Winter-Only Hotels: They Won't Last 'Til Summer

1. Ice Hotel There’s no need to worry about out-dated accommodations at this hotel in the village of Jukkasjarvi, located some 200km north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden’s Lapland region. Each year, artists and builders create the hotel anew using water from the nearby Torne River. Rooms and suites are the work of innovative artists and architects and feature such far-out elements as frozen whirlpools, ice sculptures and translucent beds. This year, the hotel welcomes the addition of an Absolut Icebar, which offers guests a glowing lounge complete with icy booths draped in fur throws for evening imbibing. 2. Hotel de Glace Spending the night in North America’s only ice hotel means sleeping on a bed made atop a solid base of ice, but don’t fret. Open annually from January to March, the Quebec hotel provides guests with arctic-ready sleeping bags, and the specially-designed hotel bathrooms are heated. A Nordic relaxation area outfitted with outdoor hot tubs and a dry sauna gives overnighters several worthy reasons to escape the cold. Guests here typically head here just for the night. While hotel tours are offered during the day, overnight accommodations are only available from 9pm to 8am. 3. Hotel Garni Bel Ami Tucked away high in the Austrian Alps, this winter-only hotel puts guests on the slopes of the Silvretta Galtur ski area from December through April each year. Rooms are moderately-priced, simply furnished in natural wood beds and armoires and include access to the hotel’s steam and sauna facilities. Especially good deals that include lift tickets to the adjacent ski area are available when you book a seven-day stay. Another perk? At night, the inn’s owners are usually there for fireside chats with guests in the bar area. 4. Arlberg Hospiz Hotel Also in the Austrian Alps, this St. Christophe hotel houses single, double, suite and apartment-style rooms in a building whose history dates back to 1386. Set amid towering snowdrifts and the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains, the overall vibe is upscale, with rates climbing well past 600 euro per night in many cases. In recent years, the hotel has added an impressive spa area with both Eastern and Western treatments, an indoor pool, fitness facilities and plunge pools. Note that the surrounding resort area is small, equally exclusive and probably best for skiers with at least intermediate or better skills.