Life is amazing. It's hard for me to believe that we're all just here on a beautiful planet like the Grand Canyon, giraffes and the northern lights.
The northern lights have not been seen by me yet. I've never been to the area where the green, yellow and red lights are most often seen.
I would like to make that trip soon. Many of my colleagues at The Points Guy have had their own adventures chasing the northern lights and have put together some handy guides on setting expectations for a trip and if it's best to see them by land, air or sea.
If you want to see the northern lights, you'll need a place to sleep before, during or after the hunt.
If you want to see the northern lights from a hotel, here are the best places to stay.
Ion Adventure Hotel is part of Design Hotels and Marriott Bonvoy and is located in Selfoss, Iceland.
The hotel is small with just 45 rooms and is remote. The lava fields of the property seem to mirror the rugged design of the building. Floor-to-ceiling windows at the Northern Lights Bar give a great view of the sky and landscape. There is a reason the hotel staff can arrange various types of adventures.
Marriott Bonvoy members can book the Ion Adventure Hotel for as little as 66,000 points a night, with cash rates starting at $375.
The Hotel Ranga in Hella is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
You can sign up for our newsletter.
The hotel is described as a cross between a hunting lodge and log cabin Even with an untrained eye, a local astronomer can help guests see the universe. The hotel's wake-up team will let you know when the light is out if you press a button on your phone.
Award nights can be found between 25,000 and 35,000 points. You can get cash rates of $250 and $300 a night.
Marriott's Edition is an epitome of cool with a collection of hotels around the world.
The edition inIceland is no exception. It's prime location in a super-trendy city that also happens to be a place to spot the northern lights could make it different. The Roof bar is one of the best places to view the mountain and ocean.
The Marriott Bonvoy members can get an award night for between 77,500 and 100,000 points per night at the Reykjavik Edition.
The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica is one of three properties in the capital city and is a great place to stay if you want to see the northern lights.
The location of the hotel isn't ideal if you want to experience the city. It's a good base for many adventures that head out in search of the northern lights. Guests can return to the hotel and take a break at the spa, warm up in the sauna and try a beer at the bar after a long day.
Cash prices at the hotel can be found as low as $120 a night but most nights are more expensive. For as little as 34,000 points per night, you can be a member of theHiltonHonors.
The design of the hotel is very similar to that of a Scandanavian hotel. You can book a scenic view suite with huge windows to look at the lights or a glass-topped cabin so you can see them from bed. Reindeer meat and fish can be found in the restaurant.
Availability is almost gone for December and rates vary a lot during the year. In November, you can find rates for less than $200 and in December, you can find rates over $700. Rates start at $360 in January.
The KakslauttanenArctic Resort is located in Lapland in Finland.
Its glass-domed igloos seem to allow the northern lights to wrap you up. Outside of chasing the lights, the resort offers a wide range of activities. You have to look at it to believe.
The lowest nightly rate for the smallest glass igloo is $585 a night.
There is a once-in-a-lifetime trip in the snow of the Finns.
No two trips to the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi will be the same. Every year, a new iteration of the hotel is built from ice and snow, which melt away when the weather warms up.
The only way to see the northern lights is with a stay in a temporary hotel made of Mother Earth's natural elements. The hotel can offer experiences such as dinners under the lights, photography lessons, snowmobile safaris at night, and more.
It is possible to find snow rooms for between $300 and $500 a night at the Ice hotel. Emily McNutt discovered that you can book a transfer from the airport via dog sled.
The northern lights can be seen all the way to Scandanavia. They can be seen in Canada's Whitehorse. There are glass Chalets at the Northern Lights Resort & Spa that offer huge windows looking out into the sky directly from the bed.
Special viewing experiences, three meals daily, use of the saunas, winter clothes rentals and even dog sledding are included in the all-inclusive packages.
Availability is limited for the 2022-23 season on the resort website. For three- and four-night stays, prices start at $1,490 and $1,690, respectively.
The best way to see the northern lights is from the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows in the suite, which is designed by a Scandanavian architect. During the winter months, there are many free activities at the hotel in Rovaniemi. The hotel's restaurant is called Rakas.
The rates start in the high $600 range and go up to over $1,000 a night in December.
In the storybook village of Hamnoy, there are a number of cottages used by fishermen. It appears to be a scene from a Disney movie.
Guests can hunt the northern lights for 182 days of the year while sleeping in waterfront cottages with large skylights. Guests can take a boat trip to see the scenery from a distance and then join an outing with a guide or photographer to catch the show in the sky.
Though there are many different types of accommodations, from three-bedroom apartments to small cottages, rates are generally very affordable.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
