Now for the main event, my original hospitality goal, the ICEHOTEL. People say it's in Kiruna, but it's actually about 20 minutes away in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. I couldn't pronounce it, but I was told it means "the meeting place by the river/lake."
This was the most I ever spent on a hotel room, but you're not paying for the room, you're paying for the experience. They have a few different kinds of rooms: 3 or so types of warm rooms, and 4 or so types of cold rooms. They recommend only one night in a cold room, either your first or last night in the area. I had to do my last night, just due to logistics and not spending shabbos there. Also, I chose not to spend any additional nights there as even a warm room costs about $300/night. The hotel I stayed in Friday night was pretty nice and $100.
I decided on the "cheapest" cold room, I thought it would be a barren and spartan room, but they actually made it pretty nice. It doesn't compare to the art rooms or the art suites, but I wasn't planning on staying awake to admire the art.
A year or two ago they build another facility next door, called the 365. As the name implies, it stays open all year. The main hotel where I stayed melts and gets rebuilt each year. All the rooms in 365 have doors with locks, while all the rooms in the main hotel have curtains. I was given a stall at check-in to store all my stuff, change, etc. The stall is located in the lodge right next door to the hotel, along with a large shower/bathroom/locker room/ sauna facility, and what they call the living room. Pretty much, you live in the lodge except to sleep.
Shortly after I arrived there was a tour/lesson on how to "sleep cold." The two main takeaways were don't wear a lot of layers, one is fine. And don't pee in the room. They can tell. After that, I walked around both buildings to take pictures of the suites. The artists they brings in do an INCREDIBLE job with the detail and themes. The quality was much higher than the SnowVillage. Here are a few pics, I have a ton more if people want to see. Also, my pics truly don't do this place justice.
The main hotel on the right, and 365 on the left:
The ice chapel in the main hotel:
The main hallway:
Some of the art rooms and suites:
And this is outside each of the art rooms:
And my room, by contrast:
I still loved it and will discuss my actual experience in a bit.