Glamping Review: Snow Hotel

Kirkenes, in northeastern Norway, is located roughly 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, right next to Russia. If you lived here, you could likely see Russia from your house. Travelers to this pocket of northern Europe are typically guests of the Norwegian working cruise line Hurtigruten, which ports in Kirkenes before making the five-night trip back down to Bergen. Thus, this little town of approximately 3,500 people welcomes a lot of one-nighters, the ideal clientele for the local Snow Hotel.

Adjacent to one of the area’s Arctic fjords, the most recent incarnation of the Snow Hotel featured 20 snow suites, all of which were outfitted with relief sculpture along its walls. Sadly the Snow Hotel I saw has already melted and been absorbed by Norwegian soil. But back in February, the property was at its majestic peak, shiny and glowing in the middle of an icy landscape famed for its fresh crabs, dog sledding and the iconic Northern Lights.

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Traveling all the way up to Kirkenes is all about experiences. Thankfully the Snow Hotel leads the area with a variety of local activities. They’re an added cost, but well worth it.  You don’t come all the way up here just to sleep in a tricked out igloo. One of the most spectacular of what’s on offer has to be the king crab safari. From start to finish, it was an adventure. We took snowmobiles across frozen fjords until we reached a big hole in the ice where we fished out a massive trap filled with king crabs. The Snow Hotel staff pulled crabs out so that everyone can take turns holding them for pictures. Then they killed them. For a lot of us, it was an uncomfortable but necessary visual. We’re only taking the legs; the rest was tossed back into the fjord to fatten up the king crabs that dwell there.

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We ate the crabs in a wood lodge in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t tell you where it was. It’s impossible to. Up there everything was white with ice or covered with snow. But I can say this: The crab was delicious, and I ate enough to sustain a small army. Maybe I overdid it, but I suspected that it’ll be a long time coming before I can get my hands on king crab legs that juicy, that fresh, that huge again. So when the staff passed our table with a platter full of just boiled crabs, I saw no reason to say no.

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During my stay in Kirkenes, eating my weight in crab legs was a personal highlight. But it could have just as easily have been snowmobiling at midnight in search of the Northern Lights (elusive as they were that evening) or dog sledding with the most adorable set of huskies. The kind of things you end up doing up there are unique enough that they’ll stay with you well beyond your trip. There were so many other guests who raved about what they’ve achieved with just a day to spend in Kirkenes.

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Every night at the Snow Hotel started with a tour of the facilities to acquaint each guest with what a night here would be like. We learned things like where the bathrooms and showers are, and how to use a military-grade sleeping bag. Everyone was invited to check out all the rooms (though you are assigned one ahead of time), which were decorated with wall sculptures. Some of them were whimsical (Snow White and her seven dwarves); while others were a bit less so, like a troll scene. The bed is a block of snow topped with fur and other sort of bedding for ultimate comfort. And for a door, there’s a curtain to allow for as much air circulation within the building.

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I decided earlier on that I won’t be sleeping at the Snow Hotel. I understand that it’s a one-of-a-kind experience, but I’ve never been interested in sleeping on ice. The staff guaranteed that as long as you do as you’re told regarding the sleeping bag and how to dress for the hotel, you won’t be cold, which was great a thing to know, but I wasn’t going to budge.  Everything I did on and with the property, I enjoyed. The on-site restaurant Gabba – with its chalet-chic-inspired decor and rustic-yet-elegant local cuisine – was fabulous. And there’s even a cozy lounge in the building attached to the snow hotel, where guests often spend the evening before heading to their private chambers. (Sometimes the staff will find guests sleeping there in the morning.) The Snow Hotel does a great job of creating programing around the accommodations to elevate your stay there. But I wasn’t convinced that I was going to be comfortable so I settled for doing everything else you could possible at the Snow Hotel, except sleep there.

Photo Credit Hilary Nangle/MaineTravelMaven

 

Family-friendly Glamping

Family-friendly Glamping

Summer breaks are here. The school year has led up to these few weeks of dusk-till-dawn excitement. Among the BBQs and water gun fights the kids demand some adventure. They want to play explorers out in the wilderness, and while kids might be happy pitching a tent and spending nights in a thinly-comfortable sleeping bag… well, let’s bring in the glamping to keep both adults and kids happy!

This summer you might not be able to travel international and adjust to a different time zone for a weekend, so let’s check out the glamping spots easily accessible from every state in the U-S-of-A.

Midwest.

First stop would have to be The Resort at Paws Up. This glamping haven has been featured by nearly every glamping enthusiast – and for good reason. Located in Greenough Montana, Paws Up is within easy distance of just about anyone in the states. Your kids will feel like Lewis and Clark did when they ventured into these regions all those years ago. It’s a luxury experience and adults will appreciate having their own camp butler and chef. The kids will be enthusiastic after they see the activities options – including go-karting, archery, river rafting and more.

Looking further south on the glamping map brings you to Yellowstone National Park. Here there’s the Under Canvas safari-like experience. Yellowstone Under Canvas is just 10 minutes from the national park entrance, so your family can spend the day exploring the riches in one the most well known national parks. Get up close and personal (guided by park rangers) to the Bears, Moose, Bald Eagles, Buffalo and other wildlife who know this area as home.

For a unique midwest experience, try the Conestoga wagons by the Rock Ranch in Georgia. Your kids may have studied about the pioneers in schools, now bring the history lesson to life by camping in pioneer styled wagons. For some extra fun you can hire a storyteller or astronomer to join in the evening and add intrigue to the history of these pioneer trails and the starry sky. Perhaps it’s not midwest… but since the pioneers were journeying west I had to include this one-of-a-kind glamping experience.

Utah has some magnificent red rock, making it a midwest destination for filmmakers and tourists alike. In Moab, Under Canvas has introduced a luxury glamping camp sure to please everyone. The site is near to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, set against red and orange platea backdrops. You’ll feel transported back to the times of cowboys and indians. Be careful of the clothes you choose to bring – this red dirt does tend to get on everything.

If you find yourself near Chicago, try staying at the Kinnikinnick Feather Down Farm. The experience guarantees to be a fun one so you won’t grow tired of hearing the kids chanting “kinnikinnick” in the back seat. You’ll be staying in wood-floored tents and the kids will be able to put on their farmer hats while feeding animals and helping around the organic family owned farm. There’s no electricity in the tent, but you will have a flushing toilet, cold running water in the kitchen, and a wood-burning stove.

Still looking for options? Check out these Yurt locations throughout the Midwest – including Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon and other states/countries. Yurts are round, off the ground cloth huts. Every location has its own character with different amenities and they almost always include electricity.

*Photo credit: MoabUnderCanvas.com

Jetwing Vil Uyana: Sigirya’s slice of heaven

As I wash away the sweat from climbing Sigirya Rock Fortress and its 1200 narrow steps, the elephant’s traces on my bruised legs, the dusty red soil from the Polunnarawa ancient city, and the oils from the Ayurveda massage, I hear the houseboy knocking on my door. He came to chase the lizard away.

One hour later, someone else knocks.

“Ayubowan!” (May you live long!) Two houseboys, traditionally dressed in their finest, but barefoot, come in to make my veiled bed.

They bow and present me with a good night gift: a box of sweets. After which they sweep and meticulously place flowers and leaves on my bed. It reads “Good night.” They pull the veil and off they go.

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I am left looking at my fanciful bed, listening to the rain in a reverie, perplexed at Sri Lanka’s customary gallantry of doing things. 

If you could only visit one place in Sri Lanka, Jetwing’s Vil Uyana would be it. A mere three miles from what many consider the 8th “Wonder of the World,” Sigirya – a brilliant fortress built on a peculiarly shaped rock rising in the middle of the surrounding jungle – Vil Uyana embodies the islands’ natural beauty and dedication to the environment. Located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, famous for its rich history and long withstanding heritage, Vil Uyana is a lifestyle hotel, eco retreat and natural reservoir all in one.

Winner of the Environment Award at the 2014 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, Vil Uyana is not just a heavenly oasis, but the quintessence of responsible tourism.

Open since October 2006, this is Jetwing Hotels’ most groundbreaking project yet.

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The hotel is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka to construct a wetland system with lakes and reed beds, from abandoned agricultural land and forest in what is known as the dry zone. In meeting this extraordinary challenge, the brilliant architect Sunela Jayawardene went by the tank-building tradition of the ancient kings of the dry zone, who collected rainwater for irrigation, bathing and recreation. The result was the formation of this private nature reserve with 27 dwellings (in four different types of habitats) spanning over 24 acres.

From the moment I arrived at Vil Uyana, the care for the environment was more than evident. No gas run vehicles are allowed on the premise, specifically on the gravel roads and boardwalks inter-connecting the dwellings. Instead, electric buggies with silent engines provide transport for guests from their villa to the reception.

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I could clearly see why. On my second buggy ride, the driver has to occasionally stop for traffic. By traffic, I mean three mesmerizing peacocks crossing the road.

At a first sight, the glamping style eco resort is brimming with lovely-dovey honeymooners. But not long after check-in, I saw plenty of solo travelers such as myself, as well as families and groups of friends. It made perfect sense; it’s the perfect spot in Sri Lanka from where to plan hiking trips, visit the island’s most renowned cultural sites and go elephant riding.

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I spent my first day at Vil Uyana inside a paddy dwelling built on stilts, in what felt like a house of its own, with my very own plunge pool and garden terrace.

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I showered with three (tiny) frogs and a myriad of lizards staring at me through the window. It somewhat felt ok. For in that unflustered, natural habitat, the sounds and look of the incredible wildlife were all too soothing and invigorating.

All throughout the night, I heard birds, monkeys, perhaps loris. I was as remote as could be, but as serene as ever.

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Over breakfast the next day, I learn about the birth of baby loris from Chaminda, the hotel’s trained naturalist, a seemingly prestigious job in Sri Lanka.  His passion for the wild and the environment is contagious.

“I love my job,” Chaminda says, “because the habitat at Jetwing Vil Uyana is a haven for wildlife, with over 112 species of birds, 20 species of mammals, 36 species of butterflies and 21 species of reptiles and amphibians.” There is plenty to see during the day, but by night he leads tours to spot Sri Lanka’s elusive primates, the Grey slender loris – which explains the torches readily available in each hotel room.

My second day at Vil Uyana, I was moved to a garden dwelling, a closer look and feel to a hotel suite but no less jaw-dropping. Apart from the disappearance of the plunge pool, most other features were very similar. What was radically different was that I had to call in for a buggy to take me everywhere; the positioning of my villa was so far from reception, I could easily get lost otherwise.

This was in fact a blessing. The remoteness and feeling of not being in a hotel, rather in a wild forest with birds, lakes, and scenic foliage was all that I could have wished for.

This was a Sri Lankan fairytale of sorts; the difference being that this fairytale was very much real.