The Ice Hotel in Quebec City is an experience in and of itself. It is constructed out of solid ice at the beginning of the winter and generally stays operational through the end of March-depending on the weather. It is quite the spectacle to see. It’s hard to fathom how or why someone decided to build it. But after visiting it, you are glad someone did. I freely admit that I wouldn’t want to stay the night there because it is too cold; but as a tourist attraction, it’s top notch.
The Ice Hotel lies on the outskirts of Quebec City on the grounds of an old zoo and right next to the Four Points by Sheraton-where I’ve actually stayed before in a previous visit to Quebec City. There are 40+ rooms and suites and they are all different.
The basic rooms are just that, basic. It is constructed of plain ice blocks for walls and hard snow on the ground. There is between one and three beds and there is no wall décor. The suites are noticeable by a red entryway curtain along with ice sculptures on the walls and a fireplace in the middle of the room.
Mind you, the bed is still made of ice. There is a foam mattress on the ice and a -40 degree sleeping bag. So basically you’re sleeping in sub zero temperatures, kept warm only by a sleeping bag. It’d be a real pain if you had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night!
Outside the hotel rooms, there is a spa with a bunch of large Jacuzzis for the guests’ enjoyment. They looked really nice and are kept very clean. You are also given a robe for when you get out of the open air Jacuzzis so you don’t freeze. That’s a nice touch but I think I will still pass!
The rest of the hotel is made up of special event rooms including bars, exhibits, a giant ice slide big enough for adults and a wedding chapel! All of these are pretty cool and the Ice Hotel would be a great place to hold a corporate event or even a birthday party or something. The wedding chapel isn’t my cup of tea but apparently they do something like 30-40 weddings a year there. Don’t worry-they lay animal hides down so you don’t get wet butt from the ice if you attend the wedding!
I have to say that I was offered the chance to stay at the Ice Hotel in Quebec City but I opted against it and I am very glad I did. Not because it’s not really cool because it is, but because it is seriously freezing in Quebec City in the winter. I have had enough experience sleeping outside in the cold during some alpine hikes and climbs and it sucks if you ever have to get up, get dressed, etc. So I am very happy with my decision.
Besides 90% of the people who visit the Ice Hotel in Quebec City go for a visit as opposed to an overnight stay. I can relate! The Ice Hotel is definitely worth a visit, it will blow your mind and offers great photo opportunities. For me however, I’ll stick to the Chateau Frontenac for sleeping in Quebec City!
Ice Hotel in Quebec City
February 11, 2013 by 14 Comments
What a cool place for a wedding!
Ya that would be cool, literally and figuratively!
Cool pictures. Always wanted to check this out but noted….don’t stay just visit!
Bingo…well if you like the cold and the experience of staying then stay but not for me!
You look cold in the pic, why didn’t you ask management to turn up the heat? Did your cheeks get stuck to the ice toilet seat? That could pose an issue….
That it could Jakey! However, the heat was on the fritz and luckily I didn’t use the toilet…I know you would have though!
Ya sounds and looks cold!
haha…twas
Bucket list for me!
Definitely worth checking out! Grab a cocktail too!
Glad you explained the chapel picture. Initially, I thought the benches were individual beds in a backpacker style dorm room!
haha ya that’d be one cold hostel!
Oh…you so missed out! Sorry – have to say that. The ice hotel has been on my bucket list for years and this past week I finally spent the night in the Montreal Ice Hotel! Loved it. Sure, it was super cold (room was around -5C). I was there during the huge snow storm so that added to the fun. They gave us amazing sleeping bags and while I didn’t sleep a lot, I still loved it! They even had a warm night guarantee so that people could go back to the InterContinental, but I am glad that I stayed the night. It is one of those once in a lifetime experiences…although I learned a few lessons from my first attempt and would welcome the chance to do it again!
Glad to hear it Anita! You are a stronger woman than I! Haha..no seriously I have camped outdoors in -40 before and it was terrible, not when sleeping but when I had to get up inevitably in the middle of the night to pee or something-it was at high altitude so sleeping was tough.
ANyway, glad you enjoyed your experience and maybe I will change my mind sometime in the future!