FRONTLINE


MATT AND ASHLEY PHILLIPS co-owners, The Travel Chaps, Lincoln


I [Ashley] was fortunate to be


selected for Sunvil’s Swedish Lapland fam trip in March, and as I’m sure Matt would tell you, I haven’t stopped talking about it since! Luxury and unique


accommodation, the friendliest people, the most incredible food and not a Father Christmas in sight: this was a true winter getaway with heart and soul poured into it. My main takeaway was that Swedish Lapland is not like the more Santa-centric Finnish Lapland. It’s for clients who want something different, somewhere that offers authenticity, adventure and luxury. Since returning I have quoted it for both winter and summer. Clients love the idea of doing something different and visiting in the summer, when a frozen wonderland becomes a summer haven with 24 hours of sunlight.


A TRIP OF TREATS I thought I would use this opportunity to recap some highlights to give a taste of what the destination is like for those who haven’t been – or for those who have and want to relive it vicariously through me! Before departure, I looked at photos of the hotels we were due to be staying at and carried out thorough research of the destination, as any true travel nerd would, but when we arrived it was unlike anything I could have imagined.


22 23 APRIL 2026 AGENT


Swedish Lapland is for clients who want something different, somewhere with


adventure and luxury


Starting off in the charming town of Lulea, with its snow and frozen lakes, we were off to a great start. The next morning our group took a trip to the iconic church town of Gammelstad, before heading out into the wilderness to stay at the epic Brandon Lodge. Our log cabins overlooked the misty frozen sea, where snowmobiles awaited us to head out and explore. The following day, luxury was


ramped up to another level as we stayed at Arctic Retreat, where I had my own lodge, fire and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the northern lights. It was a


travelweekly.co.uk


once-in-a-lifetime experience I will treasure forever. After lunch hosted by a Sami guide, who told us all about his people and lifestyle, we explored the area some more and were all head over heels in love. We also went husky hiking


through the snow (I had the cutest dog, called Spy). I didn’t even know it was a thing until this huge dog was strapped to me and pulling me along as I trotted behind him.


NOURISHING THE SOUL I must mention the food. We are not talking Ikea meatballs here. Every meal – whether in the Michelin- starred restaurant at Arctic Bath, reindeer prepared by our Sami guide, or fika (sociable coffee break) in the home of a blacksmith we visited – was a culinary blessing. If you have clients interested in Swedish Lapland, I would recommend Loggers Lodge and Villa Äng for bougie customers who have the budget and want privacy. For adventurous clients, my picks would be Treehotel, Brandon Lodge and Arctic Retreat. A massive thank you must go to


Katie at Sunvil for hosting, as well as the group of agents I shared the experience with. This trip is one I will always remember and cherish.


AGENTS OFFER PEACE OF MIND


We travel agents are the absolute unsung heroes when it comes to a crisis. We have chosen to view the Middle East conflict as an opportunity to showcase the skills and expertise of an agent, taking the opportunity to shout about the bookings we have rescheduled, rebooked and rerouted. Like agencies up and down the country, our team has embraced the challenge, focusing on where our customers can still go and where the crazy deals are, while reassuring clients that we are there for them. Again and again we have shown our resilience and that we know what we are doing in a crisis. Now is the time to get


proactive, call our databases and get people booking.


Let’s get our customers booking


M & Ashley att


Matt Ashley


Andrea Clare Helen diary diary


Andrea Clare H Sharon elen Sharon


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Matt & Ashley


Matt & Ashley


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