Ice hotel by bjaglin

What Is an Ice Hotel?

What started as a seasonal display of man’s artistic and creative power over ice has turned into a booming resort business. Constructions methods vary, but typical construction includes stacking and forming sculpted blocks of ice and snow. Some hotels start by sculpting around metal frames and remove them as the ice hardens. Walls can be up to 4-ft thick in some places, to help support the weight of all that ice.

Isn’t it Freezing?

The walls, beds, furniture, and bars are 100% ice in a typical ice hotel. Some may even have restaurants and other amenities. One need not worry about freezing one’s you-know-what off, as the bathrooms are located off-site in a much warmer location. Inside, one can find temperatures ranging from 17 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit, so layering warms blankets and fur lined clothing is a must if one wants to make it through a night.

Where Are Ice Hotels Located?

Ice hotels are now located in a number of traditional cold weather climate locations. The Scandinavian countries, Canada, Russia, Romania and a few other places are where a traveller can typically find these icy fortresses.

The first, and arguably most popular, would be in the village of Jukkasjarvi, Sweden and was built in 1989. This one is open from December through April and prices start at $185 per night. The only ice hotel in the Americas would be in Quebec, Canada, and is open from January thru March. The Quebec ice hotel, like a few other locations, even has a ice chapel for wedding ceremonies.

Norway has the Kirkenes Snow Hotel, the Ice Lodge, and the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Alta. Romania is also relatively new to the ice hotel scene, opening up a hotel in 2006 next to Balea Lake. This one is open from December thru late April / Early May. In Finland, they have constructed an entire snow village near the Levi ski resort. There is also once in Kemi and Sinetta.

Ice hotel church, Ice Hotel Church, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden by bjaglin

So Which Hotel Is the Best?

Each Ice Hotel has different features and amenities making it truly a unique experience. The Swedish location, being the oldest, has the most activities. Whether it’s snowmobiling, skiing, or a winter forest adventure, Sweden has everything one would expect.

For those looking to save a few dollars, Finland’s is the least expensive, coming in under $100 per night. In Norway, the ice hotels win for remoteness and having the best locations. The hotel in Alta is right on the Arctic Ocean, so one could actually request an Ocean View room.

Some people like to go off the beaten path, and one could do that at the Lapland ice hotel. Near the Russian Border – it a several hundred mile drive, and really gives one the feeling of “being one with nature”.

What Should One Expect Before and During a Stay?

This ice hotel review suggests that first and foremost one needs to read up on what the hotel does and does not provide. For example many hotels will provide blankets, sleeping bags, and other cold weather dress. Some might be (BYOWS – Bring Your Own Warm Stuff). Listen to the hotel’s advice!

Be sure to only commit to one night at a time, especially if this is one’s first time. If the cold temperature turns out to be too much to get a good night’s sleep, one would welcome the option to check into a warmer hotel. Make sure all party members know what the stay entails. The experience shouldn’t be diminished by lesser committed individuals who don’t have ice water in their veins.

Ice hotel, Sweden by Rubén Laguna

Conclusion

Assuming global warming doesn’t doom this business within the next few decades, ice hotels are a unique way to stay overnight in a cold location, making it seem even more exotic and adventuresome than it already is.

People are always looking to be a part of the next big thing in travel, and ice hotels sure are a way to pad one’s travel resume. The bragging rights alone are reason enough to experience an ice hotel. For those looking for a complete winter experience, immersing oneself into the season – morning, noon, and night – an ice hotel is the way to go. From the adventure seeker to the individual looking to chill in luxury accommodations, ice hotels have it all!

Guest Post by Baltic Travel Company – Baltic tours, Holidays, Cruises and Travel in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.

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Asinara National Park is not your usual holiday destination, but a place worth visiting while you are in Sardegna. Known as Devil’s Island, it was used as a high security prison during the 1970s as well as during World War I. It has a large variety of habitats and is the home of the Albino Donkey.

The island of Asinara from Falcon Cape, Sardinia by enrico_sirola

Archipelago di La Maddalena National Park has 180 km of coastline and is a protected geo-marine area made up of a group of islands. It is between Sardegna and Corsica in the Bocche di Bonifacio area. A Dolphin Research Center is in the park that is interesting for both adults and children.

The Gennargentu National Park is on the east coast of Sardegna and has the beautiful Gusana Lake. The wildlife in the park includes the Sardinian Wildcat, marten, weasel, edible and garden dormouse, Sardinian Fox, the Griffon vulture and several different species of eagles and falcons. The highest mountain in Sardegna, Punta La Marmora, is also in the park.

There are 7,000 prehistoric fortresses called nuraghi around the island built by prehistoric people. Sun holidays will direct visitors to Nuraghe Losa and the Giants’ Grave in Dorgali. These huge structures were built during the Bronze Age. There are 321 large tombs made from huge, uncut slaps of rock. There was an obelisk near the entrance and each has a characteristic rectangular plan. There are three main types of tombs.

Nuraghe Losa, Sardinia, Iitaly by Jack Aubrey

About a thousand years after the nuraghi people, in 1000 BC, the Phoenicians built the city of Tharras on the northern cape of the Bay of Oristano. Today, it is an archaeological site. It was mentioned by Ptolemy and was the most importa   nt place on the island. The city was abandoned in the 10th century after being used by the Phoenicians, Punics and Romans. It is an open air museum and the most interesting structures remaining are the tophet, the bath installations and the temple foundations as well as the area where there were houses and artisan workshops.

Italy has some of the best places in Europe for enjoying a hot summer day out in the sun, with most of the budget airlines flying there now it’s a perfect destination for late bookings

James is a writer based in Soho, London who loves camping/travelling around Europe.

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Germany Alps by Francisco Antunes

If you’re looking to explore rural Germany then using the country’s rivers as a guide is a great idea. The Rhine, Elbe and Danube are just three of Germany’s many waterways that snake through the 130,000 or so square miles within its borders. Whether you want to explore the rivers aboard a cruise boat, or simply follow them in the car, Germany’s waterways will take you through many of the countries most traditional rural areas.

The Elbe, for example, crosses the eastern corner of the country and the Elbe Valley is home to traditional castles such as Albrechtsberg Castle, Lingner Castle and Eckberg Castle, as well as a plethora of charming German villages such as Loschwitz and Pillnitz, and a large number of the country’s vineyards. If you were to choose to explore using the Danube river in the south of the country as your guide, this would take you through the Danube river valley with the steep white cliffs around Thiergarten, rural castles such as Burg Wildenstein and Schloss Werenwag, and the Obermarchtal, or the Upper March Valley.

Somewhere near St. Goar along the Rhine by ilovebutter

In the west of the country, the area around the Rhine is filled with castles, fortresses and ruins constructed along what was once one of the country’s major trade routes. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is now a World Heritage site and a visit here is just not complete without a stop off at the traditional markets of the area, the knight tournaments and festivals.

Another great way to explore the German countryside is to take the Alps as your reference point. The Alps touch Germany in the very south of the country and exploring this area will take you into some of the country’s most famous rural areas. The Bodensee, an area of three lakes, is located just at the northern foot of the Alps and is also known as Lake Constance. The lake is actually situated in three countries – Austria, Switzerland and Germany – and here you can climb up the wooden staircase of the Marienschlucht ravine, visit the bronze age settlement of the Pfahlbauten and wander around the impressive estate of Schloss Salem.

Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany by heatheronhertravels

The state of Bavaria also touches the Alps, which is home to the Franconia wine region, numerous beer gardens serving the local brews and well-known monuments, such as the Castle of Coburg and Linderhof Palace. Finally, an exploration of the area isn’t complete without checking out the Black Forest, where you can visit some of the best-known waterfalls in Germany – the All Saints Waterfalls and the Triberg Waterfalls – and the famous spa town of Baden Baden that sits at the foot of the Black Forest, as well as tucking into some of that infamous gateau, which is named after the cherry liqueur brewed in the region.

Whatever your idea of adventures, Germany has much more to offer than just its cities. Get out and explore the rural areas and broaden your knowledge of this traditional and fascinating country.

John is a travel writer based in the UK who writes for Alamo Germany – providing car hire across Germany to help you get out and really explore the country.

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Hall of Steel, Leeds / Paul8032

The view provided by the display, encompassing every floor of the armoury, overlooks the city of Leeds, Clarence Dock, and the Air/Clader navigation canal. It is a very different world from the one in which those swords were used. Conflict happens on a supposedly more sophisticated level thousands of miles away from us, out of sight and shamefully, out of many of our minds.  Our cities are no longer the fortresses they once were but rather places we come for excitement and pleasure.

We see those swords, one after the other, over 2,500 pieces of steel, and we can attempt to imagine the masses of armoured soldiers marching across the very lands we amble along with our friends. We walk those hills breathing in the fresh air, exercising our bodies that sit in front of computers, and anticipating a warm pub meal afterwards as a reward. The weight of our backpack in which we carry a couple of water bottles is nothing compared to the weight of armour those soldiers had to carry and the sense of dread and fear that could have been lurking at every turn.

We stand and stare at the largest mass display of arms and armour since the 19th century. Armour from as early as the 1600’s, and military equipment from the 1800’s. The display is beautiful, but is also sad. One wonders how much blood has been shed by the seemingly endless display of swords mounted all around. What were the emotions running through the hearts of those who held them? Fear? Anger? Exhilaration? Did those swords make those men feel powerful, or vulnerable? I suspect each sword has several stories to tell, stories we try and tell through fiction, but stories we will never really know.

The Hall of Steel sets distinguishes the Royal Armoury from other museums. One feels as though they have stumbled into a mass grave, or at best, a memorial or tribute. The men who held those swords are all dead, but we remain, wondering what it was really like. War and conflict are things we still have not managed to abolish and avoid. We are reminded that what was such a reality for them is still our reality today.

We know it’s wrong but we are fascinated by violence. We know it should not result in hurting people, but we long for something to pour lives into. We sense a thrill in risk, which compels us to jump from airplanes and hang from bungee cords. It is with great fascination that we pour over the actual weapons, armour, and equipment used throughout history, knowing that much of what has happened in the past has resulted in where we are today.

The Royal armoury has a way of satisfying our curiosity about the armour, displaying it for us to wonder about and admire, but amidst all the displays, informational videos, and artwork, the Hall of Steel stops us in our tracks and challenges us to consider the realities of war. It asks us questions we most likely don’t know the answer to, filling us with conflicting emotions of awe, admiration, pride, but also sadness, horror, and doubt.

Robert Goodwood writes historical articles on behalf of Hello Yorkshire.

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In addition to the large art collection, the castle is interesting also for the world-famous collection of rhododendrons. It is just at the sea and includes wonderful gardens with a great view of surrounding hills and majestic mountain of Goatfell.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Saskia Heijltjes

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