Fancy an ice cold Christmas break? Welcoing you 120 miles above the Arctic Circle in Northern Sweden in below zero temperatures is the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, which has reopened its doors for its 24th year. made from 1,000 tonnes of Torne River ice and 30,000 tonnes of “snice”, a mixture of snow and ice that strengthens the structure, Icehotel serves up a once-in-a-lifetime spine-tingling adventure.
As is the norm every year, artists from around the world design the hotel's 13 suites, each spending about a month on their suites, and these year's creations are stunning as usual.
Christian Strömqvist and Karl-Johan Ekeroth of PINPIN Studios who designed a room with a Star Trek theme last year, are back this year with what they describe as "a Frankenstein-esque art suite titled It’s Alive! – the laboratory of a crazy scientist, complete with mysterious gadgets, huge tesla coils, a hatch in the ceiling and a bed where the monster can come alive...a visually exiting scenography and lets the visitors decide for themselves if they want to play the part of the monster or of the scientist. In this room, a quite scary story is turned into a humoristic and positive, yet thrilling, experience ... Just like Dr Frankenstein created life from dead materials with the help of lightning."
But Frankesntein is not the only intriguing suite on offer. You can "Mind the Gap" suite by Marcus Dillistone & Magdalena Åkerström inspired by the underground or check out Narcissus checking himself out in the self-titled suite designed by Nina and Magnus Hedman.
Or what about sharing a suite this ginormous bear designed by Christine and Natalie Close?
And for the car enthusiasts there is the Deluxe Suite by MINI with an in-room sauna and 20 tonnes of extra ice.
The art suites will set you back $275 upwards a night, but if you'd rather settle for a standard room, there are 80 of those to choose from too, with a simple Snow Room starting at $195. If you don't handle the cold well, Icehotel also has warm room at $175 per night and you can always opt for a spine tingling sensation at the Absolut Ice Bar, safe in the knowledge that once the drinks are served, your warm room awaits.
