Arctic Snow Hotel Rovaniemi

Visit the Arctic Snow Hotel Website for more information

Travel is something which both excites me and fulfills me. I spend my spare time reading travel magazines and searching for new destinations online. About two years ago I came across the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. I was so completely obsessed with this place that I drove my husband insane. You could literally stay in a glass dome and watch the northern lights dance across the sky. So when my husbands parents asked him where he wanted to go after Christmas, he was kind enough to mention Kakslauttanene. I don’t know if it was that he came around to thinking it was as cool as I did, or, that he couldn’t stand hearing about it anymore. Whatever it was I am so grateful!

Because of logistics Kakslauttanene wasn’t our best option so we decided to visit Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is located in the Laplands of Finland and pretty much has it all: northern lights, husky sleigh rides, reindeer sleigh rides, skiing, Santa Clause village, snow mobiles, among other activities. Besides the Northern Lights my favorite part of Rovaniemi was visiting the Arctic Snow Hotel. In the past I have visited London’s Ice Bar and the Jungfraujoch Ice Palace but never an actual snow hotel. Ever since first seeing the ice hotel in James Bond, Die Another Day, I have been completely fascinated. I even wrote about the worlds top six Ice Hotels in this post last year. The idea that you stay in something made completely out of ice was something I thought was strictly hollywood magic! Fourteen years later I know that hollywood has nothing to do with it, these places actually exist!

I am not sure what I was expecting but it was different than I had imagined. The detail that went into each suite, cafeteria, and bar were absolutely incredible! Each room had a different theme and each were separately mind-blowing. Be it the armed guard carved into the wall, the bear chair carved from a block of ice sitting in the corner, or the fireplace at the foot of one of the beds – the detailing and craftsman ship was unforgettable! As each hallway and room passed I continued to be more and more impressed! And don’t get me started on the chapel. It was absolutely chilling, in the best way possible!

Once inside the hotel it is warmer than you would expect so don’t worry about freezing to death! You will be shocked at just how cozy it is. I now understand how eskimos survive! All in all the hotel was quite magical! Whether you want to have a wedding in the chapel or just enjoy a glass of champagne in the bar, the Arctic Snow Hotel has it all! Something to add to your winter bucket list!

 

p.s. Fun fact: According to the Today show: What is one of the most stolen item in NYC right now? Canada Goose! They are seriously that amazing and everyone wants one! Just maybe put a lock on yours 🙂
If you like Canada Goose (i’m wearing the Trillium in the photos) and have been wanting to invest in one, now is your time! They are 20% off at Saint Bernard Sport with code CG20OFF! These things never go on sale so don’t miss this opportunity! shop it here

Photos of The Northern Lights of Finland

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The first time I saw the Northern Lights, a.k.a. Aurora Borealis, they were dancing across my computer screen as a child. I remember sitting there and just staring at them. Not sure if they were real or fake, only knowing that they looked like magic. When my mother-in-law told me we were going to see them after Christmas I almost died! It was something I had always wanted to do but never knew when I would actually do it! And here I was. I was actually going to get to see these magical lights! For the weeks leading up to our trip to Rovaniemi I prayed and prayed for clear skies. My worst fear was to travel all the way to the Laplands and not be able to see the Northern Lights due to poor weather (which happens more times than not). All I could do was stay positive and manifest clear skies! When the day came the weather was not looking great so I just kept envisioning the perfect night with the lights dancing across the sky – which is exactly what we got! The lights were an amazing thing to witness but very different than I had imagined. They weren’t exactly what I had chalked up in my head for all of those years but the second I saw the first image appear on my camera of those glowing lights, my heart skipped a beat. It was a real life moment I will never forget.

Now for the honesty – People’s first question is always – are they that spectacular in person? And that is tricky – yes and no. Because I shoot a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera) camera I am able to slow the shutter speed down for an extended period of time which allows the camera to capture light in a way our eyes will never be able to. Because of that the colors and images you see on your camera is different than the colors and image you see with your naked eye. Meaning, these deep greens and vibrant reds instantly showed up on my camera screen but when I looked up to the sky I only saw a soft green light dancing across the sky. That being said, it is still an unbelievable experience to see this natural light show happening before your eyes. These green lights literally dancing across the sky like they are in fast forward is absolutely a bucket list check! Some nights the greens are more vibrant than others and some nights they don’t dance as fast across the ski. It all depends on the climate and weather!

If the lights are something you are wanting to see I definitely have a lot of tips on shooting them, which I learned the hard way! I plan to post that in the coming weeks so be sure to check back!

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