Just across the river from downtown Montreal sits a smaller -- but similar city. And this one made entirely out of snow and ice. 450,000 pounds of snow and ice to be exact.
"As you can see here, the walls are very thick. About 10 feet thick, 3 meters," said Guy Belanger, the village's co-founder.
A trip to the Montreal's snow village starts in the grand lobby of the hotel.
"It's a massive piece of art we're doing on 60,000 square feet of every year," Belanger says.
From the front desk -- to the furniture -- just about everything is frozen.
And this winter wonderland isn't cheap. It cost more than two million dollars to build.
"I was trying to to keep my cool, literally," Belanger says.
The village is modeled after one in Finland -- and looks similar to the ice hotel in Quebec City.
The difference? Each room is built to reflect, the arts, culture, and architecture of Montreal.
"There's more to do I think. Every corner there's a new room you didn't expect. It's like woah!" says one visitor.
The 30 hotel rooms are certainly a highlight. Each is elaborately decorated. But one is the hotel's pride and joy.
"It's the only place in Montreal where you can see a Stanley Cup," Belanger says.
From the old forum seats - to its exquisite ice sculptures -- there's no place a Canadians fan would rather sleep.
If hockey isn't your thing -- there's always the gastronomy room.
A honeymoon suite -- where the room service is first class.
While a two night stay is unheard of, the cancellation rate is less than one percent.
"People usually cancel not because of the cold but because of the claustrophobia of being in a restricted area. And you get nervous," Belanger says.
The next stop on our tour is one that is sure to make you weak in the knees: the chapel.
At a cost of roughly $2,000, only a handful of people have gotten married here, but couples are already signing up for next winter.
"If people on their wedding day start shaking they can always blame it on the cold," Belanger says.
But If the love in this room doesn't warm your heart, you may want to head for the bar. The most popular beverage? Hot chocolate. The trick is to drink it quickly.
And while you might be tempted to stick around to watch a hockey game, don't count on it. Freezing temps tend to play tricks on the electronics.
"So that's what I do all day, plug, unplug, plug, unplug," Belanger says.
But the cold weather only enhances the snow village's restaurant.
This is the only ice restaurant in North America -- and is the highlight of the tour.
"What we're selling here is not the food. It's an experience," Belanger says.
"It stays warm. The ice is nicely chilled. That's what counts," says Renee Provencher of Hudson, Quebec.
The lunch is gourmet, and it's guaranteed to leave you satisfied.
It's an experience of a lifetime, and winter fun at its finest.
"I can't describe it. You have to live it," Belanger says.
Mini-Montreal -- and a winter wonderland.
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