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'Game of Thrones'-Themed Ice Hotel Opens in Finland

Jan. 08, 2018
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3 min read
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'Game of Thrones'-Themed Ice Hotel Opens in Finland
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If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to gaze into the steely blue eyes of a White Walker, you may have a chance to find out. Winter may have already arrived in many parts of the world, but for Game of Thrones fans, it’s still coming — though not fast enough. Last week, HBO confirmed that the final season of the epic series won’t be hitting screens until 2019. To bide their time until then, Westeros know-it-alls can travel the world visiting some of the series’ real-life locations — or they can cross two items off their travel bucket lists at once by paying a visit to Finland to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights and then spending the night on a bed of ice at Lapland Hotels SnowVillage’s Game of Thrones-inspired ice hotel.

Working together with HBO Nordic, a team of designers and professional ice sculptors spent more than a month creating a snow and ice tribute to the Great Houses of Game of Thrones’ Seven Kingdoms at Laplands’ SnowVillage, the world-renowned ice hotel located nearly 125 miles above the Arctic Circle. The result is a truly spectacular (and sometimes frightening) ode to George R. R. Martin’s pop culture sensation.

Get your bearings with this map of the Seven Kingdoms. Photo courtesy of Lapland Hotels SnowVillage.

Scattered within the hotel’s 65,000 square feet is the hotel itself, which features 14 rooms and 10 suites, plus a restaurant, a bar, a slide, a seemingly never-ending series of corridors full of ice sculptures and a chapel. (Yes, you can get married here).

Fortunately, this direwolf is friendly. Photo courtesy of Lapland Hotels SnowVillage.

Among the sights that will be familiar to Game of Thrones fans: the Hall of Faces, a throne, a direwolf, shards of dragon glass and the aforementioned White Walker (which will watch over some lucky guests as they sleep).

Get an up-close look at the Hall of Faces. Photo courtesy of Lapland Hotels SnowVillage.

While spending the night is the ideal way to see everything the ice hotel has to offer, gawkers are also welcome (you can explore the public spaces for yourself or take a guided tour). See more of the hotel below, or book your room here now.

We see a chilly night's sleep in your future. Photo courtesy of Lapland Hotels SnowVillage.
Featured image by Tuomas Kurtakko

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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.