Quebec City at Christmas
 

Just putting flight prices and hotels together. Planning to go the weekend before Christmas 19th for 3 nights.

Anyone been? Recommend any hotels? Frontenac comes out with good reviews, Palace Royal too and a dam site cheaper?

Any must do's on the trip with children for a magical Christmassy feel?

How much cheese can you carry back on plane to Ontario?

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

If they still have it then the glissoir is the business for children.

And, on consideration, for unruly adults. Here you go:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

As much cheese as you want or are willing to pay for. Cost of an extra bag will vary with the airlines so max it out with cheese.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Lots of info/advice here.

quebec city tourism christmas

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Omg that looks amazing!!! :thumbsup:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Why not fly down to Palm Beach or somewhere similar? It'd probably be about the same price and be much nicer sitting by the pool drinking daiquiris.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Too much sun is bad for the skin, and the alcohol will pickle her liver;)

I have heard nothing but Great things about Quebec City, lots of people here go often, especially at Christmas. A friend who's family is not far from there showed me photos and it looked stunning. My husband is desperate to go, but one thing or another keeps cropping up whenever we plan it.

We should arrange a BE get together there...I can finally meet Oink:thumbsup:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

No the prelude to Christmas needs some classic Christmas lights and snow covered scenes... Not to mention the fact I can't drink and will have no summer clothes to fit a nearly 30 week pregnancy.... Winter all the way!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Oh very many congratulations! I recon Quebec City can guarantee a bit of Christmas magic:thumbup:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Oh I know...the pics for Christmas Quebec city look so pretty!!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Quick Tirytory...get to the book shop and buy 'Bring out Your Dead' by Louise Penny, it's a murder mystery set in Quebec City during the Winter Festival. My husband recently read it, and it's that that set him off on his determination to go. He really enjoyed it.

Thank you, because of your post, we have definitely decided to visit too. We are a bit full on at present....son has a Bi-Athlon competition, a band, drill and guard one too all in the next seven weeks, and my husband is a bit occupied, but after that we are most definitely a go go! I have just been looking at the VRBO website it looks great....thank you for inspiration...I shall expect lots of feedback!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

I don't further east than Whistler if I can help it. :sneaky:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Is it in the East that there's an outstanding warrant for you?

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Apparently all the fish East of the Fraser river have a price on his head for slaughter of their coastal family members...

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Quebec at Christmas is beautiful

Try and visit the Ice Hotel / Palace if they build it this year (Christmas might be a bit early)... it's awesome.

I stayed at this place for a few nights... big "suite" type rooms, very nice and right in the heart of town:

Le Port-Royal (Quebec City, Canada): See 359 Hotel Reviews and 149 Photos - TripAdvisor

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

I stayed here at the Auberge du Tresor several times and found it very convenient. I've also stayed at the Chateau which is a large corporate hotel like all large corporate hotels, it looks nice but looking at it is best achieved from outside. And at the Alt which is one of those agonisingly trendy boutique hotels where the guests are assumed to conform to an agonisingly trendy lifestyle excluding breakfast.

I would not stay at the Alt again.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Skip the Frontenac. Like all Fairmont hotels, it looks better from the outside than it does inside and is expensive. I have stayed there and I wouldn't bother doing so again.

If you want a conventional hotel, you could try this place. It is right in the middle of old Quebec. I have stayed there and liked it.

Hotel Manoir Victoria - Home

My preference would be for smaller hotels in the old city. There are plenty. I have stayed in both of these and would again.

Hotel du Vieux-Quebec, Quebec City Hotel - HVQ

Hotel des Coutellier - Your hotel in Old Quebec City

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

I second the Manoir Victoria... very nice place and convenient. The Port Royal does have nicer rooms though, and definitely worth a look.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Also good walking shoes and some grappling irons. The hill back up to old QC is rather steep!

It's fun watching the lycra-clad cyclists try to get up it. The seriously fit ones make it about half way.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Given that I will be nearly 30weeks pregnant and a four yr old in tow (the elder one is fine, the four yr old gets tired quickly)....is that a serious consideration? I do walk twice a day and I'm not unfit!!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Yes. Stay in the haute-ville. You probably won't want to be climbing up the cliffs every morning to get to the sights in the old city. Although the funiculaire is part of the tourist trail, too...

I've also heard good things about the Manoir Victoria. I stayed in the Clarendon a few years ago for an event, great location, reasonable service, glad someone else was paying. I'd echo Souvy's advice to pick a smaller boutique hotel to get the best out of the whole experience.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Walk down, get one of those horse and cart thingies to bring you back up.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

That is a serious consideration.

I grew up in Brighton, which is very hilly. Quebec is hilly even by my standards!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Given her condition, the Victoria may be a wise choice. The main hospital is across the road!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

I am from Swansea though...it's built on hills! ;) Constitution hill used to have it's own railroad track...admittedly I've never tried to walk up it:lol:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

The Victoria looks nice....but I do so hope I don't need that, but on that subject if someone gets ill and we are OHIP holders are we covered in Quebec- I presume they bill Ontario if required?

Tbh I'm not that precious but walking with a just turned 4yr old who doesn't want to walk can make a trip miserable:sneaky:

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Here is a restaurant suggestion...it is quite touristy and if you are with a 4 year old their special fixed price menu that you must be there before 18h is a good deal. Last year our family went and for 3 courses plus a draught beer or glass of wine it was $19.95

Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

OHIP py stuff

Out of Province Services - Ontario Health Insurance Plan - Ministry Programs - Public Information - MOHLTC

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

I'm not sure about the first one. The OHIP website probably has the answer.

Old Quebec is always pretty. It is even prettier (if somewhat colder) with some snow on it. I would almost call it enchanting.

I won't repeat the second comment to my missus. She is putting pressure on me for us to move there.

She thinks she's being subtle and sneaky about the idea. She perhaps forgets that spotting such things are what I do for a frikkin living!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Thanks Zoe :)

I got really homesick in the summer and one of the reasons was proximity to our usual summer holiday in France. I'm hoping Quebec City can give me my Europe fix I need!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

OHIP will cover you for emergencies as visitors in Qc.

Quebec City, if it snows, is magical (think Disney;)!!) at Christmas, enough so to reconcile one to Canada life ;)....

I'm racking my brain for the name of my "go to" hotel** there when work wasn't paying (I'll come back when I remember); it's about 10 minutes out of the Vieille Ville, with a free shuttle, children like it.

Otherwise, avoid the Frontenac; Clarendon & Victoria are nice.

**(Edited to add: hotelsjaro.com . Their Hotel Quebec, & Quebec Inn branches are family friendly; Qc Inn also has decent food. Shuttle bus distance from the centre.).
S

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

The hills in Quebec City are neither huge, nor long, walks. But they *are* steep. I vaguely recall carrying a whinging 5 year old piggyback, rather more often than I would have liked, while pregnant ;)

If one plans, one can arrange to walk down, & funiculaire back up, if necessary.

:)

D

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Cote de la Montagne, by any chance? That would make a mountain goat wince.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

The problem with the Fairmont hotels is they nickel and dime you for everything. They get you to book there by offering what appear to be reasonable rates and then ding you for every little thing.

I have to say though the Frontenac is in a very good location.

Also even if you don't stay there the restaurant is amazing and has a good view of the river as well.

Not sure I could hack it in the winter but Québec City is definitely worth visiting.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

I would certainly agree on the location. It can't be beat. I believe the Frontenac to be the most photographed hotel in the world.

Just about every hotel will nickel and dime you (and I've stayed in quite a lot!). The only one I know that doesn't is the place where I habitually stay in London. I even get free international phonecalls.

Quebec City is very cold in winter. Really, really cold.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Like how cold? We are already at feels like -11 where we live now. Was thinking we could cope for a few days!

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

You can possibly double or triple that number, particularly if it's windy.

I've been in Quebec City when it was -27, and there was no wind.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Yeah but you can buy refillable plastic canes and walking sticks, with the right ingredients the pain all goes away.

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Are these canes for the parents or the kids?

Re: Quebec City at Christmas
 

Ah that's ok...I can do that.... It gets kind of cold where we live too- we certainly saw that temp last year.