Help please if you live in Quebec (OT)

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I want to visit QC in the worst way. Please tell me the best time of year to go, weatherwise. PS: I don't like super duper cold and I hate rain. THANKS!!

 

[Gigi22]

I live very close to Quebec, in fact I worked there for about 15 years. Where in Quebec did you want to visit? It is a really big province! (From your post it looks as though you aren't interested in a skiing vacation).
You do need a passport to visit Canada.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I want to go to Quebec City (the old part) and no, I don't ski!

I am looking very hard at this hotel:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...s-Hotel_Le_Saint_Paul-Quebec_City_Quebec.html

Thinking of late Sept/early Oct.

I will get to get a passport! I'm excited, I'm such a geek!

 

[Gigi22]

OK, just a quick FYI, the abbreviation for the province (like a state) of Quebec is QC. So referring to Quebec City as QC could result in your winding up with some seriously messed up travel arrangements!
Off podium now. Sorry!
As luck would have it, I've never visited the hotel you mention. I do see that Trip Advisor rates it at about 1/3 down the list of the hotels in Quebec City. I would be inclined to look for a hotel that is a bit higher in the list, just to check for other hotels.
Quebec City is a really popular tourist destination, and is visited by many high school age kids as a school trip. I think most of the school trips occur in the spring.
Late Sept./early Oct. should be fine for weather. It will be early fall, you may see a nice display of leaves. But, there's no way to guarantee sun.
I should mention that Canadian Thanksgiving occurs on the second weekend in October--in 2012, it will be Oct.6-8. There will be more people travelling just before Oct. 6 and on Oct. 8, but it is not the big deal that U.S. Thanksgiving is, it is just a long weekend with banks, shops and most government services shut.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I would say September would be fine. I love Quebec city ... its like a little Europe stuck in the middle of North America.

Ted

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Thanks for correcting me on the whole QC thing. I'd be so embarassed if someone else heard me say that while I was up there, or like you said, saying it might mess up some pretty important travel plans.

I went ahead and booked that hotel...it was just too pretty to pass up!

I booked Sept 30-Oct 5. Anyone think that will be coat weather?? I bought the prettiest coat today just for the trip!

Haven't bought airfare yet, but I'm going to in a few weeks. The fares don't really seem to flucuate at all, and I'm kind of excited about flying Air Canada! I have a 5 hour layover in Toronto, is that enough time to hop in a cab and do anything?

Off to do more research and get rid of my Disney ticker! I'm more excited about this than a Disney trip!

PS: Anything else anyone has to say, please do!

 

[Gigi22]

Sept. 30-Oct. 5 can certainly be coat, or at least jacket, weather. Also, make sure you have a small umbrella packed with you.

I am not sure what I can say about the delights of flying with Air Canada. Generally speaking, flying in Canada is more expensive than in the U.S. They do occasionally offer seat sales, so by all means check their website and arrange to be notified if the seat prices go down past a certain point. They now charge to check bags in Economy.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit to really disliking the Toronto Airport--my husband refuses to fly through it because he finds it too stressful.

Another option you might look at is flying to YUL (Trudeau Airport in Dorval, not far from Montreal) and then taking the train to Quebec City. There is a free shuttle from YUL to the Via Rail (passenger train) Station in Dorval. You can also book Via Rail train travel online. Montreal is about 2-3 hours by train from Quebec City, and YUL is a larger airport than Quebec City's airport, so you may have a better choice of flights. Plus, taking the train is enjoyable, and you get to see some scenery. If you want to splurge, you can take Business Class (Via 1) on the train.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Sept. 30-Oct. 5 can certainly be coat, or at least jacket, weather. Also, make sure you have a small umbrella packed with you.

I am not sure what I can say about the delights of flying with Air Canada. Generally speaking, flying in Canada is more expensive than in the U.S. They do occasionally offer seat sales, so by all means check their website and arrange to be notified if the seat prices go down past a certain point. They now charge to check bags in Economy.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit to really disliking the Toronto Airport--my husband refuses to fly through it because he finds it too stressful.

Another option you might look at is flying to YUL (Trudeau Airport in Dorval, not far from Montreal) and then taking the train to Quebec City. There is a free shuttle from YUL to the Via Rail (passenger train) Station in Dorval. You can also book Via Rail train travel online. Montreal is about 2-3 hours by train from Quebec City, and YUL is a larger airport than Quebec City's airport, so you may have a better choice of flights. Plus, taking the train is enjoyable, and you get to see some scenery. If you want to splurge, you can take Business Class (Via 1) on the train.

Hmmmm, you have me rethinking my plans. I could fly into Montreal, stay a day or 2, take the train to Quebec City, stay 3 days and take the train back to Montreal to the airport! What do you think??? I'm gonna check airfare into YUL! Please tell me if this is a good idea! I'd love to see 2 cities for the trip!

 

[Gigi22]

Sounds good to me! There's a small historic area near the port in Montreal that you might enjoy--Old Montreal is small compared to the old walled part of Quebec City, but there are a number of shops, hotels, restaurants, etc. I can personally recommend the Hotel Nelligan in the old part of Montreal. The hotel is definitely not cheap, but quite lovely with loads of atmosphere. (When I stayed there, a t.v./film crew was shooting scenes in a room down the hall). Montreal itself is a good-sized very modern city--with lots of good restaurants.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

You have turned my trip upside down! (In a great way!!!)

Ok, tell me what you think.

Fly into Montreal. Stay 2 nights. Train to Quebec City. Stay 3 nights. Fly OUT of Quebec City. And all that is still cheaper than my original roundtrip from Charlotte to Quebec! That way I don't have to back track to Montreal and I'll save money by only needing a one way train fare. So????
I'm gonna look up Hotel Nelligan right now!

PS: Charlotte to Quebec RT was $641
Charlotte to Montreal then Quebec to Charlotte is $574!

 

[kwannabee]

I just wanted to say enjoy your trip! I was born and raised in Quebec and left only to go to college. While in Montreal if you wanted a scenic drive you are only 2hours from Ottawa, which is the Canadian capital city, and would make a fun day trip...depending on the time of year if you want to experience a true canadian winter you'd have to check out Winterlude and skate along the Rideau Canal..., you MUST eat a Beavertail! While in the city by crossing a bridge you'd be right back in the province of Quebec and you could check out Gatineau Park...this is all western QC though...but like i said you would only be able to do a day trip like that while still in Montreal, Quebec City is way farther east...about 6-8hours the other direction. Quebec City though is beautiful, and i think they have the Ice Hotel still, its a hotel/bar carved completely out of ice...but if not, touring the city is fun on its own, the old part is gorgeous! Anyway have fun! Great shoe stores!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Ok, I have a preliminary itinerary. And I'll only be paying around $300 more than I did for my last Disney trip!

Air: Charlotte to Montreal $574

Hotel: Fairmont Queen Elizabeth $300 (2 nights)

Train: Montreal to Quebec City ($58)

Hotel: Le Saint Paul $ $596 (4nights)

That's a little over $1400. Now, my question is, should I drop a day from Quebec City and add it on to Montreal or is 2 days in Montreal and 4 in Quebec City sound good?

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I just wanted to say enjoy your trip! I was born and raised in Quebec and left only to go to college. While in Montreal if you wanted a scenic drive you are only 2hours from Ottawa, which is the Canadian capital city, and would make a fun day trip...depending on the time of year if you want to experience a true canadian winter you'd have to check out Winterlude and skate along the Rideau Canal..., you MUST eat a Beavertail! While in the city by crossing a bridge you'd be right back in the province of Quebec and you could check out Gatineau Park...this is all western QC though...but like i said you would only be able to do a day trip like that while still in Montreal, Quebec City is way farther east...about 6-8hours the other direction. Quebec City though is beautiful, and i think they have the Ice Hotel still, its a hotel/bar carved completely out of ice...but if not, touring the city is fun on its own, the old part is gorgeous! Anyway have fun! Great shoe stores!

Wow, I didn't realize Ottawa was so close! I have always wanted to visit the capitol! Plus, I would be hitting 2 provinces!
I definitely want to ice skate, even though I don't know how!
I have always heard about Beavertails and I cannot wait to hit a Tim Horton's!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I found this and I really like the sound of it.

http://www.trainpackages.ca/en/pack...=31/12/2011&realprice=1,639.00&thumb=holidays

Anyone think I should not do a train tour? I can fly into NYC for only $200, so thats a big savings. Plus all my hotel is covered...maybe all I need is food and admission when necessary?