What To Know Before Splurging On The Fairmont Château Frontenac

I fully expected to hate my stay at the Château Frontenac in Quebec City.

I had read countless reviews about how you get so little for what you pay per night at the Château Frontenac hotel, that it’s ultimately a huge let down. But, that wasn’t my experience at all!

I absolutely LOVED my stay at the Fairmont Château Frontenac. But I will put a GIANT asterisk next to that statement, because I don’t know if this holds up for everyone. Continue reading to find out why!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

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Why is Fairmont Le Château Frontenac So Famous?

Since the 19th century, the Château Frontenac has been an iconic landmark and a key point of interest in Quebec City.

Today, the Fairmont le Château Frontenac is famous for claiming to be one of the most photographed hotels in the world, and even the most photographed building in Canada!

I mean, have you seen it? It’s absolutely gorgeous!

But it’s more than just a pretty facade…

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chateau frontenac towering above place duffering covered in snow below. There's a small tent with a flag on it for a size comparison. The hotel is beautiful stone and red brick design with spike green roof towers

A Brief History of The Château Frontenac Hotel

The Château Frontenac hotel wasn’t always a Fairmont hotel, but it has always been a hotel.

The Château Frontenac was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in 1893. The goal was to build a luxury hotel to bring more people to Quebec City via rail.

But it’s really changed A LOT over the years. For starters, it used to host only 173 rooms. By 1983, you have the final hotel that you see today, equipped with 611 rooms!

Over the years, many political figures have stayed here. In fact, it’s believed that the fate of WWII was discussed here when Churchill and Roosevelt met at the hotel.

But even more importantly, Alfred Hitchock stayed here and where he filmed his 1953 film, I Confess!

white-cat-lying-in-the-middle-of-a-clean-bed-with-white-sheets-in-the-chateau-frontenac

How To Find Out More About Hotel Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Book a guided tour of the hotel to get an in depth history and insider’s look at secret rooms throughout the hotel.

If you’re short on time, there’s also a detailed history exhibit with artifacts and more information in the basement of the hotel (follow signs for Starbucks and Place Dufferin). Anyone can access this area of the hotel, even if you aren’t a guest. Enter through the main lobby and walk down the stairs on your left.

Book A Guided Tour

Insider look at the Fairmont Château Frontenac guide tour with Viator

a stark hallway with a painting of the rock and old version of the chateau frontenac on one side, and an exhibit behind glass on the other. The exhibit is about war, showing bombs, and dates from 1620, 1691, and 1759

What To Know Before You Book The Fairmont Château Frontenac

There are a few things to note before booking the Fairmont Château Frontenac, so you can set appropriate expectations.

You’re Paying Premium Prices But Might Not Get Premium Quality

You will get amazing service and amenities when booking the Château Frontenac hotel. But I will admit, our room wasn’t perfect for the price of this hotel.

I actually loved the layout of the room I had, but there were a few quirks about it. And I don’t think our room was a typical standard Château Frontenac hotel room.

We had an exceptionally large room at the hotel, which included a separate bedroom and living room! But then the bathroom was small… like REALLY small. Half the shower was blocked by the toilet, leaving hardly any room for a bathmat to fit on the floor…

tiny bathroom in the chateau frontenac quebec city room. the door is open, blocking the main door to the hallway. the toilet is block half of the bathtub and it's the tiniest sink that could fit. it's a very modern looking bathroom with white marbled tiles — *Absolutely TINY bathroom at the Fairmont le Château Frontenac*

And then if I opened the closet door and the bathroom door at the same time, it completely blocked the hallway, which seems like a fire hazard to me.

In terms of cleanliness, on the surface it looked perfect. But we had our cat with us and he brought my attention to a few… how do I say… imperfections.

Our wallpaper was coming off under the window, and it seemed like there might be a leak because the wall was soft to the touch. And underneath the heaters it was EXTREMELY dusty! There was also a very noticeable pink stain on the carpet and the chair in the room was completely run down.

I’m not saying that these ruined my stay, but considering the price, you kind of expect the room to be sparkling and perfect.

Keep in mind that it’s still a very old hotel, and they do have to work with the constraints of maintaining an old building (which brings me right into my next point…!).

Related

5 Tips For How To Afford The Château Frontenac Quebec City?

a very rundown chair from above, it's a mix between light and dark brown wood, clearly rubbed off. the cushion is great and in good condition.

Expect Every Room To Be Different At The Château Frontenac Hotel

The main problem with booking a room at the Fairmont Château Frontenac is that you never know which room you’re going to get.

As I said, there are over six hundred rooms in this hotel, and they all have their unique quirks.

So although you have the more standard square rooms, you can also end up in a room which is extremely quirky… which is what I had. I loved it, but I can see why some people might not.

I booked the standard classic King size room, I ended up with what felt like a Jr. Suite.

two floors in standard classic king room at the chateau frontenac quebec city, feeling more like a junior suite. There are two floors. On the bottom, there's a nice two seater couch with a coffee table in front and a lamp next to it. You can see three steps (carpeted) and then a bed in the background on the second level. There's also a white cat playing on the stairs.

I confirmed it as well, that I did get a standard room and not an upgrade.

But I had two rooms, a seating area with a couch, chaise longue, coffee table and a TV… Then I turned the corner, went up a few steps to reach the bedroom, with a second TV!.

The problem is that you can never really guarantee what type of room you’ll actually get when you book a room at the Château Frontenac.

You’re more likely to end up with the standard classic King size room, which I’ve heard is small, square, and very disappointing for what you’re paying.

P.S. My room number was 3166 (in the turret of the castle) if you want to request the same one.I would try to request a higher floor to avoid the vent in the middle of the courtyard view.

chateau-frontenac-example-room-with-two-double-beds

Perks Of Staying At The Château Frontenac Hotel Quebec City

A stay at the Fairmont is so much more than just a room for the night.

In fact, your room might be the worst part about your stay, depending on which room you get of course!

Guest Only Access Floors

Everyone is allowed into the hotel, but only guests are allowed past the first floor… You will need to use your room key on the elevator to get anywhere else.

On the second floor of the hotel there are already a few guest only access spots. When you exit the elevator, there is a historical photograph exhibit on the construction of the hotel, and celebrities who have stayed here.

Then if you follow the hallway, you’ll end up at the ballroom and conference rooms in the hotel. Here you’ll find some secluded comfy couches to enjoy. This is better than the guest only area in the lobby, which can become overwhelmed with tourists.

fairmont-wood-room-key-to-the-chateau-frontenac-with-a-bed-and-lamp-blurred-out-in-the-background

As a guest, you also have access to the 6th floor which is where you’ll find the pool, gym, and terrace. Unfortunately, the outdoor terrace is only open during the summer, so I was a bit upset I couldn’t use it, but it looked like the perfect place to hang out with a view of Quebec City.

You also have access to every other floor in the hotel. I would suggest checking out the views from the higher floors, but please don’t abuse the privilege.

You get a pretty unique view of the Saint Lawerence River, Old Quebec, and even the Château Frontenac itself.

quebec-city-view-of-the-st-lawerence-from-inside-the-chateau-frontenac-with-all-the-castle-architecture-in-the-foreground

Activities Included In Your Stay

Depending on the package you book, you might have a few extras included with your stay at the Château Frontenac as well.

For example, we visited in the Spring and they were offering a sugaring off package. This gave you a ticket for a free Maple taffy, a classic spring tradition in Quebec!

If you booked with your Accor membership, you were also given $50 at any restaurant in the hotel, and $25 at the spa.

On top of the special activities, there are a few activities always included with your stay.

For starters, everyone has access to the gym, pool, and games room.

chateau-frontenac-pool-quebec-city that a lot of families are enjoying. Theres a regular large pool with kids and parents in it and an empty hot tub next to it. Adults are reading books on the lounge chairs, while others are watching their kids in the pool

As a Fairmont guest there are also some free tours of Quebec City included that you would otherwise have to pay for.

They always offer a free tour of Quebec City and the Fairmont hotel. But they also offer a military tour of Quebec City and a River Cruise which are ONLY offered to guests of the hotel, unlike the other two.

So if you’ve been to Quebec City before, I would prioritize those two, if you’re interested.

I will warn you though, the military tour is far from a sightseeing tour, it’s very history and fact heavy!

They also offer some wine and liquor tastings in their cellar. But these book up fast, so it’s important to reserve a spot early.

The downside is that they don’t offer these activities and tours everyday. So if you are interested in a specific one, you should contact the hotel in advance to find out when they’re offered.

walking-tour-from-the-chateau-frontenac-walking-behind-our-tour-guide-dressed-in-1800s-costume-in-old-quebec

It’s A Once In A Lifetime Place To Stay, But There’s No Need To Overpay

The bottom line is that the Fairmont le Château Frontenac is a once in a lifetime place to stay, there’s nothing else like it.

You’re staying in a historical luxury hotel in the middle of Quebec City. Even if you don’t get the best room, with the best view, it’s still pretty cool to say that you stayed here.

But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank just to afford one night at the Château Frontenac either.

Prices can range between $200 to $1000 / night… You probably want to pay closer to the $200 nightly rate and avoid the $1000 / nightly rate. It just becomes less value for your stay, the more you pay.

See my tricks on how to stay at the Fairmont Château Frontenac for a reasonable price!

Booking The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Quebec City Canada

See the going rate for the Fairmont Château Frontenac on Booking.com.

example of fairmont chateau frontenac unique hotel room: the separate bedroom. A bed with a desk and chair. two bay windows looking out onto the courtyard view. And a white and orange cat is in one of the windows looking for birds to fly by!

Is The Fairmont Too Expensive For Your Nights?

If you’re visiting Quebec City and the Château Frontenac is too expensive for your dates, there’s no shortage of hotels in Quebec City to book.

I’ve visited Quebec City and stayed in a few places over the years, here are my recommendations.

If you’re on a budget but want to stay in the city centre, there’s no better place than Au Petit Hotel (see it on Booking.com). It’s a small but mighty hotel and for a night or two it gets the job done! Plus, you’ll feel like you’re staying in old time Quebec when you stay here!

I’ve also stayed just outside Old Quebec at the Hilton Québec. If you’re going to stay here, you have to upgrade your room to one with a view. This way, you’ll have floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Chateau Frontenac, plus you’ll have all the luxuries of staying in a hotel. It’s not far from Old Town either, only about a 5 minute walk. See it on Booking.com.

I’ve also heard only good things about the Clarendon Hotel in Old Town Québec. It’s be a bit pricier than Au Petit Hotel, but it’s also a more regular size hotel room. Plus, this is THE location to be in Quebec City. See availability and room rates on Booking.com.

For more accommodation options in Quebec City on Booking.com, or for more recommendations read my blog post.