With much of the nation shivering in the grips of a wintry grasp, we thought it appropriate to indulge in unique and extreme accommodation fantasies. The following five Ice Hotels are magnificent structures, created entirely from ice and packed snow and abounding in creative amenities like a gondola that doubles as a sauna, ice-molded cocktail glasses and dinnerware, and reindeer-fueled sled rides. Here are the top five, worldwide:
Montreal, Canada is home to the SnowVillage ice hotel, where visitors can stay for a few hours to several nights. From participating in snow ball fights and getting married in an ice chapel, to a dinner restaurant made entirely of ice, to a heated dome in which guests can defrost and enjoy an evening movie, this is North America’s premier ice hotel destination, open mid-January through mid-March.
Sweden’s Ice Hotel is probably the most famous frozen-water accommodation worldwide. Open year round, it offers warm and cold “luxury” suites, with ice-block beds covered in surprisingly soft reindeer skins. Activities include reindeer drawn rides and sleigh rides to see the northern lights in the winter, and cycling, white water rafting, and stand-up paddling on placid lakes in the summer’s midnight sun.
Eskimo Village in Slovenia is reached by a snowshoe hike after riding up the mountain in a cable car. The ice bar and restaurant complement the rigorous downhill snow-biking and sledding activities nicely. Nights are spent in an igloo under sheepskin, and morning breakfast is included at the nearby Larix hotel.
Open early January through late March, Hotel de Glace in Quebec City, Canada also offers a uniquely chilly experience. Guests can attend the behind the scenes tour showing how the immense snow building is constructed, and a visit the Ice Workshop to make your own ice cocktail glass is a must. Hotel de Glace’s premium deluxe theme suite comes with its own fireplace and private spa–totally worth it.
Snow Village in Kittilä, Finland is crisscrossed by lighted snow tunnels and offers log cabin lodging in addition to snow rooms. Guests of this snow village should experience the pinnacle of winter relaxation, the Gondola Sauna where up to four guests can enjoy two hours in the warm sauna lift as it glides over the surrounding mountains. The ice suites contain a transcendent blend of ice and light to create a surreal experience that’s unforgettable.
If lying on a block of ice to sleep sounds adventurous, but maybe not for you, we get that. There are plenty of winter wonderlands with traditional accommodations that PTR can help you call your second home. Contact us today to see what timeshare resale options might be right for you.
