Aurora Village vs Star Arctic Hotel
Two Lapland stays, split by split. Aurora Village scores 7.5, Star Arctic Hotel 7.4. Here is where the difference comes from.
Summary
Aurora Village Ivalo scores 7.5/10 and Star Arctic Hotel 7.4/10 in our ranking. Aurora Village is ahead on stay & rooms, guest ratings, dining, spa & activities and location & access, while Star Arctic Hotel is ahead on privacy & wellness.
Rooms: Aurora Village's units are 28–41 m²; Star Arctic Hotel's are 20–35 m². At Aurora Village no unit has a private sauna and no unit has a private hot tub; at Star Arctic Hotel some units have a private sauna and no unit has a private hot tub.
Location: Aurora Village is in Ivalo, Inari, 13 km from IVL; Star Arctic Hotel is in Saariselkä, Kaunispää fell, 28 km from IVL.
| Criterion | Aurora Village | Star Arctic Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5/10 | 7.4/10 |
| Ranking | #11 | #12 |
| Area | Ivalo · Inari | Saariselkä · Kaunispää fell |
| Stay type | Glass-roof aurora cabins | Aurora glass cabins, Sauna suites |
| Glass-roof room size | 28 m² and up | 20 m² and up |
| Largest unit | 41 m² | 35 m² |
| Private sauna | No | In some units |
| Private hot tub | No | No |
| Guest rating (avg /10) | 9.3 (1,289 reviews) | 8.8 (1,366 reviews) |
| Airport | 13 km (IVL) | 28 km (IVL) |
| From / night | €345 · breakfast & dinner included Sep–Apr | €360 · breakfast included |
| Restaurant / spa | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| Stay & rooms | 7.6 | 7.2 |
| Privacy & wellness | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Guest ratings | 9.3 | 8.8 |
| Dining, spa & activities | 8.0 | 7.8 |
| Location & access | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| Value for money | 7.6 | 7.6 |
Aurora Village Ivalo
A genuinely dark, far-north base with good food included. Cabins are simple, and saunas and the hot tub cost extra.
Star Arctic Hotel
Great views and skiing on the doorstep. The glass cabins are the smallest in our comparison.
Also compare our #1: SkyView Igloo Resort
Two-floor glass igloo suites where every unit has its own sauna and outdoor hot tub, on a quiet forest hill 15 minutes from Rovaniemi Airport. It scores 9.5/10 in our ranking, ahead of both Aurora Village (7.5) and Star Arctic Hotel (7.4).
The short answer
Choose Aurora Village for: Half board included in aurora season · Dark forest site far north · Short transfer from Ivalo Airport.
Choose Star Arctic Hotel for: Fell-top panorama · Ski-to-door. Keep in mind: Glass cabins only 20 m² · Partial glass roof, not a dome.
Aurora Village vs Star Arctic Hotel: FAQ
Which is better, Aurora Village or Star Arctic Hotel?
In our ranking Aurora Village Ivalo comes out ahead with 7.5/10. Aurora Village is ahead on stay & rooms, guest ratings, dining, spa & activities and location & access, while Star Arctic Hotel is ahead on privacy & wellness.
Which has better guest reviews, Aurora Village or Star Arctic Hotel?
Aurora Village averages 9.3/10 (1,289 reviews) and Star Arctic Hotel 8.8/10 (1,366 reviews), combining Google, Tripadvisor and Booking.com.
Which is cheaper, Aurora Village or Star Arctic Hotel?
Aurora Village starts from €345 per night (breakfast & dinner included Sep–Apr) and Star Arctic Hotel from €360 (breakfast included). Compare what is included, such as breakfast, sauna and hot tub, as well as the nightly rate.