Indoor winter wonderland is back!
IAN STALKER
This country’s coolest lodging option is back in business.
The Quebec City-area Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel) reopened to overnight guests on Jan. 4, with the property based in the Village Valcartier for the eighth straight year, and inviting “daring guests to experience an overnight stay in the snow and ice!”
The hotel — entirely built with ice — has temperatures ranging from -5 to -10 Celsius, with warm bedding provided to guests.
This winter’s edition of the hotel, which first appeared in the winter of 2000-2001, has 30 guest units, 22 of them themed suites, with the suites having “majestic” sculptures. Also found is a family fun area.
The property, which will be hosting guests through March 17, has a bar that offers drinks served in glasses made of ice and music and those wanting food can dine at the the Valcartier Resort, a few steps away from Hotel de Glace.
A chapel that enables people to get married is a long-running feature.
“This year, under the theme historic timeline, Hôtel de Glace, a favourite of winter enthusiasts, is on a mission to showcase the greatest moments in history,” the hotel says. “With its inspiring decors, Hôtel de Glace promises to be an eye-opener. From the evolution of mankind, the animal world, music, writing and more, visitors will be transported by the charm of this unique, ephemeral work of art.”
“It is mostly historical themes, like, evolution of life, human, music, fashion, sport, etc.,” says Sandra Nadeau, the hotel’s vice-president of sales and marketing.
The hotel has attracted international attention since its first opening, and now hosts around 80,000 guests from around the world each winter season. The Valcartier Resort has numerous other offerings for tourists, including spa treatments.
Meanwhile, Nadeau says that those who stay at the Hotel de Glace will find it a novel experience indeed. “It is a lifetime experience,” she says. “A bucket list thing to do. It is unique and magical. Valcartier’s Hotel de Glace is the only one in North America.”
More information about the hotel and Valcartier is available at valcartier.com.
