Hotel Review: Quebec’s fabulous Chateau Frontenac

Posted on 18 July 2011 with 2 comments from readers

Quebec is the historic former capital of Canada and feels more like a 400-year-old European city than a North American metropolis being elegantly perched on a promentory overlooking the St Lawrence River.

It’s also a very convenient quick side-trip from Toronto to which both Emirates and Etihad have thrice-weekly services from the UAE, and less than an hour on the all-business class Porter Airlines from the inner city airport.

Former railway hotel

Do stay at the landmark Chateau Frontenac in the heart of the old town. It was formerly a Canadian Pacific Railways hotel and parts are over a hundred years old.

Winston Churchill stayed here in 1943 for a famous wartime conference with his allies. Celine Dion is a regular guest.

The central tower opened in 1924 is an art deco masterpiece. There are 620 rooms, a very large hotel for a relatively small town.

Of course you have compromises in a hotel of this vintage. The bathrooms are small, as they are converted walk-in cupboards. The rooms are a bit dark inside as the chateau is constructed in the style of a medieval castle.

But there is the compensation of acres of style and tremendous views over the magnificent St Lawrence River. The hotel has its own restaurants and bars to feast on that view but really Quebec is quite a paradise for gourmets.

This is the French influence. French is the first language of this province, but English is rather more understood than some waitresses would like you to think.

If attitude is the downside, good food at reasonable prices is the upside. The focus is on the old French specialties but there is just about everything from steakhouses to Mexican.

Summer festival

July is also the month of the Quebec Summer Festival, a very large music festival for all ages and entrance charges are modest, and non-existent for quite a few events. It makes for a lively and varied nightlife.

However, Quebec is a very safe place for visitors and you will not feel as threatened as in most European or North American cities. You can just chill out and enjoy the scenery, music and art, and the food.

And yes this is a great place to buy modern art as well. But visitors are fortunate to have a world-class hotel like the Chateau Frontenac at their disposal. Quebec wins handsomely as a summer escape for Gulf residents and nationals.