How Can Something So Cold, Be So Hot? - Quebec, Canada

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How Can Something So Cold, Be So Hot?

Quebec, Canada

The Ice Hotel

I arrive at the Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada, around ten in the morning, in time to see brave souls who have spent the night, staggering up to the check-out desk located inside one of the heated buildings at the resort. They look a bit tired, yet proud, as they prepare to leave for other parts of Quebec to continue their vacations.

One couple is wished Happy Anniversary by the clerk and I am astonished to realize that they actually made a point of coming here to celebrate this special event. A mother and her three children, bundled to the hilt, come into the sales area looking for souvenirs. I ask them why they did it. The mother goes on about how they love winter camping and what a great time they had. The kids, looking desperate for a warm bath and a night in a real bed, nod their heads. How comfortable can sleeping on a bed made of ice be - even one covered in deer fur?

According to Veronique Cyr, Public Relations Manager for the ice hotel, people are very excited to be here and love the challenge of spending a night, or even two, inside a structure made entirely of ice and snow with a temperature that ranges from minus three to minus seven degrees centigrade. In the morning they say, "We survived a night in the ice hotel."

It is hard to picture until you are actually here. On the outside it looks like a giant igloo. But on the inside, this structure which is made of 11,000 tons of snow and 350 tons of ice is filled with beautiful artwork and ornate furniture - all carved out of ice and snow. Upon entering, I was struck by the elaborate ice candelabra, lighted by fibre optics that was hanging in the grand hall.

In 2002, the hotel had thirty-one rooms and ten suites as well as two art galleries, an ice movie theater and the Absolut Ice bar. Cyr says that the goal is to make changes and try new things each year. A number of upgrades have been added to the hotel this year, including an interior and exterior skating rink, a large hot tub, and, amazingly, a wedding chapel. All on par with the original Ice Hotel in Sweden that this one is based on. On the day I visited, the first wedding of the season, that of Ryan Morita and Cindy from Hawaii and Guam respectively, is scheduled to take place.

The Chapel is truly lovely with ice benches covered in animal fur, a crystalline desk for signing wedding contracts and an alter for the couple to be joined in cold but wedded bliss. Wedding packages that range in price are available.

An ice booth

The bar is the main hangout for hotel guests. The drink of choice is flavoured vodka, provided by the one of the sponsors, Absolut Vodka, and served in classes carved out of ice. My husband tries the citrus which he says is delicious while I stick to hot chocolate in a fruitless attempt to warm up. There is a web cam in the bar. The bartender offers to take our picture so that we can instantly send it to our loved ones and prove that we are actually here. We readily agree.

There is no hot food served inside the hotel because any heat would cause the structure to melt. However, this year there will be cold appetizers served on plates made of ice for the first time. Another change, sure to be appreciated, will be entertainment in the new N'ice Club Hôtel de Glace.

Two wood-burning fireplaces are encased in glass which is a bit frustrating for those who have the fantasy of warming their extremities by the fire. If you want to get warm, there are a couple of choices. One is to jump in the spa with its hot bubbling water and enjoy a nice long soak. The only drawback is having to get in and out in your bathing suit at temperatures that are below freezing. But those who have tried it assure me that your body temperature stays elevated long enough to dash into the heated trailer that houses a change room and, more importantly, a bathroom.

The bathroom facility is one of the most common questions they get at the Ice Hotel. No, they don't expect people to sit on the ice toilets. In the first year they provided a Johnny-on-the-spot, but this year, the heated trailer with His and Her washrooms seems luxurious in comparison. Hanging out in the bathroom is another way to warm up but not too exciting.

So what is the attraction of Quebec's Ice Hotel, going into its third year of business and more popular than ever now that it is located in the Duchesnay Ecotourism Station - a thirty-minute drive from Quebec City. During the day, one can participate in a range of winter activities such as dog sledding, ice fishing, snowmobile tours, forest orientation and snow shoeing. However, there is definitely a survivor quality to spending the night here. Not that it isn't beautiful, unique and even breathtaking. But by the end of my one hour tour, my feet are starting to feel like ice cubes and I'm thinking how to get through a night here.

A third way to warm up is now being explained. Get in your arctic-quality sleeping bag and go to sleep. It's not that difficult, according to the tour guide. Once you get inside the special sleeping bags that are provided and your body heat warms it up, it can get so warm that you actually sweat. Which is why they advise you not to overload on the layers of clothes when getting into bed for the night. Perspiration actually cools you down and then it will be difficult to warm up again.

Speaking of advice, make sure that you don't wait if you have to go to the bathroom. Why? It takes energy to keep "liquid" warm that could be better expended on heating your body. He also advises drinking water before bed and eating well to supply energy to the body.

For my money, the best place to spend the night in the Ice Hotel is the Cellu Boutique Espace Bell Suite. It is the only suite with a television and as an added bonus, there is a computer. I think I could survive with those distractions but in the other rooms, I'm sure that I'd spend a lot of time looking at my visible breath and staring at the ceiling, in spite of the ornate thematic carvings.

Who knows, maybe one day, I'll be brave and spend the night. But on this visit, I'm enjoying the vicarious thrill of watching the survivors say their good-byes and go off to their next adventures. As for me, I'm proud to say, I survived the tour.

For More Information

The hotel is located in Ste. Catherine-de-la Jacques-Cartier, just outside of Quebec City.

This year the Ice Hotel will open on January 1, 2003 and will remain open until March 31, 2003 when the ice will begin to melt.

The hotel can accommodate 76 guests per night and the Absolute Bar holds up to five hundred parties for special events.

There are a variety of packages available that include meals, winter sports and a second night at either the Duchesnay resort or the Quebec Hilton.

The cost for a night at the hotel ranges from $199 to $900 Canadian, depending on the room or suite chosen and the number of people per room.

Tours are available daily at Ice Hotel Quebec Canada in both English and French at a cost of $12 per adult and $6 per child. This includes a drink at the bar.

If you go or want to book a stay, contact

Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada Inc

143, route Duchnesnay

Pavillion l'Aigle

Ste. Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier

Quebec Canada G0A 3M0

Tel: 1-877-505-0423

Email: information@icehotel-canada.com

website: www.icehotel-canada.com

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