For many people, winter travel involves escaping to a sunny locale, lying on the beach and sipping umbrella drinks.
Others prefer to semi-embrace the winter weather and go skiing or snowboarding before adjourning to their cozy hotel and sipping hot cocoa around the fire.
And then there are those who dive head first into the elements and stay in a damn igloo.
This is for those people. So to assist with all your snowy escapades, whether it's viewing the northern lights or dining beside a mountain, here are nine ice and igloo hotels to visit this winter. Don't forget your jacket.
Hôtel De Glace (Quebec, Canada)
Hôtel de Glace is made entirely of ice and snow. Its 30 rooms and suites feature different configurations, from one to three beds, and feature unique ice art carved into the walls. Some rooms even have gas fireplaces. There's a cafe and multiple bars on site—drinks come in ice glasses, of course—and you can warm up in outdoor hot tubs or the sauna.
Borealis Basecamp (Fairbanks, Alaska)
With 16-foot clear roofs that let in plenty of natural light, you can take in the picturesque views without leaving your bed. The Borealis Basecamp fiberglass igloos are similar to those utilized by polar expeditions and research stations, and the on-site restaurant serves three square meals per day inside a craftsman-built yurt.
Whitepod Hotel & Restaurant (Monthey, Switzerland)
These geodesic, energy-efficient pods are perched in the Swiss Alps. Choose from a variety of different rooms, like cozy igloo-shaped dwellings with pellet stoves and spacious suites featuring Japanese baths. Whichever you go with, you'll have unfettered views of the surrounding mountains.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort (Saariselkä, Finland)
Located 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort gives you options. Stay in the snow igloo, and you can huddle for warmth with your companion inside a down sleeping bag. Book a glass igloo for the best views of the northern lights. Or try the kelo-glass igloo, which merges a log chalet with a partial glass dome.
Icehotel (Jukkasjärvi, Sweden)
The aptly-named Icehotel is built each year and opens in the winter with 15-20 standard rooms and a dozen art suites, which feature unique decor and hand-carved designs. The Icehotel 365 is a permanent structure with an art exhibit and bar, both made of ice, of course.
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos (Sinettä, Finland)
This snow hotel sits near a lake and is freshly carved each year for a different appearance. After dinner at one of the on-site restaurants, you can retire for the evening with a sleeping bag and reindeer fur. If you want a better view of the night sky, the property's glass-roof igloos are in prime position to see the Aurora Borealis.
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel (Alta, Norway)
The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is the world's northernmost ice hotel, and it's rebuilt each year with a different theme. The structure itself and all the furniture are ice, including the beds, which include reindeer furs and sleeping bags to help you achieve something close to warmth. There's also a sauna and an ice bar pouring all the necessary drink to keep your blood moving.
Snowhotel Kirkenes (Bjørnevatn, Norway)
Snowhotel Kirkenes is one of the rare options that's open year-round. Choose from 13 rooms to bunk down for the night. When you're not in your sleeping bag, occupy yourself at the ice bar and the restaurant, which serves a menu of arctic ingredients. You can rent snowshoes and cross-country skis, or hangout with the reindeer and huskies who live on the property. Just note that reindeer are featured on the restaurant menu, so don't get too attached.
Iglu-Dorf (Multiple Locations)
Iglu-Dorf operates five ice hotels: three in the Swiss Alps, one in Austria, and one in Germany. They vary across locations, but each features multiple artist-designed room configurations, plus amenities like saunas, whirlpools, bars, breakfast buffets and all-you-can-eat fondue.
