Chilling out in style
According to an online survey conducted by Booking.com in August among 21,500 respondents in different countries including Thailand, 54 per cent of Thai travellers say they plan to stay at least once in a type of accommodation they’ve never stayed at before in 2019 and 68 per cent say that they plan to prioritise spending money on experiences over material items when travelling in the year to come
Booking.com has thus delved into it’s more than 29 million listings in over 143,000 destinations around the globe to inspire travellers to discover the once-in-a-lifetime experience of spending a night in an igloo or ice hotel. Here are the top five offers.
Snow Hotel - Kemi, Finland
The Snow Hotel is located in the Lapland region of Finland and offers cool rooms made entirely out of ice and snow. If wondering how you are going to stay warm in a room that has an average temperature of -5 degree Celsius (23 degrees fahrenheit), beds are covered with warm lamb skin and sleeping bags with cosy fleece interiors. The Snow Hotel also features unique winter experiences such as a Snow Castle, a Snow Chapel for weddings, several sculptures with light effects, a Gemstone Gallery and a weekly programme that offers different activities and additional experiences for guests to choose from.
Icehotel - Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Tucked away amongst the various lakes and hills of northern Sweden, more than 160 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, the Icehotel is rebuilt every winter entirely from snow and ice from the nearby Torne River. Holding a temperature between -5 to -8 degrees Celsius, each of the individually themed rooms has hand-carved ice furnishings made by artists from all around the world. After a refreshing sleep in thermal sleeping bags on beds covered in reindeer hides, guests can start their day with a rich and hearty breakfast before spending time in the sauna, wood-burning hot tub or the ice bath. The area around Jukkasj?rvi is popular for outdoor winter activities such as dog sledding, reindeer sled excursions and snowmobile tours.
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel - Alta, Norway
Located along the Alta River 20 km from Alta’s town centre, the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is an impressive 2,000-square-metre structure made entirely from snow and ice every winter. With a consistent room t temperature between a chilling -4 and -7 degree Celsius, guests are encouraged to bring their own thermal undergarments to stay warm, although reindeer leather sleeping pads and ultra-warm sleeping bags are provided to every room. For those who like art, don’t miss the artistic ice sculptures on display throughout the property. For those seeking a little outdoor adventure, the friendly hotel staff will gladly assist with booking a snowmobile safari to explore the surrounding winter wonderland.
Hotel de Glace - Saint-Gabriel-De-Valcartier, Canada
With three thematic ice bars, an indoor ice slide and ice chapel that seats 70 guests, the Hotel de Glace in Saint-Gabriel-De-Valcartier, Quebec is a landmark on its own as it’s the only hotel of its kind in North America. The warm hotel staff welcomes guests with a cocktail in an ice glass before taking them to their cool room with a temperature between -3 and -5 degree Celsius (23 to 26 degrees Fahrenheit). This ice hotel also offers a heated indoor water park as well as a Nordic relaxation area with outdoor spas and sauna.
Blacksheep village Igloo La Plagne - La Plagne, France
Overlooking the iconic Mont Blanc, the Blacksheep village Igloo La Plagne is a great choice for travellers who would like to combine an igloo stay with an amazing ski trip. Set in La Plagne, near the Belle Plagne and Bergerie Ski Lifts, you can experience a variety of fun and exciting outdoor activities such as bobsleigh and luge before enjoying a delicious cheese fondue. If sleeping in a snow cave is not for you, guests can also book a stay at the Hot Igloo and enjoy the cosy heat of a wood stove.