Travel is something which both excites me and fulfills me. I spend my spare time reading travel magazines and searching for new destinations online. About two years ago I came across the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. I was so completely obsessed with this place that I drove my husband insane. You could literally stay in a glass dome and watch the northern lights dance across the sky. So when my husbands parents asked him where he wanted to go after Christmas, he was kind enough to mention Kakslauttanene. I don’t know if it was that he came around to thinking it was as cool as I did, or, that he couldn’t stand hearing about it anymore. Whatever it was I am so grateful!
Because of logistics Kakslauttanene wasn’t our best option so we decided to visit Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is located in the Laplands of Finland and pretty much has it all: northern lights, husky sleigh rides, reindeer sleigh rides, skiing, Santa Clause village, snow mobiles, among other activities. Besides the Northern Lights my favorite part of Rovaniemi was visiting the Arctic Snow Hotel. In the past I have visited London’s Ice Bar and the Jungfraujoch Ice Palace but never an actual snow hotel. Ever since first seeing the ice hotel in James Bond, Die Another Day, I have been completely fascinated. I even wrote about the worlds top six Ice Hotels in this post last year. The idea that you stay in something made completely out of ice was something I thought was strictly hollywood magic! Fourteen years later I know that hollywood has nothing to do with it, these places actually exist!
I am not sure what I was expecting but it was different than I had imagined. The detail that went into each suite, cafeteria, and bar were absolutely incredible! Each room had a different theme and each were separately mind-blowing. Be it the armed guard carved into the wall, the bear chair carved from a block of ice sitting in the corner, or the fireplace at the foot of one of the beds – the detailing and craftsman ship was unforgettable! As each hallway and room passed I continued to be more and more impressed! And don’t get me started on the chapel. It was absolutely chilling, in the best way possible!
Once inside the hotel it is warmer than you would expect so don’t worry about freezing to death! You will be shocked at just how cozy it is. I now understand how eskimos survive! All in all the hotel was quite magical! Whether you want to have a wedding in the chapel or just enjoy a glass of champagne in the bar, the Arctic Snow Hotel has it all! Something to add to your winter bucket list!