Okay, so it may mean you can’t exactly cozy up in front of the fireplace, but you’ll earn bragging rights about staying in an igloo in nifty locales ranging from Canada to Romania.
At the aptly named Hotel of Ice in Romania, in the heart of the Fagaras Mountains, lies a magical castle crafted of 70-pound blocks 70 centimeters tall crafted from snow and frozen water from glacial Balea Lac (lake). Those who check in get reindeer skins and warm sleeping bags. The hotel also has a winter fun park with tubing and snowmobiling, or get romantic at the on-site restaurant with favorite Transylvanian dishes. Temperatures range from 28 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit and the hotel is open late December through March.
Hotel of Ice in Romania © Thecriss | Dreamstime.com
You’ll be in the northernmost ice hotel in the world when staying at Sorrisniva in Alta, Norway, where your reservation also includes dinner in the á la carte restaurant. Whether reindeer is on the menu (common in Norway) varies, but you’ll enjoy reindeer hides nonetheless, where beds — with mattresses — are covered in furry comfort. Enjoy an “extreme” sleeping bag good for temps as low as -25 Celsius, a morning sauna to warm up, a breakfast buffet and use of the common bathroom. Don’t worry — if you chicken out, there’s easy access to the main house, too. There’s even ice sculptures and a cocktail bar made entirely of frozen H20.
There’s more fun in Finland, with two options Disney’s Elsa would adore. At Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, you might even spot the Northern Lights from a glass igloo or a log cabin with an adjoining igloo bubble porch, in the heart of the Lapland. Warm local Kelo pinewood chalets sleep up to six, with private saunas, fireplaces and kitchenettes. Igloos have sleeping bags and consistent temperatures of minus-three to minus-six. Lapland Snow Village is the ultimate shangri-la for Game of Thrones fans, with 30 GOT-themed rooms and suites ranging from cabins to a three-floor castle made of ice logs. Each has its own sauna, and there’s also a cinema, chapel and bar. The glasses are even carved from ice!
Ice Hotel Suite in Finland © Beataaldridge | Dreamstime.com
It’s all family-friendly all the time at Hotel de Glace in Quebec City, the only ice hotel in North America. Each guest no matter how small gets a sleeping bag, insulated bed sheet and pillow for temperatures between 23 and 27 Fahrenheit. Body heat will likely not be an issue, however, thanks to plenty of exhilarating activities like an indoor water park, snow slides and snow rafting. The 45-room and -suite hotel is constructed with 35,000 tons of snow and features an Ice Bar; all stays include a welcome cocktail, too. Spas and the sauna, in addition to breakfast, are included in all stays.
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