Fodor's Expert Review Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations
5 place de la Rencontre, Wendake, Québec GOA 4V0, Canada See on Map
Here's one for the bucket list: a luxury rural hotel coupled with a rich cultural experience. This modern lodge takes "rustic redux" to a new level, weaving in Aboriginal history, crafts, artifacts, and, most notably, architecture. With a museum, spa, and a traditional longhouse.
This is a rural adventure, yet the lodge's rooms and lobby have free Wi-Fi and all the comforts of a swanky urban hotel. Check out the cultural packages to experience jewelry making, tea ceremonies, longhouse tours, and more. The guides are entertaining and informative.
room
Decorated with fur throws, HBC blankets, and wind catchers, the rooms are discretely well appointed. Guests enjoy the comfort of a Keurig coffee machine, bathrobes, a goose down duvet, an iPhone and iPod docking station, a small fridge, a big TV, hair dryer, iron, and more. Ask about sleeping in the longhouse one night.
All rooms face onto the Akiawenrahk' river, providing a soothing soundscape when you slide open the French-style patio door.
bathroom
Modern and bright, the bathrooms are stylish and spacious. Some bathrooms have ceiling-to-floor glass showers.
lobby
A triumphant contemporary design, uniting stone, leather, and wood. The lobby disabuses guests of any notion that they are merely glamping--nothing more. Not so. A team of top designers was obviously paid a fortune to blend luxury with accents of Aboriginal heritage. It worked, showcasing a four-sided fireplace. A Labrador tea ceremony is served each day from 3 p.m., near the hearth.
YOU SHOULD KNOW Front desk service can be uneven. Most guests report friendly and welcoming service, while others (much fewer) report a surly attitude. This could be explained by one staffer having a bad day.
spa
The spa is in keeping with the hotel's high standards. There are Nordic pools, heated sidewalks, a fire pit, a yurt, body treatments, and many tempting packages.
LOCATION
Getting Around
You need a car. Located 20-minutes north of Quebec City, the hotel has ample free parking, then you can enjoy the complex on foot. There are historic hiking trails and outtings. Ask at reception.
Restaurants
It would be silly not to eat at the hotel, but on the second night, venture down the road to Restaurant Sagamité (5-minute drive). They also serve Wendat cuisine in an upscale, woodsy decor.
WHY WE LIKE IT
Part anthropology adventure, part luxury escape--we love the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations' unique blend of tradition and tourism. This destination bundles together several buildings: a Ekionkiestha' longhouse, a museum, a restaurant, a spa, and more. At night, guests gather at a fire pit for myths, legends, and laughs. While none of this comes cheaply--you can spend the night ($750) in the longhouse--it's also an education. Priceless.
QUICK FACTS
What’s Nearby
People also liked
Château Mont-Saint-Anne
$$ | 500 Boulevard du Beau Pré, Beaupré
A bustling ski resort with every kind of room, from modest studios to... Read More
Auberge Baker
$$ | 8790 Chemin Royale, Château-Richer
This hotel is a charming 1840 French-Canadian farmhouse, built by the... Read More
Château des Tourelles
$$ | 212 Rue Saint-Jean, Ville de Québec
It’s hard to find such a casual auberge outside of the youth hos... Read More
Auberge aux Deux Lions
$$ | 25 Boulevard René-Lévesque E, Ville de Québec
This quiet auberge just off Cartier Avenue has two signature stone lio... Read More
Le C3 Hôtel
$$ | 170 Grande Allée Ouest, Ville de Québec
Effortlessly bridging the mansion’s 19th century heritage with t... Read More
Café Krieghoff Petit Hotel
$$$
Sitting snug over a café, this small hotel is a treasure. Breakfast is... Read More
