A Winter Holiday in an Ice Hotel – Why Not?
If you’re looking for the ultimate winter getaway, renting a room in an ice hotel could provide you with a unique and memorable vacation experience. While ice hotels are ideal for adventurous and outdoorsy travelers, anyone can have a great stay in one. Made from a combination of snow, ice and “snice”, they are typically operational between approximately December and March. The temperatures inside the rooms and throughout the hotels are kept at under 0C and guests essentially sleep in beds made of ice with fur bedding placed on top. Further, they offer various amenities including a restaurant, hot tub and even a chapel. Ice hotels therefore offer many advantages yet there are several disadvantages of staying in them as well.
Here is list of the pros and cons:
Pros
- Fur bedding and subartic sleeping bags are typically provided by the hotel
- The grounds of surrounding them are picturesque
- Because the hotels are rebuilt every season, architectural and decorative changes are often made which can benefit regular visitors
- Ice sculptures and galleries are used as decorations inside the hotel
- Some are constructed beside lakes and forests or are only accessible by cable car, thus enhancing the experience for those who appreciate natural settings
- The amenities offered are similar to those in conventional hotels
- At least 6 hotels are built in Canada and throughout Europe every year
Have You Considered a Winter Holiday in an Ice Hotel?
Cons
- The interior is relatively cold which can make it uncomfortable for some
- The cost of renting a room is upwards of $300 per night which makes it more expensive than most hotels
- They are only available for a few months per year
If you are interested in renting a room in an ice hotel, here is a list of five that are normally available each winter:
- Ice Hotel Jakkasjarvi – Sweden
- Hotel Glace – Québec City, Canada
- Balea Lac – Romania
- Snow Hotel Snow Village – Finland
- Alpeniglu Igloo Village – Austria
Ice hotels are clearly not for everyone since for some, the negatives of staying in one far outweigh the positives. However, for those who can appreciate uniqueness and want a true winter holiday, a stay at an ice hotel is definitely the answer.
