Winter Fairytale: The Most Unusual Hotels for Christmas Holidays.

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Christmas… With every passing day the most magical and joyful time of the year draws nearer!

What can be better than Christmas holidays in Europe? The streets of ancient towns transform into a real winter fairy tale, full of joy, happiness, and anticipation of something special.

Christmas in Europe is an excellent opportunity to dive into the festive atmosphere. Fairy markets of Germany, Austria, Budapest, and Prague with their magical garlands, hot pastries and fragrant mulled wine every year attract thousands of guests from all over the world.

But today more and more tourists prefer unconventional formats for winter vacations. Spending a night in an igloo and watching the northern lights, staying in a snow hotel. Or sledding with real reindeer – isn’t that a great alternative to strolling through holiday markets? All of these can be found in the Scandinavian countries. Sweden, Norway, Finland – choose what suits you best and dive into the atmosphere of a real winter fairytale.

Icehotel – Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

Fans of winter, snow, and frost will definitely appreciate the ice hotel, which has been built in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi for 23 years now. About a thousand tons of ice are used annually for the construction of the hotel. No wonder why Icehotel is considered to be one of the largest ice hotels in the world.

Its main feature is rooms, which are true works of ice craftsmanship. It’s impossible to get warm in such a room – the temperature is maintained at -5 to -8 degrees Celsius. You can spend the night in such a room in a thermal sleeping bag on a bed covered with reindeer skins. And in the morning you can warm up in the sauna located on the hotel grounds. What to say – such a stay is a real challenge for comfort lovers.

Another excellent way to warm up during your stay at the Icehotel is to engage in active winter activities. Guests can participate in dog sledding and sleigh rides pulled by reindeer in the hotel premises.
By the way, this is an excellent place to admire one of the most unique natural phenomena – the northern lights – right from your room!

Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel – Alta, Norway

The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, designed in the style of an igloo, is rightly considered to be the best place in the world, where one can see the northern lights in all its beauty. Every year an impressive structure of snow and ice with an area of 2000 square meters is created for tourists. Can you imagine a hotel that is rebuilt from scratch every season?

The temperature in the rooms ranges from -4 to -7 degrees Celsius. So, after a night in a warm sleeping bag, the sauna and relaxing baths with hot water are obligatory point of your stay at the hotel.

Sorrisniva Igloo offers a variety of activities for those who want to fully enjoy winter entertainment in snowy landscapes. Visit the traditional indigenous lavvu tents and get to know the culture and customs of the Norwegian people, or go snowmobiling and dog sledding, enjoying the beauty of nature. It is definitely worth visiting this magical place at least once in a lifetime!

 

Arctic Snow Hotel – Sinettä, Finland

The Arctic Snow Hotel is located in Finnish Lapland, just a few kilometers from Santa Claus Village.

Everything is made of ice here. Have you spent a night in an ice (literally) room? Great, now you can warm up in the ice sauna or take a dip in the outdoor ice bath. There’s even an ice chapel on the hotel grounds. And the special highlight – a honeymoon suite. Imagine spending a romantic night under the starry sky in a completely glass igloo. It’s unforgettable!

By the way, those who prefer less extreme accommodation options have a chance to stay in a wooden igloo with a transparent roof.

But what definitely deserves attention of all hotel guests without exception is the quite interesting service called “Nothern Lights Watcher”. A special staff member will closely observe the night sky and wake up the guests at the first signs of this unique natural phenomenon.

Tips for Traveling to Scandinavia

Winter in Scandinavia is a magical time! Who wouldn’t want to visit Santa Claus’s homeland, ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh and make a wish under the lights of the northern lights?
To ensure that your Scandinavian vacation leaves only positive emotions take care of your comfort in advance:

  • Think carefully about whether you are ready to spend several nights in a room made of snow and ice. Or is it better to choose less extreme living conditions?
  • Are you going to travel with children? Make sure that the hotel you choose offers suitable conditions for young travelers.
  • Remember: choosing a vacation of this kind, the first thing you should pack is thermal underwear. Warm clothing, a huge down jacket, and a hat will likely make you resemble a snowman from a distance, but nothing will ruin your vacation.

Travel Planning

  • Construction of the first ice hotels in Scandinavia begins in late November. And the opportunity to stay in them is available only for three months a year. Therefore, it is better to apply for a Schengen visa now to make sure you have enough time to experience this winter fairy tale.
  • Prepare your travel itinerary in advance. Staying in an ice hotel and reindeer sledding is certainly interesting and fun, but make sure you are really ready to spend the whole week there.
  • Remember that all these unique hotels are in high demand, so it is better not to delay booking.
  • Plan your flight in advance as well. Europe, especially Scandinavia, has always been and will continue to be one of the most popular winter destinations.

Anyway it is definitely worth seeing the Scandinavian winter at least once in a lifetime! No difficulties can compare to the memories that such a trip can give you. The only thing left to do is to find a suitable company and start preparations, anticipating an amazing and interesting journey.

Do not waste time and contact The Visa Services now!

FAQ:

Q: Where and when is the best time to admire the northern lights?

A: It’s better to see the northern lights when the sky is dark and clear. Scandinavia, especially its northern regions, is an excellent place to admire this phenomenon. And you have a chance to do it from October to March.

Q: What places to include into the program if you travel with children?

A: A must-visit on a Scandinavian route with children is Lapland, the homeland of the famous Santa Claus. But there is plenty to see in Finland even without that: themed and amusement parks, museums and the “Eureka” Children’s Science Center. In Norway, pay attention to the Ski Museum and the Polar Museum. And in Sweden do not forget to visit Astrid Lindgren amusement park.

Q: What currency travelers need in the Scandinavian countries?

A: Each of the Scandinavian countries has its own currency, so it’s best to have a bank card with you.

Q: What is the weather like in Scandinavia in winter?

A: Winter in Scandinavia is quite cold. Although it is quite snowy, there is high humidity throughout all three months. However, on mountain tops it can be quite sunny and even (if possible to say so) warm. When planning a trip it’s better to consider these variations and bring warm clothing for all occasions.

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