Disclosure: Hollie visited as a media guest of the Quebec Ice Hotel.
Every December, as temperatures fall well below zero and snow decorates the landscape, the construction of the magical Ice Hotel ensues about 20 minutes north of Quebec City. For six weeks, roughly 50 people come together to create the Hôtel de Glace (as it’s called in French). With 30 workers involved in production and 15 sculptors working day and night, this masterful creation—made purely of snow (35,000 tons, to be exact) and ice blocks (500 tons)—comes to life in early January to host, astonish and inspire adventurous guests over the next three months.
Quebec’s Ice Hotel has a fairy-tale feel. Photo by Hollie Grace James.
Preparing for your stay at the Quebec Ice Hotel
Preparation is key here. No matter the temperature outside, your room will stay between -3°C and -5°C. The in-person information session for overnight guests explains exactly how to dress properly and prepare for the conditions. But here’s a sneak peek: You’re advised to adhere to the three-layer technique, although you might actually strip down to only your skivvies, since heat has to escape your body while simultaneously sheltering you from the elements.
The beds are more comfortable than they look! Photo by Hollie Grace James.
The ice hotel will provide you with a cozy sleeping bag (which is good for temps reaching -30°C), and you’ll sleep perched on a solid wood base and comfy mattress. Don’t forget to pack your hat, mittens, scarf, socks and boots, though!
Check-in for your room at the Hôtel de Glace isn’t until 9pm, after all of the public tours are finished, so you will get a backup room at the adjacent Hôtel Valcartier. There, you can take advantage of an indoor water park, winter playground (with rad tubing hills), spa and games area, and sit down for dinner at one of the two on-site restaurants—or order room service.
Things to do at the Hôtel de Glace
Since the hotel has a new theme every year, a tour of the property—even if you’re just there for the day—is a must. This year, the hotel’s themed rooms and suites were decorated with majestic sculptures of a variety of gardens, such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. There are also several communal areas where you’ll have tons of fun and find lots of Insta-worthy opportunities.
Cheers! The ice glasses in the hotel’s Ice Bar keep beverages nice and cold. Photo by Hollie Grace James.
Take your time walking through the Grand Hall and the Wedding Chapel, feel like a kid again on the Ice Slide, and grab a cocktail at the Ice Bar. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit, because all overnight guests have access to the spas and saunas.
The story
Since childhood, Jacques Desbois has loved winter and snow. In 1996, he founded La Piste Desbois, an ecotourism company that designs igloo villages. In 1996, after reading an article about an ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, he met with the hotel’s creators and began dreaming of a way to build something similar in Quebec. He built his first Quebec Ice Hotel in 2001 and has continued to create one every winter.
If you go
The Ice Hotel is located at Village Vacances Valcartier in Valcartier, Quebec, roughly a 20-minute drive north of Quebec City. Public tours are available daily from 10am until 8pm. The Hôtel de Glace is now closed for 2019, but reservations are already being accepted for 2020. Rates start at $349 a night.
For more information on things to see and do in the Quebec City region, check out Quebec City’s tourism website.
Want to see more posts by Hollie? Check out her story about her trip to Calabogie Peaks.
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2 comments
Awesome story ! Very interesting. Looks like a nice trip in the middle of winter.
Glad you enjoyed the post–thanks for writing!