Ottawa 
Each November, something special begins to take shape in the snowy landscape west of Quebec City. In early winter, the construction begins on one of Quebec and Canada’s most well-known attractions and unique winter experiences.
Credit: Valcartier Holiday Village
That is, for those who want to immerse themselves in the season of winter. The Hotel de Glace opens each January as an artistic masterpiece, an engineering feat, and an operating hotel with ice rooms, ice beds, and an ice bar.
Plus, the hotel is conveniently located about halfway between Quebec City and Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier. The area, known as the Velcartier Vacation Village, is home to the world-famous Hotel de Glace and so much more. While the castle-like hotel made entirely of ice and snow is at the top of the list of things to see in the area, Velcartier is an area rich with fun and adventure for all ages and interests.
A Quick History of the Hotel de Glace
The ice hotel, along with the rest of Velcartier, was a result of the vision of a local Quebec man, Adrien Drouin. He started a small winter playground in the early 1960s and eventually passed the business down to his son in the 70s. Guy Drouin would then begin to expand the park’s offerings while beginning the snow tubing slides.
Over the next 30 years, Guy would continue building on his dad’s vision for the park; it is thanks to Guy and his father’s original business that visitors from all over the world can enjoy the Velcartier Vacation Village as a resort town with year-round family-friendly fun.
In 2016, the park saw the opening of its major attractions: Hôtel Valcartier, Bora Parc, and Hôtel de Glace. Today, the park and village are operated by the next generation of Drouin family members. While the Hotel de Glace has opened each winter since 2001, it received its home at Velcartier in 2016.
Tour or Stay at Hôtel de Glace
Choosing to stay at Quebec’s Hotel de Glace means signing up for a bit of an adventure. Almost everything in the hotel, from the main structures, to decorations, and even most of the furniture, is made of ice or snow! This surprisingly cozy winter experience, which is the only of its kind in North America, changes each year, too!
Given the hotel’s primary building materials, the Hotel de Glace changes shape every time it is rebuilt. And if you’re apprehensive at all about the experience, the hotel’s online preparation guides tell you all you need to know about what to bring, what to wear, and what to expect for an overnight stay. Those who book a room here also have access to the hot tubs and saunas in the Nordic spa area.
- Whether you’re in the area for the day or weekend, tour tickets are available for a look at the coolest parts of Hotel de Glace, its history, and how it came to be one of Canada’s “coolest” attractions.
- So many parts of the Hotel de Glace are each their own piece of art including many snow and ice sculptures.
- Hôtel Valcartier is also on-site in the Vacation Village for those who prefer the traditional lodging experience but still want to enjoy the winter wonderland of the Vacation Village. Each room reservation at Hotel de Glace includes access to a room at Hotel Velcartier. This makes it easier to store your belongings and provides a backup plan!
Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Glace & More Dining
The entire hotel is made of ice and snow. This is true for the rooms, the lobby, the décor, and even the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Glace, complete with an ice bar. The restaurant serves Nordic-inspired cuisine crafted by the chefs of the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. This unique dining experience takes place in the cozy setting of the hotel’s snow vaults.
More dining is available within Velcartier, with Villagio serving up fresh pizzas and Le Capitaine for elevated pub fare.
The Village’s Indoor & Outdoor Playgrounds
Kids and kids at heart have the chance to enjoy two large playgrounds within the vacation village with one offering some indoor fun on the colder or windier days of the vacation.
- Velcartier’s Bora Parc is an indoor waterpark open all year that features waterslides and tube waterslides, a few different pools, a surf machine, and private cabanas for rent.
- The waterslides at Bora Parc offer a few ways to enjoy some thrills, while the outdoor Winter Playground provides even more downhill sliding adventures. The playground is home to hills and runs for snow tubing or snow rafting, as well as a skating trail which winds around an area that is open as an outdoor waterpark in the summer.
- The Aroma Spa will be the perfect place to unwind after the adventures in the playgrounds or touring the Hotel de Glace. Get a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences from the Spa through a full thermal Nordic experience with pools, saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs.
Planning your Trip – Hotel de Glace
Credit: Valcartier Holiday Village
What: the Hotel de Glace, or Ice Hotel, is Quebec’s one-of-a-kind winter attraction. Located in the Velcartier Vacation Village west of Quebec City, this hotel is a winter attraction made entirely of ice and snow.
Each year, the Village hires architects, designers, artists, and engineers to plan and build a new ice hotel, which opens to the public in early January. The Hotel de Glace is a unique experience as the hotel beds and furniture, bar and restaurant, and entire rooms, are all made of snow or ice.
An overnight stay at the Hotel de Glace therefore requires a bit of extra planning. The average indoor temperature at any given time for the Hotel de Glace is 0-5 degrees Celsius.
Location:
It is located about 35 km from Quebec City at 2280 Valcartier Boulevard, Valcartier, QC, G0A 4S0.
Village Vacances Valcartier is located just 20 minutes north of Québec City
Best time to go: Vacation Village is open year-round; Hotel de Glace is open January 1 – mid-March each year
Cost: hotel tours $24.99 to $39.99 per person; bundle packages available for tours, Bora Parc, and Winter Playground admission
For more information:
