Quebec City: Which Hotel?
 

I'm heading to Quebec City in late June with my parent's and niece and nephew. I travel a lot and am a SPG Platinum and Marriott Gold. My mom wants to stay at the Fairmont and I would like to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott which is supposed to be the best Courtyard anywhere in North America. The Fairmount is more money. I would like an honest opinion even if it is the Fairmont. I think the Fairmont has a good name/image but according to the Travelocity ratings, it is rated lower than the Courtyard. Can anyone shed more light on this? What other hotels do you suggest? Any particular restaurants we should visit? Thanks.

My 2 favourite QC restaurants are Panache and laurie-raphaël. Both are somewhat expensive fine dining places.

Panache happens to be in my favourite QC hotel, Auberge Saint-Antoine, which is a Relais & Châteaux hotel. Le Chateau Frontenac is a very imposing edifice, but I found it unimpressive as a hotel. OTOH, it is a classic, and may be worth considering if QC is a place you're only likely to visit once. I'm not familiar with the Courtyard by Marriott there.

The Marriott Courtyard is in an excellent location, just a few steps outside the wall. Mme. 13F and I stayed there just a few months after it opened (5+ years ago?). I recall the service was excellent, however we didn't use the restaurant for anything other than breakfast. It may be the best MC I've ever stayed at.

The Le Chateau Frontenac is an icon. If anyone goes to Quebec City, they want at least a view of LCF, especially if they can't afford to stay there. I've stayed at many Fairmont properties and can't imagine the service being any less that fantastic at any of them. At LCF, you will risk tripping over tourists at every turn. The hotel gives guided tours.
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13F

If your tastes are more for brand name hotels, try a high floor at the Hilton with a view over the old city. There are also many boutique hotels and auberges in YQB which may suit you and your family.
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13F

I second that. I stayed at Chateau du Pierre in one of their apartment suite which is hop away from the main building.

You can't go to Quebec City for the first time and not stay at the Chateau Frontenac, if you can afford it.

I've done both hotels and usually recommend the Courtyard. There is a little known promotion going on right now for the Chateau Frontenac though. If you decide to stay there, make sure you DONT get a basic room, you will be disappointed.
IMHO, one of the best hotels in QC is the Dominion 1912 (a member of Le Groupe Germain). Its a great boutique hotel.
Panache (http://www.saint-antoine.com)
Laurie Raphael (www.laurieraphael.com)
Saint Amour (www.saint-amour.com/)

Also get a poutine at any Ashton location...

Stay at the Fairmont.
Go to the hotel deals forum and read about the FAF promotion.

Inside the old city, a regular from my office recommends: manoir-victoria. Another recommends Palace Royal which is close to the wall on the outside of the wall.‎ I have not had the opportunity to try either of them, yet.

I have stayed at: Hilton, Delta and Courtyard, and would return to any of them. All of them are close and more than just comfortable.

I stayed at Hotel Pur, and would not recommend it. It is too far from the old city (20-25 minutes up hill on foot) and in a not-so-nice part of town. Of course no coffee in the room is a strike against them in my books.

Just to be clear here, Travelocity rates Courtyard as 3 Stars, and the Chateau Frontenac as 4 stars, so the rating for the CF is higher. It is reviewers who were more satisfied with the courtyard as a 3 star hotel at a 3 star price, than the CF.

My two cents -

Based on the Courtyard reviews and what has been said on this thread - it sounds like a top-of-the-line mid-level chain hotel. I haven't stayed there.

The Chateau Frontenac is a high-quality four-star hotel, a true landmark. How many hotels do you know that have appeared on more than one postage stamp! It is the place to stay in Quebec. However, it is also an older hotel. Its smallest rooms are not recommended. My wife and I stayed in one of the larger rooms and had a wonderful stay - we took a tour of the hotel, enjoyed sitting in the lobby, absorbing the atmosphere and eating in its restaurant, etc.

I think it depends on what you value. If your only measure is comfort, you will have a fine stay at either location and should probably base your decision solely on price (keeping in mind the aforementioned Fairmont sale). If you are inspired by history and setting, then the Chateau Frontenac is your only choice. The fact that you referred to it as the Fairmont rather than the Chateau Frontenac makes me suspect that history is less important to you in your choice of hotel, but I may be reading too much into your choice of words.

Agreed. My parents took me there as a kid and I still haven't forgotten it.

We must have had a similar upbringing. My parents too took me there as a kid and I still haven't forgotten it. :)

CY is a solid mid-tier hotel without much variation between rooms but some will have a better view (it's a tower). I stayed there last year - no breakfast for MR Golds BTW.
While the Fairmont is definitely a better property it's a historic building with corresponding pluses and minuses and your experience may depend on the room type you get there. With similar pricing I'd try Fairmont (after signing up for their pres club membership of course)

I have a king OLD QUEBEC view booked at LCF for one night on the 27th. I've been told this is not the smallest room, as it is big enough for a sofa bed, which is where Mlle.13F-ette will sleep. In a few of weeks from now, I'll let you know how a 5 yr old girl likes staying in a castle.
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13F

PS We also have three nights booked at Le Manoir Richelieu for July 7-10. Never been there. Any reviews?

Thanks for all your suggestions and advice. It appears we are planning on staying at the Fairmont. The only question now is how many nights. Our trip begins in Montreal (YUL) next Tuesday where we will stay 1 night and then possibly stay in Quebec City Wed-Sat (3) nights. We plan on heading back to Montreal on Saturday and leave for home on Wed July 1st. Is this enough time in QC or should we spend more time in Montreal? What would you recommend for us to see in QC and/or Montreal?

Thanks again.