Sure, you could opt to take a getaway to a tropical location this winter. You’re tired of the cold weather and you need a beach and a margarita—we get it. But here’s the thing, everyone who endures frozen conditions in the winter opts for a vacation in a nice, warm setting. Do you want to be like everyone else—or are you ready for something off the beaten path?
Even those who generally go against the grain, by traveling to a location with frigid temps for a winter holiday, will usually, at least, opt for a room with heat – so this list is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re a diehard fan of the cold, there’s only one breed of hotel able to accommodate the insatiable lust for frost that surely lives inside you – and that breed of hotel is the ice hotel (and yes, there are quite a few of them).
Although most popular in Nordic countries, they can also be found in Canada, Japan, and Europe, and have seen a rise in popularity in recent years. Most of them are destination hotels; emphasis is placed on the experience of the hotel itself, rather than exploring the surrounding areas. But they’re more than worth it. The accommodations are often completely sculpted from ice, and they’re downright gorgeous. The translucent nature of the construction is taken advantage of, with beautifully projected light that shines through and illuminates different rooms with calming hues. Food and drinks are specially chosen for the circumstances, and furniture is usually lined with an animal skin that nullifies the cold (so it’s not like you’re actually sleeping on ice).
And yet, the undeniable fact, that you’re surrounded by frozen water, can’t be completely denied, but we see this as a big plus if you’re planning a getaway with a significant other (which these hotels are almost universally intended for). Nothing inspires intimacy like the constant need to be next to each other and share body warmth, right?
Run the idea by bae, and if she backs it, have a gander at these hotels made completely of ice here.