My girlfriend and I stayed at Aurora Treehouse for one night in 2-3 December 2025, paying about €800 with hopes of experiencing the northern lights and enjoying a special Finnish getaway. While the concept is lovely, the execution didn't match the premium price point.
When we arrived, we found the room wasn't quite ready for guests. The outdoor mattress needed attention, the fridge had leftover food items and stains from previous guests, and the bathroom was not clean. The room phone was broken, which made it difficult to reach reception. The mobile number provided connected to what felt more like a booking agency than the front desk, which was inconvenient.
The listing mentioned dinner was included, but we were told upon arrival this wasn't the case. After pointing out the room issues, we received compensation of one main course each at the restaurant. We appreciated the gesture, though we still ended up spending quite a bit at the restaurant, which was decent but nothing exceptional for the price.
Everything seemed to come with an additional charge. The spa was nice but fairly standard - similar to what you'd find at regular Finnish spas (Holiday express/Järvisydän) for much less. Extra treatments were pricey at nearly €200 for a 30-minute massage. Even minibar items were quite expensive, with supermarket coffee priced at €8.
I wanted to show my girlfriend an authentic Finnish experience, as she's not from Finland. However, we were surprised to find that none of the staff we encountered were Finnish or spoke Finnish. While the staff were professional, it felt more like an international tourist operation than a genuine Lapland experience. We did expect more local character and authenticity that would reflect Finnish hospitality. Instead, the service felt somewhat impersonal, staff were indifferent and their goal seemed only to upsell at every opportunity. We felt quite unvalued as clients and I just cannot describe this as a premium experience.
At breakfast, we noticed the milk wasn't being kept properly chilled on a cold plate as standard practice in Finland, which was a bit concerning from a food safety perspective. The breakfast was otherwise nice continental breakfast consistent with all the essentials.
We didn't see the aurora during our stay, though this obviously wasn't guaranteed or the hotel's fault. Just a tip for future visitors - even during optimal season and weather in Rovaniemi, sightings aren't certain. If the aurora is your main priority, consider booking a dedicated aurora chasing tour. All things considered, the treehouse concept is charming and the location is around 40 minutes drive from Rovaniemi city centre. There's no underground or roofed parking and we spent a lot of time clearing ice and snow from our car.
Overall, we expected more attention to detail, cleaner facilities, better value overall, and a more authentic experience. It's not a bad hotel, but the price feels steep for what you actually receive.
