Five-star Hotel at the South Pole

Enough to give your bank manager the chills! Five-star hotel at the South Pole where rooms cost £54,000 a WEEK and the temperature is -5C even in summer 

• By Simon Holmes For Mailonline,www.dailymail.co.uk
• September 10th, 201
  
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After an extensive renovation the White Desert hotel in Antarctica is ready to start accepting guests although a week's stay will cost a cool £54,000. 

Holidaying in freezing conditions may not be many people's idea of a relaxing break away but after the hotel's five-star upgrade wealthy punters may soon be flocking to the Antarctic Peninsula.

The continent's only hotel hosts guests in 'sleeping pods' which are kitted out with fur-covered beds, designer furniture and stylish en-suite bathrooms.

Ice pod. Hotel guests make their way to their room in a snow cleared backdrop. Each pod weighs three tones and had to be shipped from elsewhere to the southernmost continent 

Majestic view. The hotel only takes 12 guests at a time and for five weeks of year but the price of a stay means revenue should be high! 

Looks warm. Fur covered beds ensure that customers are kept snug at night although those blinds will have to be firmly shut to ensure a sufficient sleep as there is 24 hour sunlight 

We assume for the price all of the pods come equipped with central heating too! 

The all inclusive hotel, which permits 12 guests at a time, is only open for five weeks across the summer months of November and December. Although summer visitors should not expect temperatures to reach upwards of -5. 

Another caveat to holidaying in this remote location is the 24-hour sunlight meaning guests would be advised to pack a sleeping mask.  

21st century igloo. The seating area in the White Desert hotel looks cozy but is it worth the £54,000 a week price tag?

The peninsula's best albeit only restaurant. Justine Lindsay, personal cook for F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, is also the chef for guests in the 5-star hotel

In addition to lavish sleeping quarters guests have day excursions included in the price. 

Holiday makers can enjoy a visit the South Pole, via a seven hour flight, and see a colony of Emperor Penguins which is only accessible by way of another flight. 

The more vivacious guests can also kite-ski and go ice-climbing up steep and presumably slippery inclines. 

Would you ever want to leave the hotel? Previous guests include members of the Saudi Arabian royal family and Prince Harry

Nice. An airy shower in the peninsula's only hotel. Britons will need to take a flight to Buenos Aires, then fly Ushuaia before catching another plane or boat to Antarctica  

Justifying the substantial costs for a week's stay hotel founder Patrick Woodhead told The Times that the upgrade has been extremely expensive due to the remote location.

'All the materials, fixtures and fittings had to be flown in at a cost of £12.50 a kilo and then transported across a crevasse-ridden route on a specialised 4x4,' he said.

Considering each of the sleep pods weighing three tones one can imagine how much the renovation cost.

'All the materials, fixtures and fittings had to be flown in at a cost of £12.50 a kilo and then transported across a crevasse-ridden route on a specialised 4x4,' said hotel founder Patrick Woodhead

'Blue ice caves, mountains to climb, ice waves etc, throw in penguins and a monumental trip to the South Pole, any other place in the world will be underwhelming' said hotel visitor Jane Loginova on her stay

However despite the price guests, which have included Prince Harry and members of the Saudi Royal family, seem to have been enchanted by the hotel and the remote peninsula. 

'Blue ice caves, mountains to climb, ice waves etc, throw in penguins and a monumental trip to the South Pole, any other place in the world will be underwhelming'  said hotel visitor Jane Loginova. 

Tourists flying from the UK will have to travel to Argentine capital Buenos Aires before catching a flight to Ushuaia, the most southern most town in the world.

After reaching Patagonia guests, who are not flying via private jets, will need to catch another plane down to the hotel which sits on the rim of peninsula. 

Fun in the snow. Guests enjoy the snow outside the hotel. If there is a snow storm visitors could be confided to the their rooms for a number of days 

We made it. A direct return flight to Buenos Aires from London cost's in the region £890 while flying from the Argentine capital to Ushuaia will set you back approximately £318