Our first destination in Quebec was the Ice Hotel, also known as the Hôtel de Glace. I learned about the Hôtel de Glace last year during Christmas when I watched the Lifetime movie “Baby It’s Cold Inside,” and I had to see it. Unique and enchanting, it was the inspiration for this entire trip and where I would wake up on my 44thbirthday…definitely one to remember!
The Ice Hotel is built entirely from ice and snow, with its theme and architecture changing every year. Because of this, it only operates during the winter months, from January to March, when temperatures are cold enough to maintain the structure’s integrity. Each winter, 47 skilled workers and craftsmen and 15 sculptors carve, sculpt, and shape thousands of tons of snow and ice into a magnificent structure, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience. They use more than 2,000 blocks of ice and more than 30,000 tons of snow! The entire process begins when the weather gets cold enough, typically in late November/early December and takes over 8,000 hours of work over a six-week period working day and night. The destruction of the hotel at the end of the season takes only five hours. This year the theme was “Timeline,” and we had the pleasure of meeting one of the designers. Each spring, the hotel melts away, only to be rebuilt again the next year.
Located at Valcartier Resort, when you reserve a room at the Ice Hotel, you also get a room in the main hotel. This room serves as a safe place for your belongings as well as a place to shower and use the bathroom. Your room in the Ice Hotel itself is really just for sleeping. Inside, the rooms stay a constant 23-26 degree temperature no matter how cold it is outside. Each room is uniquely designed and furnished with ice beds and furniture. Some rooms even have a fireplace! Despite being made of ice, accommodations are surprisingly cozy, thanks to thermal sleeping bags and insulated mattresses provided to guests.
When we arrived at the Ice Hotel, we were fortunate enough to be able to check into the Ice Hotel room early, though not the main hotel. Basically what that meant was we knew what room we were in when we set off to explore the Hôtel de Glace. We still had four hours before we could check into the main hotel, so off we went to explore the ice. As we walked outside, the first structure we came to was the Chapel where there would be a wedding the next day. In fact, over the past 20 years, people have come from all over the world to get married in this Chapel. Moreover, because it’s a Chapel and not a Church, it can host civil celebrations as well.
Then, around to the left was what we had been looking forward to, looking exactly as it did in the movie! As we walked in through the main doors, we were immediately greeted by illuminated ice sculptures – multiple icy corridors of illuminated ice sculptures! We explored all of them, ultimately leading to the ice bar, where we had our first drinks served in ice glasses – Sex on the Ice and Erabliere. After some icy cocktails, we toured the hotel. There were 44 rooms in total, and we were in Room 6. With a nautical theme, our room suited us.
Finally we were able to check into the main hotel and get our luggage situated. We then ventured out to one of the other sought-after activities at Valcartier – snow tubing! Valcartier hosts one of the best snow tubing set-ups in the world, and I have to say, it was amazing! In fact, the hotel proudly claims the “largest winter playground in North America.” With multiple “lifts” that allowed us to effortlessly ride to the top of the hills and save our energy for the tubing itself, this snow tubing experience was a dream. We had multiple choices from hills to ride down, from smaller hills to the “avalanche,” and even a couple of rafting hills. We tubed our hearts out then got some food and took in the Ice Hotel in all its illuminated glory in the dark night before the Arctic Spa opened at 9pm.
Basically, the way it works is you have access to the main hotel and its activities – namely the snow tubing, ice skating, and indoor waterpark, none included with your stay – between the hours of 9am and 9pm. At 9pm, the Ice Hotel area opens, and you are welcome to enjoy the Arctic Spa area before turning in to your room for the night. The hotel recommends doing the Arctic Spa at 9, going back to your room to shower and get ready for bed, then have a drink at the ice bar and go to bed. At 7am, a staff member makes wake-up rounds in the hotel, even entering your room to say good morning. Granted, your room has only a curtain separating you from the hallway, no door, but we still didn’t expect them to come in the room. At 8am they make a second wake-up call, and by 9am you need to be out of your ice hotel room. We had already had our drinks, so at 9pm, we got in the hot tub and spent a brief time in the sauna before showering up and hitting our ice beds. The sleeping bags were nice and warm, and we cozied up in our nests. We slept great.
I woke up to 44 surprisingly warm. After getting up, we grabbed coffee and wandered around the hotel a bit more, reflecting on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Immersed in a world of frozen beauty and magic, where every corner reveals a new marvel carved from ice and snow, we were grateful. Staying the night in Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace was more than just a hotel stay – it was an adventure we will cherish forever, literally a moment frozen in time. What a great way to start 44!
