The hype
Magical and beautiful, but physically demanding and expensive for what is essentially fancy winter camping.
Hotel De Glace
$300-500/ night
Book this if You want the ultimate Canadian winter bragging rights and don't mind sleeping like a mummy to get them.
Why People Love It
- Once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience
- Stunning, ephemeral art carved from snow and ice
- Dead silent sleeping environment due to thick snow walls
Quick Take: It’s less of a hotel and more of an endurance challenge with a really nice backup plan.
Reviewed by @the_affordableluxury_diary: I spent a night here and it was unlike anything else. Drinking from an ice glass at the bar and then curling up in a thermal bag surrounded by snow art was an unforgettable adventure. It's cold, yes, but the experience is pure magic.
Guest Who Stayed Here Said
Reality check
Most guests admit they only slept a few hours in the ice room before retreating to their warm backup room.
- You are an adventure seeker
- You love winter camping but want a safety net
- You want unique wedding or engagement photos
Cleanliness & Maintenance
8.5
- Housekeeping: The ice rooms are rebuilt annually, so they are pristine. Backup rooms at Hotel Valcartier are generally clean but can be worn.
- Bathroom hygiene: Heated outdoor trailers are functional but basic; main hygiene happens in your private warm room.
- Maintenance: Ice structures are impeccably maintained; warm hotel can have minor wear and tear.
- Linens & towels: Sleeping bags are professionally cleaned; linens in warm room are standard hotel quality.
- Odors & scents: Ice rooms smell like nothing (crisp, cold air); warm rooms have standard hotel scent.
Sleepability™
6.5MODERATE
0-4LOUD
4-7.5MODERATE
7.5-10SILENT
- Crunching snow from boots in the hallway
- Your own breathing inside the sleeping bag
Before you book
Good to know
- You get a warm 'backup room' at Hotel Valcartier included in your rate—use it for luggage and showering.
- Check-in is at 4 PM, but you can't enter your ice room until 9 PM.
- The temperature inside is constant between -3°C and -5°C (23-27°F), regardless of outside weather.
What to pack
- Merino wool base layers (NO COTTON)
- Two pairs of warm socks (one for the day, a fresh dry pair strictly for sleeping)
- Hand and toe warmers
- Swimsuit for the hot tub
Room Genie
Best picks
- Premium Themed Suite with Fireplace (fireplace is gas/decorative but adds psychological warmth)
- Suites with private sauna (allows you to warm up immediately without walking outside)
Rooms to avoid
- Standard rooms near the entrance (more foot traffic noise)
- Rooms near the Ice Bar if you plan to sleep before 11 PM
Room Request Genie – copy & paste
“Request a themed suite away from the main lobby/bar area for maximum quiet, preferably with a fireplace ambiance.”
FAQ & Hidden tips
Everything you actually want to know before you book.
Is there a bathroom in the room?
No. You have to use heated portable toilets outside or go back to your warm room at the main hotel.
Will I freeze to death?
Unlikely. The provided sleeping bags are rated for -30°C, and the room stays around -5°C.
Can I charge my phone?
No outlets in the ice room. Charge everything in your warm backup room and keep your phone against your body to prevent the battery from dying.
What if I can't sleep?
You can retreat to your warm room at Hotel Valcartier at any time during the night.
Is it suitable for young children?
Technically yes, but many parents report ending up in the warm room by midnight because kids get cold or scared.
Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
No, the hotel provides high-quality arctic sleeping bags and liners.
Insider Tips
- ✨
Do not shower immediately before bed; any residual moisture on your skin will make you freeze.
- ✨
Put the clothes you want to wear tomorrow inside the bottom of your sleeping bag so they are warm when you wake up.
- ✨
Eat a high-calorie snack before bed to keep your body furnace running.
5 things to know before you go
💡The 'bed' is a block of ice with a wood base and a mattress—it's harder than you think.
💡You will likely spend more time in your 'backup' room than the actual ice room.
💡The mandatory training session feels like a survival school lecture.
💡Your nose will be the only thing cold while you sleep, and it will be *very* cold.
💡The silence is so profound it can actually be unsettling for city dwellers.
Local Playbook
Map
See where Hotel De Glace is located and what's nearby.