Snowhotel Kirkenes

Very good service, everyone we spoke to there was lovely and very helpful! Just to note that the cabins are a slight walk away so those with limited mobility may find it more difficult. Parking was provided but also even further to the cabins. But otherwise, the beds were very comfortable, good A/C, lovely toilet and shower with great water pressure. Restaurant food was good too and the view was beautiful!

Fun!

We stayed in the Snowhotel for 2 nights in October on their autumn package. I have to say we were really disappointed. The hotel is currently a building site with many areas of construction so really not very peaceful. This was not mentioned at any time when we booked. If you are staying overnight in the ice-room you basically have no room or even personal area. We checked in off a Havila cruise at 10am and up until 3pm the following day when we moved in to a cabin, we had nowhere to go apart from a communal lounge. There are no lockers for your clothes so you have to leave them on top of your luggage in a store room which anyone can access- including groups just touring the hotel. They provide two curtained changing cubicles where you are supposed to get ready to sleep. When we arrived back at midnight from the Northern lights chase there were twelve of us all trying to get changed in the same space. It felt like we were in a hostel rather than a decent hotel. The next morning we were soaking wet after a walk but our cases had been moved - we discovered to the porch of the cabin but we were told we could not access it until 3pm. Instead staff said we would just have to get our dry clothes from the cases and change in a luggage room behind reception! No offer to go and get our luggage and bring it back to us. We also had a very unpleasant and dangerous experience during a husky walk due to a lack of basic safety instructions and an inexperienced staff member. I have given details of this directly to the hotel hopefully to prevent anyone suffering a serious injury in future. On a positive note the cabins are lovely once you get in them, If you are planning to go I would recommend staying in a cabin and you can just tour the ice-rooms.

We arrived at SnowHotel on 25 September and stayed for 2 nights. The check in was smooth and the ladies at the check in are helpful and friendly. The cabin was fantastic , clean and comfortable with great views. There was quite a bit of construction work going on which detracts from the beauty of the place. The ice hotel is definitely worth a visit and walk around. The king crab fishing and the hike with the huskies are highly recommended . The staff and contractors involved in both activities are professional, friendly and obviously knowledgeable in what they do. We were booked for the northern lights on 25 Sept evening. It was cloudy and raining, the forecast was minimal to zero possibility of seeing the Aurora. The driver came across as not enthusiastic about the drive, nor does she show much knowledge or professionalism. All we got from the drive IN THE RAIN was being dropped off at about 3 places where the ten of us were told to get down from the bus and try to see with our cameras if there was any Aurora in The rain and cloudy skies. We were driven to the border check point with Russia - not sure why ? - it was so bright at the check point that even amateurs like us know it’s too bright to see any Aurora there!! The whole evening and the drive was a waste of time and handled unprofessionally. We understand there is no guarantee of the Aurora at anytime. BUT surely it must be clear to the professionals running the tour ( or did we assume wrongly that they are professionals?) with the rain and cloudy weather it would be better to cancel and refund us , or offer us the tour for the next night! Overall the location is beautiful but felt that there are improvements to be made and the management could and should show some interests in the feedback provided on social media.

We are disappointed. We were greeted by a very rude receptionist who clearly was in a bad mood. She gave us no information, no direction. Upon arrival, first thing she said was, ‘why are those suitcases placed like this, they need to be tagged, where’s your tour leader?” I said the suitcases are already tagged and she said whilst waving her red sticker tags, “not with my tags” When I asked about wifi, she pointed to the sign. Our group wondered aimlessly trying to find cabins. We were given our key, and we made our way outside not knowing where we were staying. No direction, no signs. We assumed we were staying in cabins, so we heading in that direction. Eventually we found it. The restaurant staff are an absolute joke. Took ages for a drink to be served. I suggest more training is needed. The snow hotel (made from ice) was interesting, we enjoyed that tour. The place is untidy and I felt we were visiting a neglected farm with rubbish lying around. Then cabins were clean and tidy. The man who explained the history of Norway, and showed us reindeer and direction was really good.

Kirkenes Norway disappointment. While the property seems cool - no one explained it to us just pointed to the restaurant beyond the hotel - the rest of the experience was extremely lacking. We booked the tour and dinner. We needed to wait for all the people checking in to get keys, understand the bathrooms,showers,lights,etc before our hotel tour. No one offered us water,drink,anything. We seemed to be a nuisance. The tour was very unique but it was pretty much self guided. Thankfully we weren’t staying there. After we couldn’t sit down in The “overnight guests only lounge” so they sat us early at 6:50 (only ones in dining room) for dinner. We ordered around 7:15 - our desert selection for the 3 course meal - no other choices. 1st course served about 7:50. Main served at 8:20 when they asked if we wanted a taxi instead of our 8:45 shuttle so we didn’t need to rush. They then proceeded to serve pretty much everyone else dessert first as they were leaving for a tour. Our taxis were to arrive at 9. One did. The other came at 9:25. Leaving the hotel at 5pm - arriving back at 9:40 was way too long for this marginal dinner experience.

Great experience and great people in a breathtaking area. One night in the ice hotel was great but enough. Next night in the cabin very nice and comfortable. All employees of that place were great. Especially the guide who showed us the place was very nice, friendly and helpful. Try as well a drink at the ice bar!!!!