In polling my buddies and readers, plainly folks fall into two distinct camps. Those who assume a keep on the Ice Resort in Quebec, or Resort de Glace, can be a as soon as in a lifetime alternative, and those who assume sleeping on ice is loopy. Earlier than you resolve the place you fall, let me inform you extra about it.
Resort de Glace: Ice Resort in Quebec
Observe: Our go to to Resort de Glace was hosted by Tourism Metropolis, Quebec Metropolis Tourism, and the Resort de Glace. All opinions are our personal.
Resort de Glace, situated simply 10 minutes exterior of Quebec Metropolis, is the one resort in North America made fully of ice and snow. It’s a part of the Village Vacances Valcartier, a year-round resort that additionally has an incredible snow tubing park. Every year, the Ice Resort is freshly constructed of 500 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of manufactured snow, blown into molds to type the constructions of the resort.
Building begins in early December, when the temperatures are under zero for at the least every week. Over the subsequent six weeks, a crew works across the clock, till the resort is ready to open someday in January. It is going to then keep open for so long as temperatures cooperate.
It’s a excellent place to remain if you’re attending the Quebec Winter Carnival.
The resort is constructed with a unique theme every year. The resort has grown over time and options 42 rooms and themed suites. Resort de Glace additionally gives an ice chapel, for those who need to get married on the resort, in addition to loads of communal public areas.
Resort de Glace Rooms and Suites
Once you keep on the Ice Resort, you may select between a primary room or a set that has extra ornate ice carvings and decorations that match the yr’s theme. You may also choose a set with a hearth, however understand that these are only for atmosphere, not heat (as that may soften the room!) There are rooms out there with one to a few beds, making it appropriate for households or buddies.
Every room reservation features a room on the Hôtel Valcartier on the identical evening as your keep on the Hôtel de Glace so that you’ve got a spot to retailer baggage, bathe (or sleep in the event you get too chilly.) Though a resort payment is relevant. Reservations additionally embody:
- A welcome cocktail served in an ice glass
- Entry to the Nordic space with sizzling tubs and saunas beneath the celebrities
- 10% low cost on companies on the Aroma Spa
- 20% low cost in your Hôtel Valcartier reservation the nights earlier than and/or the nights after your in a single day keep on the Hôtel de Glace
A couple of issues to remember when you find yourself deciding whether or not or not an in a single day keep is best for you:
- There are not any locked doorways on rooms or suites, simply velvet curtains and valuables are saved in a locker
- Friends are solely permitted within the rooms from 9pm to 8am the next day
- There are not any ensuite loos however there are trailers exterior the resort or heated restrooms on the close by Celcius Pavilion
- Whereas the mattress is manufactured from ice, there’s a wooden platform and a normal mattress to guard you from the chilly
- Friends are given a Nordic sleeping bag to maintain heat because the temperature contained in the resort stays between -3 and -5 levels Celsius (23-27 levels Fahrenheit.)
Once we visited, we noticed rooms with snow chevaliers, platform beds with ice stairs, ice capsules, and area ship like quarters.
Earlier than bundling up for the evening, visitors are invited to heat up within the Nordic space with a courtyard of spas and saunas beneath the celebrities. Obtainable from 8pm to 8am, visitors can increase their physique temperature with a sizzling soak, then rapidly dry off and gown earlier than climbing right into a Nordic sleeping bag, rated for temperatures from -15 to -30 levels Celsius.
So, would you keep? I suppose we fall within the camp of individuals that may stay awake in a single day on the Ice Resort. I used to be intrigued and really tempted, till I examine the entire toilet factor. That and the truth that even at residence, my daughter sleeps in fleece pjs with a sweatshirt, fleece sheets, 2 fleece blankets, 2 quilts, and a comforter and nonetheless says she is chilly.
One thing tells me she wouldn’t do too effectively on the Ice Resort, irrespective of how heat that sleeping bag is. However that doesn’t imply that the Ice Resort wouldn’t be proper for your loved ones. We have now buddies that stayed there with their two elementary school-aged ladies and so they liked it! In reality, Resort de Glace has had kids as younger as six months keep in a single day.
However even in the event you don’t keep, that doesn’t imply you can’t benefit from the Resort de Glace.
Resort de Glace Excursions
The Resort de Glace is open every day for excursions, beginning at $24.99-$29.99 (infants are free.) A go to to the Ice Bar is a spotlight of any tour so chances are you’ll need to spring for the bundle that features a cocktail.
Cocktails are served in sq. glasses hewn from blocks of ice. A bit onerous to drink from however very cool wanting, particularly in the event you get one of many brightly coloured cocktails. I chosen a maple-flavored martini, as a result of in any case, we had been in Quebec — the highest maple syrup producer on this planet! Even the children can take part with a glass of juice, they simply must drink it quick earlier than it freezes.
Children and adults alike will even get pleasure from a journey on the ice slide, which lands you proper exterior the Ice Bar.
So inform me…would you sleep on ice?
Characteristic photograph is courtesy of Philippe Renaud.
