North America > Canada > Quebec
Hilton Quebec
1100 Rene Levesque East
Quebec, Canada G1R 4P3
By Dave Grossman, Hotel Magician
May 2007
The AAA 4 Diamond Hilton Quebec provided very nice accommodations for a recent weekend in Quebec. Located just outside of the old city, and just a 2 minute walk from the Quebec Observatory, the location was quite nice.
If you want to be IN the old city, you might prefer the historic (and more expensive) Chateau Frontenac, owned by the Fairmont chain. But from the Hilton you have an excellent walk into and through the old city, down to the Chateau and to the lower city. Bring good walking shoes and be prepared for hills, though, as Quebec is one steep hill after another.
The hotel rooms at this Hilton Quebec are very standard. Standard furnishings and a standard bathroom (marble sinks but standard faucets, old style bath/shower combo, and amenities). Nothing wrong, nothing to really wow either. Standard. It appears to have been last renovated sometime in the 90's.
The service was quite good. Everyone was eager to help us plan our activities and all were very polite. Do not worry if you speak only English as everyone there was perfectly fluent in English and happy to speak it.
There is a pool on the 3rd floor which is heated and also has a portion of the pool inside so that in slightly cold weather you can make your entrance to the heated water without having to venture outside in a bathing suit :)
As Hilton Gold members, we were given an upgrade to the Executive floor. The rooms didn't seem that special although a bathrobe was provided. The real benefit was access to the Executive Lounge on the lobby floor which provides a continental breakfast each morning, Hors D'oeuvres from 5-7pm and complimentary drinks from 5-10pm each evening. It has a very inviting atmosphere in which to plan a day or unwind. Non-Gold/Diamond members can gain access by booking an Executive Room type.
Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician:
If you really want to venture off the beaten path, take a ferry from Quebec City across the river to Levis. Walk about a mile straight uphill from the ferry terminal (walk right from the terminal, look for stairs on the left, take to top and then keep walking uphill until you get to Avenue Begin). Walk left on Begin until you see a swarm of people that seem to have appeared from nowhere (there's no much else going on in this part of town) and then order the best ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce 9which hardens on the ice cream) you've ever had. It's called La Glacerie a l'Europeene and is adjacent to The Chocolate Favoris chocolate factory. The standard order seems to be a large vanilla soft-serve with milk or dark chocolate sauce. It'll take you about two hours to take the round trip ferry and make it to the place but if you have the time, it's an adventure and a treat! Plus, you walk off the calories trying to get up the hills to the ice cream!!
DG
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