So I get that with coronavirus a lot of people are putting their travel plans on hold for a while. But even if you fall into that boat, there may be an amazing travel opportunity for you next winter.
Sweden just opened one of the most unique hotels in the world.
It’s known as “Arctic Bath” and it’s a beautiful luxury hotel located right on the Lule River in Lapland, which is the northern region of Scandinavia found in Sweden.
And let’s just say it has a very different take on overwater villas.
The hotel was designed to resemble drifting logs jammed along the river and you will probably struggle to find another hotel that looks similar to this.
One of the highlights of the hotel is an arctic bath found in the middle of the hotel.
The ice bath is great for muscle pain and recovery and just offers a unique way to experience the region. (Apparently, many guests initially refuse to plunge into the icy cold water but by the end of their visit about 90% of guests end up partaking in the ice bath.)
The property is very big on wellness and if you are trying to wind down it offers an array of spa services. And if you are trying to enjoy some locally sourced dining you can do that as well (signature dishes include: lightly smoked capercaille, Gahkku (Sámi flat bread) and Gompa (a Sámi dish with Arctic Angelica and sour milk)).
The hotel only has a total of 12 rooms which allows it to offer a very intimate guest experience. Some of the rooms are floating in the river while others are built on land and they also have suites with a bit more room. The minimalist cabins incorporate the surrounding nature and house large floor to ceiling windows (which are ideal for northern lights spotting.)
From the hotel, you will be able to book a lot of cool activities like husky sled rides, snowmobile safaris, ice fishing, wildlife spotting, and much more. So if you are looking for that combination of activity and relaxing spa sessions this is the perfect place.
They also have a program where you can spend time with locals in the nearby village of Harads and even visit them in their home. So it’s sort of like an ultra luxurious AirBnB experience — bridging the gap between tourists and locals
If you’ve never traveled to northern Scandinavia during the winter I would highly encourage it. It’s one of the best places to see the northern lights and some places like Lapland within Sweden are known for their clear skies which are ideal for spotting the Aurora. If you’d like to read up on some tips for viewing the northern lights you can check those out here.
It looks like rooms are going for about $1,000 per night so this is definitely on the higher end. But this is definitely one of those unique experiences that you just won’t find anywhere else.
H/T: CNN
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.