Hôtel de Glace, Quebec. Credit: Susan Lanier-Graham
Quebec’s Hôtel del Glace (Ice Hotel) rises from the ground up each winter, painstakingly built on the site of an old zoo about 10 minutes from Old Quebec. The hotel has been a tradition in Quebec since 2001; this season’s hotel is open January 5 through March 24, 2013.
I took the photo above as I entered the ice hotel, with the beautiful carved ice columns and chandelier overhead, lit with colorful LED lights. My favorite part was huddling around the bar drinking hot chocolate. I had a great time exploring the Hôtel del Glace—and enjoying the outdoor Nordic area afterward—but I didn’t have a chance to stay overnight.
You can book your own room or suite for a stay inside the Ice Hotel. Each room is themed with different ice carvings and decorations and some have their own fireplaces (no, it doesn’t offer any heat, just ambiance). One room even has its own en-suite spa. You do get a sleeping bag for the evening, along with a hotel room in the city as a backup plan.
Fun facts about Hôtel del Glace:
- Made entirely of ice and snow
- 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow
- 32,000 square feet
- 19 foot ceilings
- 36 rooms and themed suites
- Ice bar
- Ice café that’s also used as a wedding chapel
- Grand Ice Slide
- Outside Nordic area with hot tubs and sauna
Hôtel de Glace
9530, rue de la Faune,
Québec (Québec)
G1G 5H9
Phone: 418.623.2888
http://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com
