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What was your first impression of the ICEHOTEL® when you arrived?
It was minus 28 degrees celsius, and the sun was just setting so it was a pristine white wonderland. I couldn’t wait to get into my warm gear so I could get inside the Hotel as the outside seemed so inviting! |
What do you think the best thing about a holiday to the ICEHOTEL® is?
Without doubt the experience of sleeping on ice, in ice, around ice.
What makes Swedish Lapland so special?
The Sami people and reindeer herders are so welcoming and passionate about retaining their culture and heritage.
Why is the ICEHOTEL® the ideal place to spend Christmas or New Year?
The ice hotel will give you an experience like no other. The time and perfection in sculpting the hotel, suites and chapel makes you feel like you are in a special place. Your senses are heightened by the temperature of an average -7 (getting to -40) but it’s a dry cold that encourages you to keep moving and experience the husky sledge rides, snowmobiling, ice fishing and Skiing. You can fit so much activity and fun into 3 or 4 days, but relax in the afternoons and evenings with warm snuggly duvets on the beds and excellent food in the restaurants’.
What was your favourite winter activity?
It’s too difficult to pick one as each one has such a different impact on you, but I suppose the Husky Sledge, driven by a Sami herder, where you end up in a traditional Sami Lavvu house and eat traditional local food. The dogs are so happy and friendly you just get carried away with the experience. They love their animals so much it comes across in the way the dogs behave – the dogs even lick your face dry!
What was the best meal you ate in Swedish Lapland?
Being a real foodie, again all the food is great, and all the restaurants have a big reindeer influence – however the fish chowder in the Homestead is so good I had 3 bowls and the reindeer steaks in the ICEHOTEL® restaurant just cut like butter and melt in the mouth! The passion fruit and pistachio ice cream served on Ice plates was pretty fantastic as well. I have to add the service and friendliness of the staff everywhere helps with the overall eating experience.
Did you see the northern lights in Sweden?
Yes I was lucky enough to see them 3 times! On the first night whilst I was walking back to my hotel/cabin room. They lasted about ½ hour and they were light orange and danced around the sky, moving in a line towards the north. On the second night whilst on the night snowmobile safari I saw them again. Light greens this night and they lasted about 10 minutes so you had to keep watching out for them. Lights flickered like someone was dropping crystals out of the sky. On the last night I saw them again whilst walking back to the hotel from the restaurant – they were green and reddish waves covering the sky above the ICEHOTEL® – it looked the like the sky was on fire.
How would you describe Stockholm?
Very pretty, beautiful and not what I expected. Lots of old cobbled streets with little buildings of character. Lots to see and there’s a great maritime museum there.
What’s the best thing about our new direct flights to Swedish Lapland?
With our new service, exclusive to Discover the World customers you’ll spend less time flying, benefit from better departure times, free meals, a personalised service at check in and arrival.
What do you think makes skiing in Swedish Lapland unique?
I’ve skied in most European resorts, as well as North America and Canada. The staff in Sweden are all so helpful and friendly, it really adds to your experience and the slopes themselves are challenging (especially off piste). You can ski as much or as littler as you like - even 1, 2 or 3 days if you like with no premiums loaded on and the slopes are never that busy, which means no queues for lifts and you have guaranteed snow. It’s a dry cold so you don’t freeze and get ‘wet’, and it’s really cold – around minus 7 and below!
Did you prefer Riksgransen or Bjorkliden ski resorts?
I like both of the resorts - Riksgransen has a great Spa and is good for adults and off piste skiing. Bjorkliden is the best resort for families and has great nursery slopes. Both have accommodation you can ski to from the slopes. I’d recommend them both!
Would you like to go back to Swedish Lapland?
Definitely, there is so much to see and do you cannot possibly fit everything into a 4 or 5 day trip!
Why would a trip to the ICEHOTEL® make such a brilliant festive break?
What can I say? It’s a Christmas wonderland at the Ice Hotel from December to April! You can’t ask for more than that!
Are you feeling inspired by Kieran’s adventures in Swedish Lapland? Then why not talk to one of our experts now. We have a wide range of holiday packages to Swedish Lapland which include a stay at the world famous ICEHOTEL® and if you’d like to hit the ski slopes, you can even combine sleeping on ice at the ICEHOTEL® with a ski break.
With our new direct flights to Swedish Lapland – exclusively for Discover the World customers, you can start your holiday that bit earlier and benefit from a shorter flying time, giving you more time to enjoy your holiday.
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