Ice hotel a go in Alaska

After its construction was halted last November over safety concerns, the six-room Aurora Ice hotel near Fairbanks, Alaska, opened its doors on Christmas Eve. The structure has thick walls of snow and ice, reinforced with wooden arches, metal bands, chicken wire and refrigeration lines. As part of an agreement with the state fire marshall’s office, each room will have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

The hotel, the first of its kind in Alaska, will cost US$878 for a two-person, two-night stay.

Similar hotels can be found in Finland, Sweden and near Quebec City where the Ice Hotel opened last week with a bonfire and ice sculpture show.