Le Chateau de Pierre, Quebec City

Advantages: Top quality modern comfort in old setting, wonderful views
Disadvantages: None really

...The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac hotel dominates the cliffs overlooking the St Lawrence in the Old City of Québec. Designed to be a railway hotel for the Canadian Pacific Railway, this fairy-castle like building has expanded since construction started at the end of the 19th century, to become the landmark building for the city. The architects have taken pains to ensure that the hotel does not look out of place with the nearby citadel, and this marriage of old style in new, modern surroundings are much in evidence in the interior. According to the leaflet provided in the hotel room, many famous people have stayed here including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Princess Grace of Monaco, Charles de Gaulle, Ronald Reagan, François Mitterrand, Charles Lindberg and Alfred Hitchcock. It also played host to the Québec conferences... Read review

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Advantages: A unique city - try it!
Disadvantages: Not for everybody - especially not glitzybods!

...gold of Las Vegas, the grit New York or even the grime of Toronto! Moreover, this is a city of relatively quiet charms, more suitable if you like for the mellow minions. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec remains a part of ‘old’ North America and is respected by Americans and other Canadians as such. Although the city is rather small, it is hard for anyone to go short of things to do here, such is the cultural background and diversity of the place. To its advantage, Québec has an entwined history of cultures to include the obvious French and Canadian connection as well as English and Amerindian connotations. From all this, and as you would expect, a culture all of its own reproduces itself from the ashes – this being Québecois (pronounced as ‘keb ek wa’ – just try saying that when you... Read review

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Advantages: Good food, good wine ,friendly people and great country.
Disadvantages: Lack of french

...is often translated as Dormouse-and-Expensive!) and is the established business centre of a farming district which produces wheat, vegetables(especially asparagus) and wine in abundance. Auguste Poulain opened a confectionary-chocolate factory in Blois in 1848, the site now is a hotel but his legacy lives on and is evident on almost every street corner. The city is a good place to walk as it has many fine examples of ancient town houses to be found in its 'old quarter' on streets such as the rue Pierre de Blois and the rue du Puits-Chatel. There are also fine gardens with the Bishops Palace Garden offering wonderful views of the city and the Loire river. Just below the Château on rue St-Laumen, is the Church of St Nicholas, which is nicer than the cathedral and worth a visit. There are other attractions provided with the cavernous Maison de... Read review

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