
Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Le Germain Charlevoix
50 rue de la Ferme, Baie-St-Paul, Québec, G3Z 0G2, Canada See on Map Fodor's Choice
It’s tempting stay inside for your entire visit, enjoying the (dog friendly) room’s goose down comforter, the 100% cotton sheets, the signature robes and daybeds with an extraordinary view of the surrounding countryside. Each room has a courtesy umbrella, too, and coffee station. There’s an up-scale economical dormitory, with showers and no baths.
There are sensational perks, like films, yoga, stretching, child care options, a bakery (!) and a Lexus to borrow. That's right--you can borrow their Lexus.
room
It’s tempting stay inside for your entire visit, enjoying the (dog friendly) room’s goose down comforter, the 100% cotton sheets, the signature robes and daybeds with an extraordinary view of the surrounding countryside. Each room has a courtesy umbrella, too, and coffee station. There’s an up-scale economical dormitory, with showers and no baths.
There’s no set departure time at the hotel, so you can linger a longer than normal. It would be nice to let the front desk know your intentions, so they can coordinate housekeeping.
bathroom
Two words for you: heated floors. Need we say more? These partially open-concept bathrooms are arranged a bit differently in each room, but they’re uniformly well designed and well appointed.
YOU SHOULD KNOW Depending on modesty levels, you may or may not love the tub-and-shower combination on view from the bed. But the water pressure is fantastic and the taps are fully modernized. Also, some sinks barely have enough counter space to hold your toiletries.
lobby
With soaring ceilings and a spacious entryway, the main building is an ode to grey felt and rustic wood—a la Scandinavia. Witness the birch bark stool with a soft top. There are cozy seating areas with views of the courtyard (or skating rink), a big games room for teens and a safe storage area for bulky coats and ski equipment.
LOCATION
Getting Around
An hour’s drive from Quebec City, the town of Baie-Saint-Paul has a handy train service that runs from June to October ($76, return ticket), three runs per day. Before you get to the hotel, call and reserve use of the courtesy Lexus, if it’s available--there's only one Lexus, folks. It’s a lovely walk to the town’s main street, rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Restaurants
Walk over to the Mouton Noir (5-mintue walk). This classic French bistro has excellent frites, bottles of local craft beer, great red wine and views of the water.
WHY WE LIKE IT
Magically, this rural property manages restore and excite at the same time. Surrounded by nature—expansive fields, gardens, animals, flowers and stables—it’s easy to decompress. Yet, the high style and architectural choices are inspirational. The five buildings are unique, paying homage to the site’s former farm (there’s an elaborate model of the previous compound) and the religious order that ran the thriving operation. The high-tech gym is a dream, with views of the chef’s herb garden. We love the fact that Le Germain is heated and cooled by geothermal energy. We also love the family-friendly configuration of beds and bunks in larger rooms.

QUICK FACTS
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