Chill Out, Check In: Quebec's Ice Hotel Opens for the Winter

By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher

Family Vacations Expert, about.com

Every winter since 2001, a team of dozens of artisans have come together to create a one-of-a-kind hotel out of ice and snow, now one of the most popular winter tourist attractions in Quebec.

 

The theme for the hotel is different every year. In previous years, the design of the Hôtel de Glace, or Ice Hotel, has drawn inspiration from over a dozen different themes. One year the theme was “journey to the center of winter" inspired by Jules Verne.

Another year, the theme was "space-time." In a year whose theme was “myths and legends from around the world," one suite was modeled after Disney's "Frozen."

The hotel offers about 44 rooms and thematic suites, a grand hall with an ice chandelier, a chapel and a big ice slide. A tour of the Hôtel de Glace is a fascinating experience.

The Ice Hotel is located 10 minutes from downtown Québec City and has been a must-see attraction each winter, welcoming over a million people around the world each season. In addition, more than 50,000 guests have spent a night under its snowy roof.

 

The hotel opens for visits daily from early January to late March. There is an admission fee to tour the hotel (about $46 CAD for a family of five, or $18 CAD for adults, $16 CAD for teens and $9 CAD for kids). Entry is free for kids 5 and under. 

Want to stay overnight? Rates run about $400 CAD per night, per person, including use of Nordic sleeping bags, access to hot tubs and saunas, complimentary breakfast, and all gratuities.