Travel news from Quebec City and Area, September 2012

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is undertaking a massive $66-million upgrade, which includes renovations to the hotel’s 618 rooms and suites; the expansion of the Fairmont Gold floors; a major transformation of the main lobby; the expansion of the fitness centre by adding a luxury spa; the implementation of an entirely new restaurant concept; and the enhancement of heritage elements by carefully integrating artefacts and pieces by Quebec artists. The Fairmont will continue its regular operations open until the end of the work in 2014. You can follow the work’s progress online at the following microsite: nouveauchateau.com/en/ www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/ TRYP Quebec Hotel PUR gives you the opportunity to “Own the City” during your stay. The hotel’s knowledgeable team can help you explore one of Québec City’s most happening districts. Three new room types are under development (fitness, family and media). The hotel restaurant, TABLE, has an international menu featuring gourmet tapas with a local flavour. Delicious refinement and a pleasant atmosphere! TRYP Quebec Hotel PUR received the travellers’ choice award from TripAdvisor in 2012 as one of the world’s trendiest hotels and made the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List in 2009. www.tryphotels.com Auberge Saint-Antoine Over the past few months, this hotel in the Old City has been recognized by two influential players in the field of luxury travel: Travel+Leisure magazine named Auberge Saint-Antoine the best urban hotel in Canada, while TripAdvisor added this establishment to its list of the world’s best luxury hotels. Saint-Antoine now offers the Grape Harvest package that is sure to please lovers of fine wine and gourmet meals. After harvesting grapes at Vignoble Sainte-Pétronille, you can enjoy some of the vineyard’s wines while savouring a gourmet meal. The package is available from October 17 to 19 and 24 to 26, 2012. See the Auberge Saint-Antoine website for more information.

Suggested activities with a view

Montmorency Falls Park
The Montmorency Falls (30 m/99’ higher than the Niagara Falls) and Park have even more to offer in the winter. The ice that accumulates at the base of the falls during the coldest months of the year is called sugarloaf hill and is an internationally renowned tourist attraction. Onsite activities: ice climbing, snowshoeing along marked trails and an introduction to downhill skiing for children aged 5 to 8. Two routes featuring a via ferrata and a double zip line will be available as of 2013. Thrill seekers take note! The shorter, 45-minute route is perfect for beginners, while the 2.5-hour route is for more experienced climbers. Both routes include taking a 270-m (891’) long double zip line to cross over the cove near the falls.
 
Nordic spa and relaxation
The new Aufguss sauna from Germany is designed to make you sweat and sweat and sweat. Water is repeatedly thrown onto hot stones to significantly increase the amount of vapour and humidity in the sauna. Essential oil is added to the water to give the steam a pleasant fragrance and stimulate the limbic system. At the end of the sauna, participants can enjoy a healthful snack of frozen fruit.

Groovy nightlife near the fortifications

Le Capitole de Québec The impressive musical show STUDIO 54 is back for ten more nights at the Cabaret du Capitole! A dozen artists performing some primo disco songs will have every cool cat and dancing queen in town getting their funk on! Make your reservations for your Christmas office party at the Capitole! If you want to boogie all night long, STUDIO 54 is one show you won’t want to miss! 100 000 watts of lighting. Le Capitole de Québec 418-694-4444 1 800-261-9903 www.lecapitole.com/en/index.php   Photo: Guillaume Cyr.

Mont-Sainte-Anne/Le Massif Ski Shuttle - 2012−2013 season

Did you know there is a shuttle that can take you from the hotels in downtown Québec City and Sainte-Foy to the Mont-Sainte-Anne and Le Massif ski resorts? The shuttle runs on December 15 and 16, 2012, and then continuously from December 21, 2012, to March 31, 2013, for a total of 103 days of service. Reservations must be made at the reception desk of participating hotels, either by telephone or online. See the schedule and price list.

Autobus Les Tours du Vieux-Québec inc./Tours Dupont
418-664-0460
1-800-267-8687
Fax: 418-661-2663
www.toursvieuxquebec.com/en/

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