Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sleep on a bed of ice in a room where everything from the walls to the furniture is made of frozen water? Ice hotels offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the beauty and artistry of meticulously carved ice structures.
Found in some of the coldest places on earth, including Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Finland, these are open for only a few months each year before melting in the spring. If you want to spark your sense of adventure, this article will explain why ice hotel should be at the top of your bucket list.
Things to know before visiting an ice hotel
Before booking your icy adventure, here are some essential things to know:
No, you’re not sleeping on ice
While ice hotels are constructed entirely of ice and snow, the sleeping areas provide insulation between you and the frozen walls. Reindeer pelts, thermal sleeping bags, and thick mattresses protect from the chill. Some locations even have heated floors! However, you may still feel a chill sometimes, especially when getting in and out of bed.
They’re not open 12 months a year
Ice hotels are temporary as they are made entirely of ice and snow. They are designed to last only in the winter, roughly 3 to 4 months. Regardless, some ice hotels offer summer accommodation options using more traditional materials.
Just book for one night
An ice hotel is a unique experience, but spending multiple nights in subzero temperatures may not appeal to everyone. Fortunately, most ice hotels offer the option to book just one night to get a taste of this chilling experience without committing to an extended stay.
You’ll still enjoy the intricately carved ice suites for a single night, dine at the ice restaurant, and see the spectacular LED light shows illuminating the frozen halls. After a night in the cold, you can head off to warmer lodgings while still appreciating the beauty and artistry of the ice hotel.
There are no typical hotel amenities inside
When staying in an ice hotel, you won’t find any typical hotel amenities inside the rooms. In other words, its ice accommodations have no electrical outlets, plumbing, or heating systems. You’ll sleep in specially designed sleeping bags rated for subzero temperatures atop insulated mattresses.
Each ice hotel has heated main buildings for reception, dining, and other communal areas. Showers, toilets, and lockers are also located in the main building. However, some hotels may have saunas or hot tubs for warming up.
The coolest ice hotels to visit
Here are some coolest ice hotels to visit with your family:
Laplands Snow Village Hotel
This ice hotel in Finland spans 20,000 square meters and is constructed from 1.5 million kilos of snow and 300,000 kilos of crystal-clear ice. The architecture and design changes yearly, but typically include an ice chapel, ice bar, and ice restaurant.
Staying in this ice hotel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Guests sleep in thermal sleeping bags on top of ice beds, admiring the intricately carved ice walls and ceilings. By morning, guests’ body heat causes a thin layer of water to form over the ice, which quickly refreezes. The ice rooms are between -5 and -10°C, so proper cold-weather gear is necessary.
Hoshino Resort Tomamu Tower
This high-rise hotel aims to blend modern design with a cozy feel. All rooms offer scenic views of the surrounding mountains and forest.
The Tower is only a quick stroll from the ski lifts and slopes and the resort’s restaurants, shops, and activities. Guests can easily access the Wave Pool, Forest Adventure Park, and Chapel on the Water. Aside from that, the resort’s hot spring baths, including an open-air bath, are just minutes away.
Balea Ice Hotel
Constructed entirely out of snow and ice extracted from a nearby glacier lake, this transient hotel melts away each spring, only to be rebuilt the following winter.
When the hotel opens each December, everything from the walls to the beds, chairs, and glasses in the bar are made of ice. Staying here is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sleep surrounded by glittering ice sculptures and wake to majestic mountain vistas.
In addition, days are filled with activities like dog sledding, skiing, and snowshoeing. Evenings allow relaxing in the icy lounge or hot tubs as the Northern Lights dance across the night sky.
Hotel de Glace
The Hôtel de Glace, North America’s only ice hotel, is a magical winter wonderland outside Quebec City, Canada. Artists and designers worldwide come together every December to create this temporary masterpiece.
Using chisels and chainsaws, the artists sculpt 2,400 ice blocks into an ever-changing series of themed suites and halls. In other words, no two rooms are alike. The frozen sculptures reflect different styles, from Art Deco to futurism.
Ice Hotel, Sweden
The Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, is an architectural marvel constructed entirely from ice and snow. Artists and designers worldwide submit yearly proposals for the hotels’ suites and common areas. The chosen designs are then hand-carved into the ice by expert artisans. By morning, you’ll gain an appreciation for simple creature comforts.
Have a cool experience
As you can see, ice hotels offer a truly unique travel experience. Though the structures may melt come springtime, the memories you make there will remain. If you want to escape the ordinary and immerse yourself in a world of ice, book your stay at one of these chilling retreats.
