Looking for a “cool” family experience? Look no further than Hôtel de Glace (take the Ice Hotel) in Quebec! Hôtel de Glace is the only one of its kind in North America – the entire hotel structure is made entirely of snow and ice. Here you will find room after room of fascinating ice art and sculpture; including a grand lobby, ice gallery, ice slide, themed hotel suites, and a bar made out of (you guessed it)…ice! There is even a lounge and ice chapel onsite for weddings. YES, it is an actual hotel – you can stay overnight. (And we did!). It’s a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that needs to be added to your family’s bucket list. Read on as we discover Hôtel de Glace in Quebec.
An Artistic Marvel – Hôtel de Glace
The only ice hotel in North America opens every winter, from approximately late December through March (depending on the weather). Sadly enough – it is only a temporary structure! In the spring it will melt, and then be built again in the winter. Each year, it is built entirely from scratch with a new blueprint, different design, and theme.
The construction process begins in November, or as soon as the temperature remains below zero for a week. A team of over 30 construction workers and 15 professional ice artisans then work around the clock for six weeks to create the ice masterpiece. Snow is the base material of the Hôtel de Glace and is used for both the base and the walls structures. The snow is made on-site using snow cannons. More than 15,000 tons of snow are needed to build the Hôtel de Glace!
They lay the hotel’s base first and then build the structures using gigantic metal molds. After the snow sets, the mold is removed and they move on to the next. Only one building has a frame inside it for stability; all others are made entirely of ice. Every sculpture, structure, chair, doorway, and pillar is 100% solid ice. It’s truly mind-boggling.
Hôtel de Glace is now in its 24th winter and 8th year at Village Vacances.
Icy Experiences – Hôtel de Glace
Ice Bar
One experience not to miss is the ice bar! A wide variety of drinks are available, including fun craft cocktails and a wide variety of juices for kids. Each drink is served in a one-time-use glass made from ice, created right onsite at the workshop inside the Hotel. (Tip: Depending on when you visit, you might be able to watch them being made!). The lounge area has two parts and ample seating. Be sure to take note of the refrigerators behind the bar. Any guesses as to why a hotel needs refrigerators? Answer: Due to the cold indoor temps, any nonalcoholic beverages freeze! The fridge keeps the juices “warmer” and prevents them from freezing. This is where they store juice, soda, and water.
Ice Slide
The hotel lobby has an ice slide, available to all over night guests and tour ticket holders. A little tip: pick up your feet and lean back – you’ll get more speed!
Ice Chapel
Straight out of a fairytale! Truly, there is no “cooler” place to get married than the magnificent Ice Chapel. Couples from across the world exchange their vows here every year. The Chapel is also used for special services such as anniversaries, other ceremonies, launches, corporate events, and more. When not the stage for an event, the Chapel is open to tours for overnight and ticketed guests. The detailed walls and the stunning setting are beyond words.
Arctic Spa
Ready to warm up? The Hôtel de Glace has an interior courtyard with a Nordic recreation area featuring outdoor hot tubs and a sauna under the stars. There is also a courtyard with a fire pit and sugar shack, and an outside terrace overlooking the river with a fire pit. Aside from the fires, there are no heated areas in Hôtel de Glace; you must walk to the hotel.
Carved Ice Chambers – The Rooms at Hôtel de Glace
The Hôtel de Glace offers 24 ice-sculpted rooms and suites. There are room options for different budgets. The rooms range from a simple ice bed and chamber to fully themed suites with a fireplace and private sauna. Each and every room is unique, with a different look and carving, and each one is a stunning work of art. Some even have special lighting or individual elements to match the theme.
The theme changes every year. The 2024 edition immerses its visitors in an adventure through time. Under the theme “Timeline,” the artistic team created a themed experience that celebrates the evolution of our world, with a journey through the history of life, music, fashion, video games, sports, exploration, writing and more.
A few rooms highlights from our visit, when the theme was Travel:
Cold as Ice – Hôtel de Glace Preperation
No matter the temperature outside, the temperatures INSIDE the rooms at Hotel de Glace stay between 27°F and 23° degrees Fahrenheit. So yes, it gets cold – especially if you plan on hanging at the hotel for extended periods. As the Scandinavian saying goes – “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” Wear multiple layers, bring proper cold-weather gear, and instant hand warmers. Dressing properly will allow you to get the most out of your experience.
Hôtel de Glace recommends that guests follow the three-layer technique:
- The interior layer (undergarment) of synthetic clothing is recommended to allow humidity to escape your body. Good to know: Cotton is not recommended since it retains humidity.
- The middle layer must isolate air and control humidity. For this layer, wool, flannel, or polar fleece is recommended.
- Next: an exterior layer. This is your coat!
Of course- you also will need the essential accessories: a hat, scarf, gloves or mittens, and boots (big enough so that you can wear thick socks). We also had instant warmers in our boots and gloves at all times.
Overnight Experience – Surviving the Night at Hôtel de Glace
The furniture is made entirely of ice and snow, including the bed frame! The bed base is made from ice and topped with a thermal mattress. As the evening comes, a specialized sleeping bag, bedsheet, and pillow will be delivered to your room.
How do you survive sleeping on a bed of ice?
Guests of Hotel de Glace are given “arctic excursion” grade sleeping bags to sleep in, which are specifically made to handle temps under -10 degrees Fahrenheit. The sleeping bag itself has multiple layers built into its walls, and areas that you velcro snug to your body. Once you are zipped into the sleeping bag, you “scrunch” the opening around your face to only allow a small space for air (which is needed to breathe!). These sleeping bags are fantastic- we were perfectly warm and cozy all night.
The sleeping bags are so heavy that you are only to wear a lightweight layer at night. If you dress too warm, you will sweat, which causes humidity (and humidity freezes!). A single thick sleeping layer will suffice. Good to know: As the temps are so low, electronics (and essentially anything else) will freeze if left in the room. I slept with my phone and backup charger in the sleeping bag, next to my arm.
You can find the full preparation guide HERE.
Worried you won’t last the night? It’s easier and much more comfortable than you think. We were absolutely certain that we would not survive the evening, but we slept a whopping 9 hours (!!) in the sleeping bag. SERIOUSLY. It was a great night’s sleep.
Good to know: Your room at the Hôtel de Glace is open to public tours during the day. Your room will be exclusively yours from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m during your stay. There isn’t a door in the rooms, only a curtain – this is for a reason! As the ice structure needs to remain open to release humidity. The area is secure with guests only, and there is ample staff watching the doors to ensure you are safe during your stay. When you are in the room, look up! You will see a small hole in the ceiling. This hole is needed to release humidity from the ice structure. Fun fact – if it snows outside, you will wake up to find a small pile of snow on your floor.
Two Rooms, One night – Hôtel de Glace
The beautiful thing about Hotel de Glace is that a room at Hôtel Valcartier (a modern 4-star hotel, steps away/on the property) is included in the price. This means you have a hotel room to escape to if the cold becomes too much and a place to shower and keep your stuff and luggage.
The room at Hôtel Valcartier was fantastic. The room features a separate living area with ample space, a large cozy bed, and a large bathroom with heated floors. Some of the floor plans feature bunk beds (perfect for large families!). The room had a coffee maker with plenty of coffee pods and hot chocolate options for the kids.
The Ultimate Playground – Hôtel Valcartier
The ice hotel is just one small part of the experience. Hôtel Valcartier is the ultimate family playground. There is so much to do and see; it’s been called Canada’s version of Disneyland. From a magical frozen ice palace, indoor waterpark, to the EPIC winter playground and snow tubing hills, a stay at Hôtel Valcartier is the ultimate family winter vacation. A few highlights:
Pavillon
The pavilion is designed like an indoor village and has several shops and dining options. Similar to that of the Venetian in Las Vegas, there is a faux sky scene overhead and cobblestone underfoot. It’s charming and creates a fun ambiance. This is where you will find the restaurants, including Resto Safari, a casual sit-down restaurant, and O’ Grill – Hôtel Valcartier’s fine dining option with steak and more. There is also a fast-food option called Café Etcetera for a quick meal or a snack. Chalet Sportif is located down the hall and offers a fun pub-type atmosphere. You won’t go hungry at Hôtel Valcartier; we were very impressed with the food options and ate at several of them during our visit.
Winter Playground
Hôtel Valcartier is home to the largest winter playground in America – it is gigantic! Here you will find 26 snow slides for tubing and rafting experiences. Set up similar to that of a ski hill, the playground has green (easy) courses and double black diamond (challenging) experiences that are made to thrill. Some of the hills allow for joined tubes, others are multi-person snow rafts, and others allow visitors to sit in a bobsled type apparatus. There is no need to climb; there are many “tube lifts” that bring you to the top of the hill. Full disclosure: I have personally never seen such extreme tubing before. EVER. The tubing hills are just as steep as most ski hills in the states. There is also a gorgeous skateway for ice skating and food stands across the property. Don’t miss the sugar shack for a maple syrup snow snack!
Bora Parc Indoor Waterpark
Kept at a constant 86 degrees F temperature, you will feel as if you are on the beaches of Polynesia at this 100,000 square foot waterpark that offers a family pool with water games, 14 water slides, an adventure river, a double surf wave rider, and a gigantic wave pool. This tropical playground is the only indoor waterpark in Quebec and is open year-round.
Escape Jeux Game Room (Arcade)
Once you enter the giant arcade, you will never want to leave! The digital games room is over 10,000 square feet of fun. All the usual favorites are here: car racing, pinball, air hockey, basketball, a dance floor, skill-testing games…and more!
Ready to book your experience? Act quick! The Ice Hotel books up in advance. See room options and availability HERE. There is also an option to tour the hotel (and not stay overnight). More on this HERE.
Thank you Hôtel de Glace fro sponsoring our experience. As always, all opinions and reviews are our own.
