Scandic Polar: Finland's Ice Palace Awaits!
Scandic Polar: Finland’s Ice Palace Awaits! - A Review That’s Actually Real (and Maybe a Little Crazy)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get the real lowdown on Scandic Polar: Finland's Ice Palace Awaits!. Forget those snooty travel blogs, this is the raw, unfiltered truth, sprinkled with a healthy dose of "Did I pack enough thermal socks?" panic.
First Impressions: The Coolest (Literally) Welcome?
So, the Ice Palace thing? Yeah, it's accurate, maybe even understated. Stepping into the lobby is like walking into a pristine, icy wonderland. Beautiful, yes. But my first thought? "Wow, I hope they had proper heating somewhere." The overall vibe is Scandinavian minimalist chic. Think clean lines, natural light, and a whole lotta… cool. (Brrr!)
Accessibility: Can Everyone Get In on the Frosty Fun?
This is a big one for me. I'm pleased to report (with a slightly shaky voice from the aforementioned chill) that Scandic Polar is seriously committed to accessibility. They've got facilities for disabled guests and an elevator to whisk you up to your room. I saw ramps, wide doorways… basically, they've done their homework. This is fantastic news, and a huge plus in my book.
The Room: Cozy Fortress Against the Arctic Blast?
Okay, confession time: I’m a sucker for a good room. And Scandic Polar, with its Non-smoking rooms, delivers. I booked one with the window that opens – which, in the arctic, I'm still not sure if that was brilliant or insane. But hey, fresh air! Mine included a Desk, Laptop workspace, which I absolutely love, reading light, and a safe box, because apparently, Finland has things worth stealing (I'm kidding… mostly). The Internet access – wireless was also a godsend, because I was terrified of being cut off from civilization. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! is a huge plus for anyone like me who has to take online calls, but even without that it's still nice to have in case you just want to watch something on Netflix.
The Comfy Stuff:
- Bathtub: Yes! Essential after a day of battling sub-zero temperatures.
- Bathrobes & Slippers: Little touches that make a big difference. Cozy.
- Blackout curtains: Perfect for sleeping in (or hiding from the sun, depending on the season).
- Mini Bar: Always a good idea. Because, you know, survival!
The Dining Dilemma: Fueling Up for Frozen Adventures
Let's talk food. This is where things get a little… interesting.
- The Breakfast Buffet: Okay, the Breakfast [buffet] was a massive spread. Asian breakfast and Western breakfast are available, which is thoughtful. However, I'm not a morning person, and the sheer volume of choices gave me a mild panic attack.
- The Restaurants: They had a few restaurants, offering A la carte in restaurant, and Buffet in restaurant options and serving International cuisine in restaurant. The Restaurants offered soup in restaurant, which was a lifesaver when i was out. I had a wonderful time and loved the food.
I do wish they had a few more grab-and-go options, especially for those early morning expeditions. But overall, the food scene is decent, and you certainly won’t starve.
Ways to Relax (or, How to Survive the Cold):
This is where Scandic Polar really shines.
- The Spa and Sauna: Oh. My. Gawd. The Spa/sauna is divine. I spent hours in the Sauna, sweating out the stress of, well, being in the Arctic. They also had a Steamroom which was a nice touch. Pure bliss.
- The Pool with View: They have a Swimming pool [outdoor] and a Pool with view! Perfect for a refreshing dip. Just be prepared for the slight shock when you step outside in your swimsuit. (Worth it, though!)
- Massage: Pure luxury. Worth every penny.
Things To Do: Beyond the Ice Castles
Scandic Polar isn’t just about the hotel, it's about the experience. It's about Things to do.
- The Staff: the staff are wonderful. The have Staff are trained in safety protocol and speak many languages.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Good if you need a business trip
- Gift/souvenir shop: Excellent for buying presents (and souvenirs for yourself).
- Babysitting service: If you need a babysitter, they have them.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Protected in a Winter Wonderland
Okay, let's get serious for a sec. Safety is paramount, especially when you're far from home.
- Hand sanitizer, First aid kit, and Doctor/nurse on call: Check!
- CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property: Good to know you're being watched over.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Puts your mind at ease.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: That's reassuring.
Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easier in the Frozen North
- Cashless payment service: A modern convenience.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, and Ironing service: Very convenient.
- Concierge: Super helpful for booking tours, restaurants, etc.
- Convenience store: Great for snacks and essentials.
- Luggage storage: Useful if you have a late flight.
My Personal Anecdote (aka, My Epic Sauna Fail):
Okay, picture this: Me, feeling all zen after a massage, confidently striding into the sauna. The heat hits me like a brick wall. I start sweating. The kind of sweat that makes you question your entire existence. I bravely stay in there for a good… five minutes? Then, I bolt. Apparently, I'm not as hardcore as I thought. But hey, the thought counts, right? The point is, even if you're not a sauna master, the Scandic Polar offers opportunities of all kinds!
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Absolutely. Despite the initial chill and my sauna humiliation, Scandic Polar is a fantastic hotel. It’s comfortable, well-equipped, and in a stunning location. The staff are friendly, the spa is amazing, and the accessibility features are a huge plus. I would recommend anyone to check them out!
Now for the Pitch! (aka, How to Get You to Book Right Now):
Tired of the ordinary? Crave an adventure that actually chills you to the bone (in a good way)? Then Scandic Polar: Finland's Ice Palace Awaits! is calling your name!
Here's the deal:
- Escape the everyday: Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland. Think snow-covered forests, pristine lakes, and the chance to see the Northern Lights (if you're lucky!).
- Unwind in style: Pamper yourself in their luxurious spa, take a dip in the pool with a view, or simply relax in your cozy, well-appointed room.
- Safety & Peace of Mind: Rest easy knowing you're in good hands. Scandic Polar prioritizes your well-being with top-notch safety protocols, including thorough cleaning, doctor on call and more.
- Accessibility for everyone: Enjoy a truly inclusive travel experience.
- Amazing Deal: Book now and receive a free upgrade to a room with a view! Plus, if you book directly with our hotel, you'll get a special discount on a Northern Lights tour and also a free buffet.
Scandic Polar isn't just a hotel, it's an experience. It's a chance to embrace the magic of Finland, create unforgettable memories, and maybe even learn to love the sauna (or, you know, just survive it).
Don't wait! Your frosty adventure is waiting, call now and lets make your trip happen today!
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my (slightly chaotic) adventure in Scandic Polar, Finland. This isn't your perfectly-curated Instagram feed. This is real life – with all the logistical hiccups and existential sighs that come with it.
Day 1: Arrival and Arctic Panic (or, "Where in the HECK is my luggage?")
- Morning (sort of): Landed at Kittilä Airport. Brrr. It's like the inside of a freezer. The kind that also has a really intense, beautiful view of snow-covered everything. Thought I'd prepared. Packed, planned… but my luggage? MIA. Apparently, it decided to take a scenic detour around Europe while I… well, while I was here, shivering. Cue the internal scream. (I’d packed all my warm stuff!)
- Mid-day: Checked into Scandic Polar. Gorgeous, modern, all that Scandi perfection. The lobby smelled vaguely of pine and despair. Spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to figure out how to operate the elevator (apparently, I'm still not used to buttons in Finnish). Met our tour and guide and had a quick "meet and greet" along with other travellers. The guide seemed to be a chill fella with a beard thicker than my missing suitcase. He promised Northern Lights. Said it like it was a casual Tuesday. I'm already in love with him and with the place.
- Afternoon: A quick scramble for emergency supplies. Found a very questionable reindeer sausage from the hotel's cafeteria. (Don't worry, I'll be back for round two). And a giant fluffy hat. I'm starting to look like a particularly stylish yeti.
- Evening: Northern Lights HUNT! The guide gave us a lecture about the Lights. This time with the Northern Lights, it was like a dance of colours in the sky. So breathtaking… I had a moment where I thought I wouldn't breathe, even… I felt I was going to cry!
Day 2: Reindeer Romp and Sauna Salvation (or, "My Butt is Officially Frozen")
- Morning: Reindeer sleigh ride! Okay, this was the thing I was most excited for. And… it was… cold. Really, really cold. But it was also utterly magical. The reindeer were surprisingly chill, the scenery was straight out of a Christmas card, and the silence was punctuated only by the gentle clop-clop of hooves. I may or may not have shed a tear.
- Mid-day: Lunch. We were given an offer of local taste. We had a small traditional meal, I have to admit that there was some local taste that was not for me. I thought I wouldn't eat anything. But then the hot soup was served and then the local meal turned out being a great experience.
- Afternoon: Sauna time! Oh, blessed, glorious sauna. After being outside in the Arctic winds all day my soul needed this. The heat was intense, the wood scent was heavenly, and the feeling of my muscles slowly melting was pure bliss. I may have overstayed. Got a bit blurry-eyed and ended up chatting with a Finnish gentleman about the merits of birch leaves while I was sweating out a year's worth of existential angst. (Apparently, he swears by them.)
- Evening: Another Northern Lights hunt. The guide promised success. It was a waste of time. The sky was clear, but no lights. So the guide, after the disappointment, gave us a motivational speech. Oh well.
Day 3: Snowshoe Snoozing and Husky Hijinks (or, "Dogs are Better Than People")
- Morning: Snowshoeing! Sounds serene. It’s actually… a workout! Especially when you're me, and I lack the grace of a gazelle. I tripped. A lot. Multiple times. The view was spectacular though. And the air smelled… clean. Crystal clear. I got to the top of a small mound of snow and I stopped. The view was incredible. I felt like I was the only person on earth… The experience was incredible.
- Mid-day: Husky sledding! Holy. Mother. Of. Huskies. These dogs are pure, unadulterated joy. The speed! The energy! The slobber! I was grinning like a maniac, whooping with glee, and secretly plotting how to smuggle one home. (Don't judge me.) It was one of those experiences that just burrows into your soul.
- Afternoon: Back at the hotel. I met my other fellow travellers. I spent the rest of the day with them, exploring the place. I think I'm going to enjoy my stay.
- Evening: One last attempt at the Northern Lights. More disappointment. But I'm starting to accept that sometimes, nature just doesn't want to put on a show.
Day 4: Farewell Finnland and Last-Minute Chaos (or, "Did I pack my passport?")
- Morning: Packing. Panic. Did I buy enough souvenirs? Did I try every weird local delicacy? Did I remember to buy… my passport?! (Spoiler alert: I found it). I don't think I covered every attraction in Finland. I was too lazy to search for tourist attractions that I missed. I could have looked for them, in fact, but I had no idea how to do it.
- Mid-day: Airport. Goodbye reindeer. See you later Finland. I promise I'll be back, with my luggage AND a husky in tow.
- Afternoon: Flying back again…
Final Thoughts:
This trip was messy, imperfect, and at times, downright ridiculous. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. It taught me that even when your luggage is lost, your butt is frozen, and the Northern Lights are stubbornly absent, there's still beauty to be found. In the laughter, in the shared experiences, and in the unexpected moments of magic that sprinkle themselves throughout the chaos. Scandic Polar, you quirky, freezing, glorious, breathtaking place, you've officially captured my heart. Now, excuse me while I go order a reindeer sausage. And start planning my return…
(P.S. If anyone finds a lost red suitcase, please send it my way. I'm still waiting.)
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Scandic Polar: Finland's Ice Palace Awaits! (Or, You Know, Maybe?) – A Messy FAQ 'Cause Life Ain't Perfect
Okay, So, What *IS* This Scandic Polar Thing Anyway? Like, Seriously?
Alright, picture this: it's Finland. It's cold. Really, really cold. And someone, bless their frosty hearts, decided, "Hey! Let's build a hotel... MADE of ice!" That's basically it. Scandic Polar is the supposed-to-be-magical experience. It's supposed to be a stunning ice hotel, a winter wonderland, a... well, a place to freeze your butt off (I say that with love, mostly). I mean, at least that's what the brochures *promise*. My experience? Well, we'll get to that. Let's just say marketing and reality sometimes have a... complicated relationship.
Is it ACTUALLY made of ice? Like, the walls? The bed? Everything?!
Mostly! The walls, the furniture (beds, seating areas), some of the decorations... all ice. The bed? Yeah, it's a block of ice with a mattress and, thankfully, some seriously warm sleeping bags. Let me tell you, that sleeping bag is your BEST friend. You’ll basically become one with that fluffy cocoon of warmth. Without it? You might as well be trying to nap on a glacier. I swear, I saw a penguin once staring longingly at my sleeping bag. True story. Or maybe it was just a really intense dream after three shots of aquavit... details, details.
How cold does it get inside the ice hotel? This is where it starts getting a little stressful...
The brochure boasts a balmy -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). And maybe under *perfect* conditions it actually hits that... Maybe. Look, I spent one night there. The thermometer in my room (yes, they have thermometers, bless them) dipped down to -10 (14F). And that was only *after* I spent a solid hour sweating, moving, and praying that my circulatory system could handle all the cold. I'm convinced it was colder the closer you got to the "art" because it's made of ice, and ice is cold. Seriously. Pack layers. And maybe a prayer... and a flask of something warming. Just saying.
Sleeping on a block of ice... Is that even comfortable?!
Look, let's be honest. It's not the *most* comfortable thing I've ever done. BUT! The sleeping bags are seriously amazing. They're almost like hugging a cloud. You wrap yourself up, and BAM! Suddenly, you're not freezing quite as much. The novelty kinda overrules the discomfort. You're there. You’re doing this. The whole thing is such a strange experience that the discomfort becomes a part of the story. You'll probably never sleep on ice again. It's an odd, weird, potentially bragging-rights thing. Plus, you wake up feeling oddly... invigorated? Like, you survived. You conquered the frozen fortress! Though, my neck still aches from the slightly awkward angle of the ice bed...
Are there bathrooms? This is the other thing I'm fretting about...
YES! Thank the frosty gods. You don't want to be wandering around in the dead of night, half-frozen, trying to find a toilet carved from ice. Nope. The bathrooms are in a heated area, a short (but bracing) walk from your ice room. Think of it as a little adventure. The heated part is a serious relief. Seriously. Bathroom trips become a strategic operation. Get in, get out, try not to freeze your... well, you get the idea.
What about the Art? Is there cool ice art?
Yes! The hotel boasts ice sculptures. I saw a giant polar bear that was actually quite majestic until I got cold and started staring into its soulless ice eyes at 3am wondering about the meaning of life. They're impressive. There's a bar with ice glasses (another opportunity to feel cold) and intricate carvings. It's visually stunning. Honestly, the art is probably the real reason to go. It's like stepping into a fairytale... a really, really cold fairytale. The lighting is beautiful, and the craftsmanship is remarkable. Even though you're freezing, you can't help but be impressed. I think. I might have been hypothermic...
What else is there to do at the hotel? Besides shivering and taking selfies?
Well, there's a lot *being advertised* as a lot. You can go snowmobiling, husky sledding, maybe see the Northern Lights (though that's a lottery, not a guarantee). There's a restaurant serving (presumably) hot food. There's the bar, where you can get drinks in the ice glasses. I’d say, though, the main attraction is just *being there*. It's an experience, as they say. Something to tell your friends about. If you can remember it, that is. I mostly remember the cold. Oh, and the soup. I loved the soup – that’s what kept me going! There are probably other things to do. Look, the cold kinda... fogs your memory. You're mostly just trying to survive.
Is it worth the experience or would you rather do something less like hypothermia?
Listen, it's... an experience. Would I do it again? I'm not sure. My toes are still recovering. Maybe. With a LOT more layers and a lifetime supply of hot chocolate. It's one of those things you have to do at least once to say you've done it. It's a conversation starter. It's a story. It’s unforgettable, even if you'd rather forget the cold. But if you're a wimp when it comes to cold? Maybe bring a whole LOT of warm clothes. And maybe a good therapist. Just in case. Oh, and definitely the flask of aquavit. That's essential. But the soup? That's golden.
Truthfully? If you're adventurous by nature you *HAVE* to at least try it. Just be ready for the cold and the story of your life. And bring warm socks. Seriously. Warm socks.
Okay, tell me about the bar, as the drink is making me feel better, with more details.
The bar! Ah, yes. The bar. It's stunning. Literally, it's gorgeous. Carved from ice, with ice glasses and everything. They have the *right* drinks, if you know what I mean. Okay, so, I ordered something "warm" and I asked for a double shotEasy Hotel Hunt
