Hello Canadian experts-husband & I are taking a long overdue & spur of the moment trip the last week in March to celebrate my birthday & our 22nd anniversary. We're flying into Burlington, VT, renting a car(he insists) and driving up to Quebec City. Planning on about 4 days in QC with at least one day trip out from QC as we'll have the car, then back to the States to spend a day with our daughter who is in college at RPI in Troy, NY and ultimately flying back out of Burlington. We are a 50-ish laid back couple who are avid amateur photographers, moderately fit, enjoy beauty, history, local culture, good food & wine and friendly people. Our budget for hotels is not too big an issue as we've been saving for this opportunity but also don't want to spend all of our budget on fancy hotels-would like to keep the per night between $150 & $250 USD for somewhere centrally located that is clean & safe with parking available.
I would be very grateful for any ideas for day trips from QC that would be fun & interesting and, of course, suggestions for lodging in QC, any sights or experiences that we shouldn't miss, good restaurants and basically, just any helpful tips that we might need to know. We speak a little French but have read that most of the natives do speak some English.
Thanks in advance for taking time to help us out-it would be much appreciated as we want this to be a fabulous trip!
1st Time To Quebec City-Suggestions Please?
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I strongly suggest an apartment in the old city center. For about 1/2 the cost of a hotel you get twice the space. Parking is cheap compared to most cities - about $15/day for a 24 hour garage (the huge one below city cite hall (hotel de ville) is a perfect option.
Here's just one possibility: http://www.vrbo.com/338912
Also, don't write off those that list one month rates - they usually allow stays for a few days once you contact the actual apt. owner...
For day trips, you need to choose. There are SO many worthy possibilities. My favorite is the the super charming town of Baie-St-Paul. Closer by is Île d'Orléans (buy the self-guided drive audio CD at the gift shop as you enter the island shop).
There are LOTS of great restaurants, but, like anywhere, be diligent about highly touristed streets and places that look to cater mainly to tourists. One great place that happens to be on a touristy street but that has GREAT fast food at GREAT prices, however is Paillard http://www.paillard.ca/
Oh thank you, bardo! Those sound like great suggestions & I will certainly look into an apartment. Your ideas are just what I was looking for as a starting point. If you think of anything else that might be helpful, please let me know. I have a guide book now & will be looking at old threads for more help. Thanks again!
bardo1, we will be staying in that apartment for a week in June, so I am glad to see that you recommend it.
Bumbleb, I see that it is still available for a few nights at the end of March, so maybe your dates are still available.
Bill, the owner, has been wonderful to work with, so far.
I have also booked a VRBO for my family of 6 and it is so much better than squeezing into a hotel. Ours is in the walled part of Quebec city so we are very excited. We are staying for 4 nights in August.The owners seem lovely and have been very helpful. Just check out the reviews for anywhere you stay, google it's location and so on to make sure it is legit.
We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard Quebec City. It looked more like a small boutique hotel than a typical Courtyard, and for under $200 US you get a nice breakfast included. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the old city. The staff was very nice, as well. The bad news? Parking is $22 CA/day.
Also, we took a walking tour of the Old City http://www.toursvoirquebec.com/en/old-quebec-tours/the-grand-tour, and a tour to Montmorency Falls & the surrounding area (4 1/2 hours by minibus) https://www.toursvieuxquebec.com/en/forfait/a-fabulous-country-tour. Both were very enjoyable.
Also wanted to recommend this grocery store which opened in 1871 http://jamoisan.com/en/epicerie/lepicerie/. Loved it. And I think there was a chocolates shop across the street. You've got me reminiscing about Quebec now
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