January 2017 – lottiehelen

Every year Ice Hotels around the world are build then melt, but the Swedish were the first ones to create this palace made of snow. In the most northern town in Swede, Kiruna the first ice Hotel was built, offering customers the chance to sleep in beautifully created bedrooms made completely of ice and snow. This has sparked off a number of countries following suit including Iceland and Canada as well as Ice Bar’s popping up in a number of big cities. I visited the original in Sweden via Discover the World to see whether it really was “Bucket List” worthy.

Getting there

Discover the World are the only company to offer i direct from the UK to England, their #IceFlight is the most cost effective and easiest way to get to Kiruna, they also take take for booking your accommodation and excursions. The Hotel is only around 15 minutes via coach from the Airport but because I wanted to cram in as much as possible I booked for a dog sled to take us to the Hotel. Opting for this was a great way to fit the Dog’s in but was a harsh way to get used to the cold! Although i don’t think I could have done all of the activities we did with out taking the Dog Sled ride so early I think if i were to go back i would have rather opted for a dog sled during the day also, to make the most of the scenery.

The Hotel

The Hotel is a masterpiece in its self, every ice filled corridor is magnificent, the bar is a destination in its own right and a each Art Suit is its own individual piece of ice crafted art. The rooms are all open during the day for you to look in and take photos and the Ice Bar opens from 12 pm until 1 am.

Sleeping

The whole point of the Ice Hotel is to sleep in one of their Cold Rooms and yes they are really that cold, our cold room night was around -8! There are a wide range of rooms in the thanks to the new Ice Hotel 365 as well as the original Ice Hotel 27. The Ice Hotel 365 is a new concept and allows the Bar and some Cold Rooms to be available all year round and the 27 is the original which will still melt and be re built every year.

There are different rooms depending on your budget, although each room is special an Art Suite will definitely make your stay a little more memorable. If you really are worried about the cold there are Deluxe Art Suites which have a private warm area with a toilet and shower attached to the room. Although I didn’t opt for a Deluxe Art Suite I was extremely lucky and scored “Dreamscape” an ice bed at the top of a magnificent staircase which was worth having a shared (sex separated) toilet and shower.

The best way to make sure you get the most out of your Cold Room is to plan a to keep warm a couple of hours before going in, this could be going for a meal in a restaurant or visiting the warm bar. To sleep i wore thermal trousers, long sleeved top, thin gloves, ski socks and a hat, although I wasn’t cold and slept fine, I wish I had put a thicker jumper on.

Eating

The food at the Ice Hotel is amazing, each day there is a full breakfast buffet and in the evening there is a choice of the Ice Restaurant and the Old Homestead which is around a 10 minute walk away from the Hotel. Most excursions include food also, usually served round a fire or in a small cabin.

We experienced the Chef’s table on our first night which is an 8 course tasting menu served in the kitchen. The menu included all the Arctic favourites such as Elk, Reindeer and Arctic Char as well as a trio of the most delicious deserts. It was quite strange at first but the staff were so lovely I soon felt relaxed and it was great to see the hustle and bustle of the kitchen while you ate.

Things To Do

The excursion list is huge but you can do as little or as much as you like. When booking your excursions make sure you look at the start and finish times, whether food is served and consider the cold. Discover the World can help you pick excursions but they wont know how much you can stand the cold. Its best to make sure you have time to warm up between excursions and over dress for excursions. Having a back pack with an extra balaclava, dry gloves and an extra layer will never be a bad decision.

I did the Dog Sled, Wilderness Survival, Snow Mobile Northern Lights Tour, Cross Country Skiing and Sauna Ritual. If i could have I would have also either gone on the Horseback Moose Safari or went to see the Remainders but I couldn’t have fit one more thing in!

The best excursion was the Snow Mobile Tour, although we didn’t see the Northern Lights it was definitely the most fun. I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights while at the Hotel, if you are looking to photograph the lights and don’t have a professional camera, download the Norther Lights Photo Taker before going.

The Ice Hotel is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had to date and worth every penny. If it isn’t already on your Bucket List it needs to be!

Love Lottie xx

I have covered where to show, stay and what to see but I have missed one of the most vital things, where to EAT! Dubai is full of amazing places to eat with family friendly restaurants and fine dining hot spots. With every big brand chain to some of the best restaurants in the world there is something for every occasion. These are my top recommendations for dining in Dubai.

Family Friendly

JBR is a large stretch of restaurants and shops, the area is pedestrianised and there is a large central area which frequently host a mini fun fair creating a great family friendly area. The majority of the restaurants are big chain names, Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shack, PF Changs etc but there are some slightly more up market venues too. The Cavalli Caffe is a lovely alfresco venue serving Italian cuisine in true Cavalli style, even the pasta is animal print!

There is literally every type of food to chose from and the whole area has a lovely atmosphere but bare in mind that only soft drinks are served in this area so if you are looking to enjoy a glass of wine with your meal you will need to head to a hotel.

A full list of the restaurants in JBR can be found here.

Traditional Cuisine

If you are looking to have some traditional cuisine the best place to go is Reem Al Bawadi. This restaurant serves amazing local food family style and also has an amazing array of cakes on display in the deli style dessert counter. There are several of these in Dubai but i would recommend booking an outside table at the Down Town location as you get a perfect view of the Burj Khalifa. Although you cannot drink alcohol in this restaurant you can enjoy shisha with or after your meal while enjoying the view.

For more information and locations click here.

Romantic

If you are looking for a really memorable meal I would recommend two iconic locations, Shimmers in the Madinat Jumeirah and At.mosphere at the Burj Khalifa. Shimmers is located on the Madinat Jumeirah’s private beach and has the most spectacular views. Once you have finished your delicious greek meal you can head to the beach for cocktails and shisha while taking in the Burj Al Arab and the beautiful surroundings.

At.mosphere is fine dining at its best, from the second you walk out the lift the staff are amazing and once seated, the food is even better. I had the tasting menu which I would recommend, although it is a little pricey.

The best time to be seated is just before sunset so you see the views both at day and night, you can request a window seat which has a slightly higher minimum spend value than the other tables but is 100% worth it.

You will never forget your experience at At.mosphere, not only because it is fabulous but also because they will send you away with branded chocolates, a Polaroid capturing your visit and if you have the tasting menu your waiter will sign a copy with a cute message and place that in a branded sleeve as a keepsake. As the Burj Khalifa functions as a hotel you can also enjoy a glass or champagne to finish off your magical meal.