer highlighting valid point in which he could make this business amazing .||Ladies and gentlemen only...