Are Ice Hotels For You?

Fancy a change from the usual beach-front hotels?  Tired of sipping cocktails on the balcony whilst watching the sun set..?  Ok, maybe not.  But if you do feel like doing something a little different for once, give some thought to staying in an ice hotel. 

Not for the sun-worshippers, of course, but ice hotels offer a unique holiday experience that is worth trying at least once in a lifetime.  Only a few ice hotels exist, in the following (somewhat remote) locations:

• Jukkasjarvi, Sweden;
• Faragas Mountains, Romania;
• Bjorli, Alta, and Kirkenes in Norway;
• Quebec, Canada;
• Lainio and Kemi in Finland

An ice hotel is exactly what it sounds like: a place for paying guests to stay in for their holidays, made from snow and ice.  There are very few such hotels available, since relatively few people choose to stay in them, but they book up quickly so if you decide to go then make your reservations sooner rather than later.

The biggest ice hotel in the world is the one listed above in Sweden.  It is isolated and remote, separated from the world by the River Torne.  As well as the surprisingly warm and comfy living and sleeping quarters, theis ice hotel features an icebar, which is a bar (for drinking in) that’s made of ice and features elaborate ice sculptures that are kept solid by the low temperatures.

People usually go to ice hotels as part of package deals, and the sort of activities that one can join in with vary depending on the season.  In spring and summer months, excursions typically include rafting and river tours, whilst in winter, guests are invited to have a go at sledding with dogs and all the usual winter sports (skiing, snowboarding etc) since ice hotels are, unsurprisingly, located where there’s a lot of snow.  However, the ice hotels are re-built every year, and many are open only during a select few months each year (the one in Sweden, for instance, is only open between December and April) so check opening times/months before settling on a location.

It is possible to visit an ice hotel for the day even if you don’t feel up to staying there overnight.