thanks for all the replies. traveling with our small dog this trip, so that does change things (although fairmont is still possible with a $50 a night surcharge) but i'll check the other options out.

we're staying at an airbnb just down the street from the fairmont for a few nights also, so this isn't the only chance we'll have to see quebec city. i kind of liked the idea that saint-roch is gentrifying, but having lived in cities where that's the case i know 'gentrifying' can have many meanings. in terms of walkability, gritty is fine, scary isn't.