Quebec - recommendations and train to?
Jul 21, 2003 | 9:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 632
Quebec - recommendations and train to?
Has anyone ever taken the amtrak train from NY to Quebec? What is it like - the quality of amtrak trains seems to vary tremendously.
Any offbeat recommendations on what to do/where to dine?
Any offbeat recommendations on what to do/where to dine?
Jul 21, 2003 | 3:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Andover, MA USA
Posts: 1,556
Although I've been to Quebec City many times, I've never taken the train. Sorry, but I can't offer any assistance or comment on that. However, expect your visit to Quebec to be fabulous; it is a truly wonderful city. Definitely try to get accomodations in Vieux (Old) Quebec, it is the historic part of the city, and in my humble opinion, the most charming part. There are loads of quaint shops, incredible architecture, and awesome restaurants. Stroll all through Vieux Quebec, take a walk along Dufferin Terrace (the wooden terrace adjacent to the Chateau Frontenac on the river side), walk to the lower section of Vieux Quebec near the river. If you have a car and the time, taking a ride to St. Anne de Beaupre is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. You can see the huge cathedral there, and stop at the morency falls along the way. If you can afford it, stay at the Chateau Frontenac, it is truly spectacular. Other hotels that I can recommend in the area are the Hilton and the Loews Concorde. The Hilton has a nice rooftop pool and a good executif club (if you have gold or diamond status with Hilton).
See also this thread for dining suggestions:
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000057.html
Have a great trip.
See also this thread for dining suggestions:
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000057.html
Have a great trip.
Jul 21, 2003 | 5:42 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,773
TrinaLC:
It's not apparent if you are going to Montreal, in Quebec Province, or to Quebec City itself.
The train from New York Penn Station to Montreal is the "Adirondack". It is a daytime service (once upon a time it was overnight, more useful at either end but no sightseeing on the way). It leaves Penn Station at 8.15 am and gets to Montreal at 6.30 pm. There's a lot of nice scenery as you run besides the Hudson and then some lakes pretty much all the way. It's as good a train ride as any in the US.
Continuing to Quebec City, Via Rail Canada run 4 trains a day from Montreal, but the Adirondack arrives too late to connect and you would need to overnight in Montreal. Or you can take the bus, which carries on with hourly departures through the evening. The operator is not Greyhound, but Orleans Express although the style of vehicles is the same. www.OrleansExpress.com . It's about 3 hours from Montreal to Quebec City by either method.
If you don't speak French you will find Montreal difficult and Quebec City very difficult. More so, believe it or not, than Paris.
[This message has been edited by WHBM (edited 07-21-2003).]
It's not apparent if you are going to Montreal, in Quebec Province, or to Quebec City itself.
The train from New York Penn Station to Montreal is the "Adirondack". It is a daytime service (once upon a time it was overnight, more useful at either end but no sightseeing on the way). It leaves Penn Station at 8.15 am and gets to Montreal at 6.30 pm. There's a lot of nice scenery as you run besides the Hudson and then some lakes pretty much all the way. It's as good a train ride as any in the US.
Continuing to Quebec City, Via Rail Canada run 4 trains a day from Montreal, but the Adirondack arrives too late to connect and you would need to overnight in Montreal. Or you can take the bus, which carries on with hourly departures through the evening. The operator is not Greyhound, but Orleans Express although the style of vehicles is the same. www.OrleansExpress.com . It's about 3 hours from Montreal to Quebec City by either method.
If you don't speak French you will find Montreal difficult and Quebec City very difficult. More so, believe it or not, than Paris.
[This message has been edited by WHBM (edited 07-21-2003).]
Jul 21, 2003 | 6:05 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: wood dale, il, usa
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 534
Amtrak's Adirondack only operates from New York's Penn Station to Montreal's Central Station. If you are referring to Quebec City, then you will need to connect to VIA Rail Canada at Montreal.
As for the service on the Adirondack it's a basic daytime train with coach seating and a cafe/lounge food service car. The food is going to be of the pre-packed and microwaveable variety.
The nicest part of this ride is the scenery.
Between NYC and Albany the Hudson River will be on your left. North of Albany Lake Champlain will be on your right between Westport, NY and the border crossing at Rouses Point, NY. The scenery in upstate New York is breathtaking, it's too bad they don't add dome cars at Albany like they used too years ago.
As for the service on the Adirondack it's a basic daytime train with coach seating and a cafe/lounge food service car. The food is going to be of the pre-packed and microwaveable variety.
The nicest part of this ride is the scenery.
Between NYC and Albany the Hudson River will be on your left. North of Albany Lake Champlain will be on your right between Westport, NY and the border crossing at Rouses Point, NY. The scenery in upstate New York is breathtaking, it's too bad they don't add dome cars at Albany like they used too years ago.
Jul 21, 2003 | 6:47 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 13,344
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by WHBM:
[B]If you don't speak French you will find Montreal difficult and Quebec City very difficult. More so, believe it or not, than Paris.[B]</font>
[B]If you don't speak French you will find Montreal difficult and Quebec City very difficult. More so, believe it or not, than Paris.[B]</font>
Quebec is a bit more difficult, if you stay in Old Quebec City, the tourist area per se, you will be finding being an anglophone. If you wander into the real city, then french is more pronounced and you will get some attitude if you do not make an attempt at speaking it. Going in the summer is a bit better than the winter as the locals are in Toursit mode.
Once you clarify Montreal or Quebec City, I will give some good hotel recommendations, as well as some sightseeing recommendations.
Cheers
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