Ice Hotels&#59; anyone actually stayed at one?

No, but it's on my bucket list. Did you check the reviews at tripadvisor? http://goo.gl/ttkXo

Yeah, an ice hotel stay is on my bucket list too, but they don't strike me as very "Europe Through the Back Door" sorts of places. Aren't they pretty spendy? I went so far as to do an advanced google search on this site, and didn't find a single prior thread discussing them! TripAdvisor is probably a better bet for feedback on this topic.

I haven't but a colleague of my wife's was all set up to go when he traveled to Finland on business but he was unable to convince his wife. Oh well.

I researched going to the ice hotel in Kemi Finalnd several years ago. But in the end I decided it wasn't worth the time and expense for just one night in a unique hotel. The Ice Hotel seemed neat, but there just wasn't enough to do around in the immediate area to hold my interest and justify it all. Instead I went to Harbin China, it's one of the coldest cities in the world and is home to the largest Ice and Snow festival in the world. Even though I froze my butt off, it was one of the most spectacular sights I've ever set my eyes on! Harbin is a large city near the Russian border, and it wasn't terribly hard to reach: Direct (albeit long)flight from Newark to Beijing, then a two hour domestic flight to Harbin. Here's some photos: http://tinyurl.com/6kzu7dh http://tinyurl.com/6aol495

My bucket list, too. Mentioned it to my wife, and she didn't even dignify me with a response. I think I dragged her into too many snow caves while we were dating for her to want to repeat those subzero wake ups again. Right now, I'll be alone in the IH, while she spends the night in one with heat. Sounds, awesome, though. Kind of kitschy, but unique nonetheless.

By kitschy, I am, in no way, am implying inexpensive. These things are spendy!

Michael,
your pictures are absolutely beautiful. I have been to China, but hadn't heard of Harbin, so you learn something new every day. Thanks for posting.

Darren - I believe that most of the ice hotels also have indoor rooms with heat. I've read that if you want to spend multiple nights, you get ONE in an ice room, and then they bung you into a regular room for the rest of your stay, because of high demand. At any rate, it's a fix for you. You stay in an Ice Single, and your wife can stay in a Warm Single! That's what I've told my husband we will do, since he couldn't stop laughing when I suggested an ice hotel in the first place.

Kira - That's my ticket! The IHs that I've looked into say that most of their clients spend 1 or 2 nights in the IH, then finish their stay in a nearby Warm Hotel. This simplifies things even more! Thanks!

It's on my bucket list too!! Maybe we could all get a room together and it would be cheaper!