Last September, the Grande Allee near the Hotel-Chateau Laurier was being ripped up to put in a new water main or something like that... by calling the hotel directly the SO and I got a great deal, CAD 99 per night with free valet parking. Got a nice, big room with a great view of Place George V, not of the construction ^ , and thick double-hung windows so that we didn't hear any construction noise.

If the construction is half as slow as that here in Boston it might still be going on, so you might try calling. Or, maybe the construction has just moved down the street, and the hotels further out the Grande Allee are now the ones to make deals. Can't beat the Laurier's short walk to the Old City though.

As far as must-see things to do, honestly we spent most of our time just walking around the old city... also the Plains of Abraham, the Vieux Port, and the promenade over the St. Lawrence should not be missed; make sure you hit the latter both in the day and at night when the lights are on.

Also near the Laurier, if you are looking for a good breakfast amongst the many seemingly touristy choices on the Grande Allee, check out Au Petit Coin Breton Crêperie ... it has the usual touristy decor but the service and food are not as evidenced by the locals who come in for breakfast once the tourist rush has died down. Who knows, maybe some of the other ones are as deceptively good...