10%

SLEEPING ON ICE

A night inside Hôtel de Glace

By Where We Wander

January 30^th, 2015

Fun fact: The concept of Ice Hotel was pioneered in Sweden in 1989.

Over the years a few other snowy countries followed suit, and in 2001 Canada's own version was first chiseled into life on the outskirts of Quebec City. Despite no shortage of building materials, Hôtel de Glace still remains the only ice hotel in North America.

Carefully constructed each winter from more than 2,000 blocks of ice and about 30,000 tons of snow, it melts away without a trace each spring. Hotel theme varies from year to year, but we were expecting an impressive showcase of art, design and drinks in icy glassware — and we were not disappointed.

Fun fact: It takes a team of 50 people about 6 weeks to build the icy palace.

Each year the hotel features 40 unique guest rooms with intricately carved murals, sculptures and furniture made entirely from snow and ice. The year we visited the theme was Time and Space and the hotel's design depicted scenes from historical and future periods.

All guest rooms remain open for public viewing during the day and only become private suites between 9pm - 9am. This technically makes it possible to enjoy this glittering museum without staying the night, but what kind of adventure would it be if we didn't?

FUN FACT: you can lounge by the fire while staying inside a block of ice.

The hotel is whimsically beautiful and a real wonderland for the young and the young at heart. Ice bar is a delight serving glimmering potions in glasses carved from ice, and built-in ice slides make a unique indoor playground and are especially fun after a few drinks.

Throughout the hotel there are lounges (and some guest rooms) with fireplaces that create a cozy illusion of warmth and serve as an invitation to curl up on fluffy sheepskins next to the glowing flames. Outdoors, saunas and hot tubs are fired up for overnight guests to warm up before turning in.

And if you happen to bring along a prince, there's an icy chapel to make it official.

FUN FACT: Temperature inside the hotel is always maintained at -5C.

Thick snow walls insulate the building perfectly, so the temperature inside remains bearably chilly regardless of how terribly cold it gets outside. This is good news for those who are staying the night tucked into a one-size-fits-all sleeping bag rated for as low as -30C.

The hotel runs a demonstration on how to get ready for bed and recommends sleeping while wearing just one layer of clothing. I needed another strong drink at the ice bar to process this information, but in the end climbed into my bag wearing almost everything I had on, including my snow pants.

FUN FACT: SLeeping bag rated to -30C is not as warm as you think.

Despite all my layers I wished for an extra pair of wool socks to stop the chill from getting to my feet. Stan, who bravely heeded one-layer advice, slept perfectly fine. Apparently, one size sleeping bag will not keep all warm — he filled the bag nicely, while my smaller frame left cold air pockets everywhere.

Would I go back for another stay? My feet would say, probably not. But then again, it is the kind of place that makes even those who dislike winter appreciate the magic of the season. One thing is for sure: that night was worth the shivers to sleep inside a work of art surrounded by frozen beauty.