Montreal Luxury Hotel for Older People?
 

My husband and I are taking my 80 year old mom to Montreal and Quebec City in May for her birthday. We want a great luxury experience for her! Mom is not handicapped, but slowing down and needs friendly bathrooms, room service breakfasts, and a location that is not overwhelming in noise and bustle. She lives in Washington, DC; we live just outside NYC, and we are all travelers.

If it were just the two of us, I would pick Le Germain from what I have read; sounds like the kind of place/location that we like. Any thoughts?

Dorothy

I'd suggest the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth and the Bonaventure Hilton.

Both are big, spacious lobbies, excellent in-hotel restaurants, easy cab / rental car drop off of Mom before you go to park the car.

In Quebec City, I think the Fairmpont Chateau Frontenac is a great experience, good service, beautiful location. It's big, so there are walks from lobby to restaurants to elevators that are logner than in smaller hotels. But it's where I'd go.

BAK

I much prefer the QE over the Hilton Bonaventure. I usually stay at the QE when I'm in Montreal on business, but occasionally have to stay at the Hilton. We jokingly refer to it as the bunker - it's really not very attractive from the outside. I also find it odd that you have to take the elevator to get to the lobby! However, some of my co-workers love the Hilton, so I guess it's a matter of taste.

I am a little concerned about the QE after reading the 'rants' section here; two recent reviews are not very good. Also, it sounds like the QE is a large, convention oriented place. I am looking for something a little more intimate and exclusive, the way the descriptions of LeGermain sound.

Maybe Le Germain would fit our needs after all?

The QE is a large hotel. I love the location - it's convenient to be connected to the underground, especially in the winter when I'm there on my own for business. We get a very good corporate rate and I don't know that I would call it a luxury experience though (although as I said previously, I definitely like it a whole lot better than the Hilton).

My top recommendation would be Hotel de La Montagne. Everything you need within and then some. To us it's the Ritz (nicer even, as the Ritz has gone way downhill) at moderate prices. Everything you need within. Terrific room service (at reasonable prices), beautifully appointed spacious rooms with fabulous bathrooms (walk in shower/separate tub), a fancy restaurant, a fabulous bistro with the best Sunday brunch in town (though up a flight of stairs). Wonderful cocktail lounge with "mellow" music.

We stayed at the Hilton Bonaventure (couldn't resist bidding on Priceline) and it was a huge mistake. Shabby room and nothing is "convenient" rather quite distant. From the street entrance, it's a long walk (uphill) to restaurants/shopping, an elevator ride to the lobby with a considerable walk to the front desk, room WAY far away. Though it is connected to the underground, it's quite the hike before you actually reach the boarding platform. Service throughout was perfunctory at best. The bed was so uncomfortable we left a day early (three nights booked).

Thanks, Donna. Have read some of your enthusiastic postings about this hotel and it intrigues me. Question: would you mind sharing your age range? Most of the comments about this hotel here on Fodors and on some other places (like tripadvisor) mention the lively goings on in the hotel (pool open to public, disco); I just wonder if the atmosphere is a little young for us.

Dorothy

I've travelled tens of thousands of miles with old people (80 - 93) and that's why I mentioned the Queen E. and the Bonaventure.

I think Le Gremain is a great hotel, as is the Vogue, but I'm not sure I'd take an 80 year old to either of them.
Whsat i do know is that the drop off to the front door of the Hilton is easy, and the elevator is close, and the front desk sure isn't very far from the elevator, and the place is generally peaceful.

Over at the QE, there's a huge lobby with comfortable furniture and old people can sit and watch what is coming and going, and then it's an easy walk to the front door and taxis to take you interesting places.

BAK

BAK

Thanks, BAK. Can't imagine going all those miles with 80-90 year olds, even though I'm now in my 50's and getting closer to it myself!

My mom is not much of a sit-and-watcher, however; she's very sophisticated and active (even though she's slowing down after recently getting a new knee). That's why I was looking for a real luxury hotel. Lobby access from the car is a definite consideration, though. I will definitely call the QE and chat about their accomodations.

Thanks for your input; your messages on this forum are invaluable.

Dorothy

ds, there are doormen at le Germain, Vogue, hotel de la Montagne etc... so lobby access is always easy... The QE is so big and busy, I don't recommend it at all except for dinner or brunch at the Beaver Club there......
The more I read these answers the more I think you all enjoy Hotel Vogue or de la Montagne; your mom would love to stroll through Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy's on that street; and the storefronts are very attrative on that street going up towards Sherbrooke; which is where our nicer buildings are and the museums also. You would be close to all of this. Just make sure it's not the Grand Prix weekend when you go; the hotels will tell you when you call.
I think you would also love le Germain, it's more urban contemporary in a zen way; it's in a more quiet area but only a few blocks from everywhere you would want to go.

Although I love L'Hotel de La Montagne, I cannot see taking an elderly person there. It is trendy and noisey esp. in the Lobby. The Q.E. is not that luxurious unless you get a renovated room, although there is access to the metro below it, it is a bit of a walk. My vote for a luxury hotel would be the Vogue. It IS a bit of a walk to the metro, too. I would stay away from St. Catherine, as it is way too crowded. Sherbrooke Street is a lovely place to stroll. I have stayed at L'hotel de la Montagne, Vogue, Q.E. and the Bonaventure, I have not stayed at The Ritz. It is too bad it gets such poor reviews as it would be an ideal location for your mom. Old Montreal would be, too, if she is a walker.
You haven't really said what her interests are and her walking capabilities. Is she a 60/80 or an 80/80?
A.M.

I guess you would call her a 60/80 - she spends a lot of time at a local university that has an Insititute for Retired People, taking class and occasionally teaching a poetry seminar. Art, museums, music, theater, history - all are interests. She'll be happy seeing anything.

What she likes in a hotel is cool, efficient service and ultra luxurious surroundings.

We will have our car as we are driving up, but she does use the DC metro sometimes.

Dorothy

For Dorothy:

My husband and myself are in our (ugh!) mid-50's. For sure, the pool, roof-top disco, etc., attract a younger crowd (one of our favorite pasttime there is watchig the "passing parade" of young folks through the lobby to the disco), but also classy/sophiticated dining/cocktail areas for us "older" folks.

I'm not sure you'll find any "ultra luxurious" place to stay in Montreal. Hotel Vogue is definitely best of the best,though we found it antiseptic and austere. The Queen Elizabeth, I would describe as "quite nice" but not for the tariff.

A definite possiblity here is the new Sofitel on rue Sherbrooke. Just about as well located as Hotel de la Montagne and Hotel Vogue. Tres slick and modern, "luxurious" if you appreciate same. Easy walking distance to shopping, restaurants, Musee des Beaux Arts, Canadian History, Decorative Arts, and any number of fabulous (do a search here) restaurants). Extraordinary hotel/concierge/doorman services.

No "ultra-luxurious" hotels in Montreal? Not so. What about Le St-James, where the film people with money stay, on rue St-Jacques in Old Montreal? Or some of the other boutique hotels in the old part of town? However, these would not be the "great luxury experience" I'd choose for an 80-year old, since these are a little out of the way of the sights and shops she might enjoy. The Queen E and (ugh) Hilton Bonaventure are not luxurious, but middle-of-the-road; the Omni loses out to the beautiful Sofitel; the Vogue would also be a great choice, esp. because she could see a couple of museums, shop, and go out to dine with minimal hassle getting there. She'd probably enjoy a short walk. The hotel de la montagne is definitely less luxurious, more youth-oriented (don't mean this as a compliment to the hotel). At 80, your mom deserves the best and most convenient: I'd choose the Vogue (least walking); Le Germain (cool design and boutique-hotel charm); or the Sofitel (new; nice service) in that order. In Quebec, you could go for the historic, famous old Chateau Frontenac; or, for more quality, Le Germain's sister hotel, Dominion 1812.

Lois, you've summarized it well, I agree with you completely....

Lois, thanks a lot for your perspective; I searched and read other answers you have written on Fodors, and I agree with many things you have said about NYC and London. So that helps in evaluating how your answers fit with my needs!

Dorothy

I like Hotel de la Montagne myself but wonder if you have considered the Hotel Nelligan in Old Montreal ? In fact, I am considering it for my next trip and would appreciate opinions.

The Omni is a luxury hotel with all the amenities without being overwhelming (Just 300 rooms). The location is great (on Sherbrooke, 2 blocks from St. Catherine's), and the rooms are quite spacious.

We actually ended up going the second week of June. Loew's Vogue was a lovely experience: they actually gave us connecting rooms, and though we only engaged 'deluxe' rooms, they were easily the size and luxury of many suites. Room service was excellent - prompt and good food, good value (we had breakfast in-room). Extremely well kept room and bathroom, amenities top quality. Only criticism was no coffee maker, but could have had one on request.

We easily walked to Musee de Beaux Arts and shopping. Rue Crescent, a couple of blocks away, was a very lively place. And we were able to walk to a couple of excellent restaurants - loved Café Ferreira. Took cabs to Da Emma and Milos (both wonderful) and drove ourselves to the Biodome and Botanical Gardens.

The gem of our trip was Dominion 1912 in Quebec City; I have never stayed in a better hotel anywhere.

Thanks to everyone for advice. I will post more about our trip, but I wanted to get back to this thread.

Dorothy

I enjoyed your post as we are leaving Thursday for Quebec City (Dominion Hotel) and Montreal (Hotel Vogue). I am so glad you like both hotels..we are considering Da Gemma...it sounds like you enjoyed it. Where did you eat in Quebec City?