ON THIN ICE
Quebec offers adventurers the ultimate frosty retreat

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By Whitney Bryen, OPUBCO Communications Group

Published: December 3, 2008

People who live in northern climates seem to revel in it. There are ice sculpture competitions, ice fishing, even those Finnish people who like to sweat in a sauna, then dive headlong into icy water in nothing but their birthday suits.

Ice is a way of life.

For those who share in the mysterious allure of frozen water but hate roughing it, think Quebec for the perfect getaway.

The Hôtel de Glace on Lake St. Joseph near Quebec City offers a luxurious and unique experience in its 32,000-square-foot boutique hotel made purely of snow and ice.

"Spending a night at the Hôtel de Glace gives you a break from the bustle of the outside world," says Marie-Eve Laganière, communications and media relations consultant for the hotel. "It's a cocoon that cuts you off from the rest of the world and its daily stresses.’’

Hôtel de Glace embodies the meaning of “icelation” putting around 20,000 tons of ice and snow between you and the outside world. With 36 overnight rooms and suites, the hotel offers accommodations for approximately 88 people including arctic-rated sleeping bags for the night, access to the hot tubs and sauna and a hot morning beverage and breakfast.

"When you go inside the Hôtel de Glace, you become a child again," Laganière says. "The decor of snow and ice makes it looks so incredible and you feel like you are inside a snow fort like the ones we used to build in our childhood."

The uniqueness of the hotel is matchless, Laganière says. It is redesigned and rebuilt every year creating an original experience even for repeat guests.

Visitors to the Hôtel de Glace can also enjoy activities ranging from winter sports like dogsledding and skiing to relaxing messages and a cocktail at the ice bar.

The ninth incarnation of Hôtel de Glace currently under construction will be opened from Jan. 4 until March 29, 2009. Preparation and building of the hotel takes about a month. About 30 people work around the clock creating fine details such as ice sculptures throughout the hotel.

For those who are unwilling to brave the cold for the entirety of the evening, a room at the nearby Station touristique Duchesnay also is included in the Hôtel de Glace vacation packages.

The hotel also provides tours and activity packages as well as accommodations for special events such as weddings held in the hotel chapel.

Vacation packages range from $250 to $500 USD per night.

For more information, call 877-505-0423 or visit cehotel-canada.com.