I'm planning a surprise romantic long weekend away for my wife and I. WITH NO CHILDREN! I've been trying to find someplace where neither of us has visited and in my research I've come across Quebec City. Now for the questions and a little background about us.

If we went I plan on finding a hotel in the "old city". I'd like to go either in the spring or fall due to our schedules, but I'm not sure about the weather in that time period as I'm sure my wife would like to have it above freezing. (cold hands warm heart type of girl). Can anyone give me any insight into the weather in May or September?

Is this a destination that is conducive to a romantic weendend for a couple?

What I'm looking for in a destination is a walking city so I don't have to rent a car. Luxury hotel options. Above average to excellant restaurants. Historical attractions, but not museums. Someplace where we can walk hand in hand exploring together at our pace.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Beta Goat-I LOVE Quebec City and will be going again in February for the Winter Carnival. My husband and I went a few years ago on Labor Day weekend and the weather was very comfortable, just needed a light jacket. It's a very romantic city, very easy to walk around, good museums, shops, restaurants, outdoor performers, etc. We stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and enjoyed it very much. Rooms are nice, but maybe a bit overpriced. For Winter Carnival, we are going to try Hotel Dominion. Not sure where you're from, but Boston and Newport RI are also nice long weekends. Have fun..

Gail - Thanks for the quick reply. The Fairmont Chateau Frontenac was at the top of my list of hotel possibilities. What didn't you like about the hotel?

You mentioned Boston, which could be a possibility for us. We could probably get a direct flight from St. Louis compared to Quebec.

Quebec is a wonderfully romantic city. Strolling the old city.....intimate little bistros....the french canadien flavour....several hundred years of history.

I can't comment on the May and September weather , having only visited in July and January.

Jerry

For romance, Quebec City should be your choice - Boston is nice but romantic? No.

The Chateau is in a beautiful spot in the middle of the Old Town - but as the poster said, it's expensive. I'd go in September.

Beta Goat-The location of the hotel is excellent, nice indoor pool, etc. We upgraded to the Gold floors which had free complimentary appetizers/continental breakfast which was a nice touch. It's a large hotel, very busy lobby. If money was no object, we would definitely stay there again. I would recommend staying there for a first visit. Quebec City is like a mini cozy "FRANCE" vacation. I think your wife will really enjoy Quebec City. Boston has tons of history as well, great restaurants, no car needed, but you may need to take the subway from time to time to get from one section to another.

Sally & Jerry - thanks for the vote on QC. The more I've read about the city the more I'd like to go. And I think my wife will love it. Next planning item is to find the hotel and airfare.
Andy

BetaGoat, I was in QC in Sept. for a friend's surprise 50th and it was wonderful. Very romantic and the weather was perfect fall weather - not too hot, not too cold - cuddly weather! As nice as the Fairmont might be, I would suggest one of the smaller more personal hotels in lower town - Auberge St. Antoine or Auberge St. Pierre. You really feel like you are getting a true French experience staying in the lower town. Very walkable and just a wonderful place for a long weekend.

I came across this article on QC and Montreal yesterday. This author and I seem to be on the same page as I am planning a trip to Montreal and QC and he goes into great detail on the exact 5 hotels I had narrowed our choces to. Vieux Porte, Bonaparte, Sans Soucy in Montreal. Saint Antoine and Dominion in QC. I think its very informative.

http://radio.weblogs.com/0117154/sto...ityCanada.html

Starfish - Have you stayed at any of the hotels you recommended? If so, what was your experience with service, location and comfort?

As far as the Fairmont, I go back and forth. The size and the cost of the hotel are definately something that makes me want to look elsewhere. However I am looking for luxury and service for this particular trip. I assume the Fairmont has this. Can the Saint Antoine or the Auberge St. Pierre or Dominion 1912 provide this? I don't know.

Dan - Thanks for the article on QC.

I'm assuming you've already checked the reviews for Quebec City hotels at Trip Advisor?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g...Vacations.html

Yes I have checked out tripadvisor. I think it's a good resource, within reason. It seems like reviews on that site are either "I loved it" or "I hated it". I'm exaggerating, but I tend to take those reviews with a grain of salt. Unless they're all bad.

I called Augberge St Antoine to get a better discription of rooms and check their availability in September. The weekend I was looking at had all of the cheaper rooms booked. If we go with St Antoine looks like we'll have to put up with a luxe room with a fireplace and balcony/terrace!

A glass of wine in front of a fire....

Andy

My husband and I LOVE Quebec City! I vote for the Hotel Dominion!! Get a room that over looks the brick streets and sidewalks below that are lined with French cafe's. The service there is EXCELLENT. The staff helped us every night find a gourmet restaurant. Not only did they set up our reservation, they even asked for special seating (like by a window, ect.) It will be chilly but I think you and your wife will love it! Enjoy!

QC Yes, Yes, Yes. Stay here! http://www.gitedelamontagne.com/
Walk around wherever your feet take you as you come and go from the B&B but also wander outside the St. Jean gate/walls Youville square direction.

On a historic and spectacular hill, midway between Haute Ville and Basse Ville, in the very heart of Old Quebec, and inside the fortified town, this beautiful fully restored ancestral freestone home, offers you a calm stay in this charming bed & breakfast located in one of the finest locations for discovering the old town on foot.
It's located at 54 Côte de la Montagne, a site that connects the archbishopric's quarter and the cathedral to the Quebec port, a short walk away from the world famous Château Frontenac and the place d'Armes, this noble residence will be the ideal pied-à-terre for your discovery of all the charms of Old Quebec.
The Casse-Cou staircase and Petit-Champlain street, the oldest commercial street in the Americas, originate right from here, and where, starting at the Lodge, you'll have an impregnable view of the port and the quarter that saw the birth of the French colony in 1608.
The 'painters and artists' quarter, antique shops, lots of good restaurants and throngs of art shops and beautiful stores are within your reach and all are within walking distance of the Lodge.
You're just a short walk away from the Museum of Civilization, the Wax Museum, the Museum of French America, the Cruise Terminal and the Louise Basin, which is the point of departure for many excursions on the Saint Lawrence River, and just a few minutes from the Convention Center.
Your stay at the Côte-de-la-Montagne Bed & Breakfast also includes daily housekeeping services and breakfast brought to you every morning at the time of your choice.
The Lodge is under the management of the Hotel Le Saint-Paul, at 229½ rue Saint-Paul, a short distance from the Lodge, where our reception desk is also located.
Aug 27, 2005: A TripAdvisor Member, Montclair, NJ
Traveler rating: 
This was by far the best place i have ever stayed! My husband and I spent our first anniversary in the loft of the Gite de la Cote de la Montagne. I was so unique and ultra clean. I get grossed out very easily, but i had no trouble with this place! It has fun french touches and is a perfect romantic get-away. It's location can't be beat either! We are planning on going again without a doubt!
Quebec City: Gite de la Cote de la Montagne: "Gite cote de la Montagne best location in city"
Aug 2, 2005: A TripAdvisor Member, Milwaukee, wisconsin 

This may be the best sleeper location of all time, in any city. It is I believe the only lodging on the Mountain Road between the upper and lower town. Walk out the door and down the Break Neck Stairway or up the Stairs to the Dufferin Terrice. Up to the upper town and then down the road to the right to the lower town. The view from the roof top patio is spectacular and worth staying there just for the late night viewing. We found it to be just fine in all respects. The only down side is for people having trouble walking. But they would be discomforted walking anywhere.The bathroom was quite unique and probably expensive to install. Unless you are ultra budget minded this may be the best location of all

Beta,

It can never hurt to have too much response, so here's mine:

I would wholeheartedly recommend QC as an awesome romantic getaway for you and your wife.

Significantly, QC is VERY UNIQUE to North American cities and while the great big hotel is up on a hill, and much of the fun walking part is down below and to the north a couple of miles, you will still do reasonably well there without a car.

The walled-in part of "Old Quebec" is very near to the big hotel (Frontenac) and that could occupy you for a couple/few hours on a day or two.

I love an older part of the city with very narrow streets and many interesting shops and eateries and signs written in french.

As I recall, the big hotel is high on a bluff bordering the southernmost area of QC... and if you were down below the bluff, between the St. Lawrence and the hotel, and did a semi-circle first going east, then north, and around, you'd be in the area I loved so much.

I would pick Sept. vs. May because the remnants of the harsh Canadian winter might still be in the air (and in the human personalities all around) were you there in May.

Be equipped for some chilly winds if you wait too long into Sept. but those can be dealt with.

I LOVE your idea of a romantic time in QC... it will fit the bill ideally!

Thanks for all the positive feedback. I'm still researching hotels and trying to find reasonable flights. I think September is too far in advance for some of the airlines to give me good rates. Oh well, I'll focus on the hotel in the near term.
thanks again.
Andy