Get cosy on a finnish COTTAGE holiday

Holiday cottage, sauna and rowing a boat form the Holy Trinity for Finns in the summertime. For some, a cottage offers a secluded wilderness retreat, while for others it’s a base for active outdoors pursuits. If you want a truly Finnish holiday experience, do away with your watch, let your hair down, and head for a cottage in the countryside!The half a million holiday cottages, or “mökki” in Finnish, are proof of Finland’s strong cottage culture. Throughout the year, cottages offer a weekend getaway from the busy city; but come June–July, Finns retreat to the countryside to bond with nature. Once there, you are free to unwind, and enjoy the slow life, be it by relaxing on the porch with a good book or by chopping firewood and hiking in the wilderness.In Finland, nature really is in reach. Thanks to a low population density of about 16 per square kilometre (16 per 1/3 square mile) and to the thousands of lakes and the long seashore, most cabins are located right on the waterfront and host a private beach and sauna. And as you step out of the sauna with the steam rising off your skin and look out on the calm water in the still of the evening, you are truly at the heart of Finnish holiday culture.Finns being such cottage enthusiasts, there is also a great selection of holiday cottages available for rent to share in the experience. Whether you wish to spend your holiday by a lake or at the seaside, rough it out in an ascetic cabin or enjoy all the modern amenities of a luxurious villa, there is an abundance of alternatives to choose from.We have chosen three distinct examples of how to spend an unforgettable cottage holiday in Finland in summer.Rent a private island, a wilderness dugout or an old Fire stationIf you are looking for a holiday in the lap of luxury, the secluded Villa Fregatti on Aateli Island is just for you. Villa Fregatti is nestled on a private island located in beautiful Lake Nauasjärvi with breathtaking views of Vuokatti, an outdoor sports resort 560 kilometres (350 miles) north east of Helsinki. The villa is equipped with three bedrooms, a fireplace, sauna, whirlpool, home entertainment centre and heated, glazed-in terrace.Vuokatin Aateli’s own ships Princess Vilma and General Jermu take residents to the island. General Jermu is also available for rent and can serve as extra accommodation, or it can take you out on the waves of Nauasjärvi for fishing, surfing and other water activities. A heliport on the island makes it possible for you to arrive in your own aircraft or helicopter. The price for a weekend at the villa varies between 1,295 (USD 1,722) and 1,475 Euros (USD 1,961), while the rent for the entire week is 8,950 Euros (USD 11,903). Catering and cleaning services are tailored to suit your individual needs.For more information, visit www.vuokatinaateli.fi. If you are searching for an authentic nature experience, Koron Korsu in the middle of Lapland’s wilderness is the option for you. Located in Posio, 130 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of Rovaniemi, Koron Korsu is a cabin hidden inside a sandy ridge on the shore of the clear-watered Korsulampi pond. This rustic dugout contains one room, three bunk beds and a sauna. The cabin is lit by candle light and equipped with only an outdoor toilet – making for a total nature adventure. Drinking water comes straight from the pond, or from the spring next to the cabin. The nearby Korouoma Canyon offers a perfect setting for hiking and fishing.The rent for Koron Korsu is 70 Euros (USD 93) per night. For further information, visit www.villipohjola.fi/item.asp?Section=987&Item=1044,Looking for an even more unconventional cottage? Try Wanha Paloasema, an old district fire station converted into a villa. “Wanha Paloasema”, Finnish for Old Fire Station, is located on the grounds of Hotel Patruunantalo, 110 kilometres (70 miles) east of Helsinki in the historic ironworks area. From the outside, Wanha Paloasema still resembles a fire station, but the interiors have been completely refurbished and only old photos remind residents of the cabin’s days as a fire station. The cottage sleeps 10 people, and has a living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. A lakeshore sauna and large bathtub are available for an extra charge. There are services conveniently nearby. The villa stands 50 meters (164 feet) from Hotel Patruunantalo with a restaurant and wine cellar, and the nearest village with more shops is only a kilometre ( a little more than ½ mile) away.    The weekly rate for this fully equipped villa is 1,106 Euros (USD 1,470), and the weekend rate is 422 Euros (USD 560). To find out more, visit www.lomarengas.fi/ServiceInfo.action?siteName=lomarengas&id=5608. Even if the above three cottage options aren’t exactly what you are looking for, Country Holidays is sure to meet your needs with over 4,000 inspected and classified holiday cottages all over the country. The choice of cottage ranges from modest cabins to villas with all the modern amenities you could wish for. Most of the locations are situated right on the lakeshore and all have a private sauna. The weekly rates range from 500 (USD 665) to 2,000 Euros (USD 2,660), depending on the season as well as on the size, location and standard of the cottage. The smallest cottages offer room for 2 people, while the largest villas can accommodate up to 20 people.When this press release was written the Euro exchange rate was 1 EURO = USD 1.33To find out more about the different options, visit www.lomarengas.fi. For more information about tourism in Finland, visit www.visitfinland.com and theVisit Finland image bank at www.imagebank.visitfinland.com. Contact:Helena NiskanenVisit Finland USATel. +1-917-863-5484