Hôtel de Glace
Tourist attraction · Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier ·
Ice hotel with themed suites, ice bar, Nordic spa, tours
Ice hotel with themed suites, ice bar, Nordic spa, tours
"The cold will be a quickly forgotten concern at Hotel de Glace, Quebec’s ice hotel (and the only ice hotel in North America). While temperatures in the rooms and suites linger at around 25 degrees Fahrenheit, the bed frames (also made of ice) come with blankets and arctic sleeping bags. Pick from regular or theme suites; higher-end suites even have in-room fireplaces or private hot tubs for the cold weather weary. Guests who book suites at the Hotel de Glace will also receive a room at Hotel Vacartier on the same night as their stay, where they can make use of the shower and store their luggage. Keep in mind that this hotel only operates during the colder months—come spring, it shuts its doors."
"A structure freshly constructed every year from ice and snow that opens seasonally (January to March), offering an iconic, ephemeral stay or visit as part of winter festivities in the region." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An annual high-design ice hotel open from January to mid-March, built as an igloo with Gothic-style arches and illuminated ice columns; the structure and interiors are crafted entirely of ice and snow. It hosts experiential dining—including a debut ice-and-snow restaurant with a $225-per-person menu that features Québec-accented items like wild boar bacon consommé—and is considered a must-visit winter attraction in the province." - Michael Kaminer
"Built from 2,300 blocks of ice and 15,000 tons of snow at Village Vacances Valcartier about 20 minutes from downtown, the Hôtel de Glace offers tours and overnight stays from January to March in rooms that hover around 23°F; guests can warm up in hot tubs and saunas, use insulating sheets and arctic‑grade sleeping bags, and enjoy ice‑skating paths and massive snow slides on site." - Julia Eskins Julia Eskins Julia Eskins is a writer and editor covering travel, design, and culture. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, National Geographic, and more. She’s traveled to more than 50 countries, lived in five, and currently calls Toronto home. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"This seasonal, North American-exclusive ice hotel offers the rare experience of sleeping on beds made of ice inside walls sculpted from snow and ice; the 2023 season opened Jan. 4. Each year’s designers pick a theme, so rooms and suites are elaborately carved — examples include motifs of mushrooms, flowers and woodland creatures or a Japanese-style pagoda — and the property features giant snow arches, crystal-clear ice sculptures and ice chandeliers. Guest rooms are equipped with Arctic sleeping bags, and some include roaring fireplaces, private hot tubs and saunas; all visitors have access to a Nordic relaxation area with outdoor saunas and hot tubs for stargazing. The visit begins with a welcome drink served in an ice glass, and guests can enjoy an illuminated ice-skating path, up to 24 slides and sledding hills, plus a cocktail bar kept around −5°F. The hotel opens in phases (main public spaces, chapel, ice bar, terrace and spa areas opened Jan. 4, additional rooms and the ice workshop opened Jan. 7, with full completion by Jan. 16). Overnight bookings include a same-night room at a neighboring four-star hotel as a backup, a welcome cocktail, and full access to hot tubs, sauna and the ice-skating path; overnight rates start at about $400 and daytime admission passes begin around $25." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines