What do you think is best while in Quebec City, a boutique hotel in the old city, or the Hilton?

I haven’t been there, but I’d sure go for the flavor of authenticity rather than something predictable and generic.

Unless you would use the facilities that the Hilton offers and the boutique hotel doesn’t, I agree with Jeruba.

For about 125 loonies a night, stay at this superbly rated hotel in the old city, within the old 18th century walls to boot.

It got a 9.1 rating, and I loved it when I was there (many years ago)

Check it out. Link

It has 103 reviews(!) on its website including: “The location is in the heart of old Quebec City. The rooms were spacious. The picnic basket each morning was a real treat with local pastries. Would stay here again in a heartbeat!”

I should get a finder’s fee percentage. ;-)

But come to Israel next vacation @JLeslie – enjoy. And don’t skip the onion soup.

Le Château Frontenac

affordable rooms at :Le Château Frontenac most magnificent hotel in the old city.
May not have the best views. . .

I’ve stayed at Le Chahteau Frontenac (on someone else’s dime) and it is lovely and in a great location. Failing that, I would go for a boutique hotel in the old city – it’s a marvelous area. Like being in Europe.

I’ve never been, but I’d stay in the hotel in the old city. It looks beautiful, as does Le Chateau Frontenac. I feel very envious.

I’ve been to Quebec City (and indeed all across Canada) many times, and my personal preference would be to stay in a bed and breakfast. Hilton Shmilton, they’re all the same all over the world, that’s WHY people stay at them. And hotels often have the smell of industrial cleansers, and the sounds of elevator cables.
But your stay can be part of your experience, seeing how the locals live and cook. I wouldn’t trade the fresh warmed croissants and homemade preserves I’ve tasted there for anything. You well might sleep in a room filled with antiques, and looking out onto an herb garden. B&B folks tend to be very friendly and great sources of information too.
There are several B&B networks, here’s one:
http://canada.bedandbreakfasts.net/propertysearch.asp?townCity=Quebec

@zenele Thanks for the link. The boutique hotel I was looking at received a 9.2 :) and is $100 less for the two nights for a King bed (so many hotels have queen).

I guess I am leaning towards a boutique hotel now. In Montreal maybe a Hilton Property? I need to use Hilton or some of my points will expire. Or, maybe I can transfer them to an airline? Not sure how that works.

What does CAD stand for on all of these sites? Is it Canadian Dollars? Or, does it mean subtotal?

The Hilton HHonors program is the only one that offers both hotel points and airline miles for a stay, unless another hotel chain has changed their policy in the last year or so. Their program is so flexible that I don’t even understand it, and I used to work for them (employees aren’t allowed to be a part of the program). Some people have split up a stay between 2 hotels in order to retain their status, and there are a few who have reported staying in a hotel in their home town for the same reason. Please call the HHonors 800# and ask them for advice. There are several options for transferring points to your account if your husband or someone else is in the program. I think you can convert airline miles into HHonors points, but don’t quote me on that.

@Pied_Pfeffer Thanks. I think I will take your advice and call to figure out my options. Earning airline miles is probably more productive for me anyway. It’s nice they have those options, but honestly I would simply prefer they never let my points expire. Generally, I only stay at Hilton for Embassy Suites, or at times Hilton resort properties in tropical locations, but I don’t get to do either that often, a year can easily go by and not do either. It looks like the HIlton Garden Inn in Montreal has really good reviews and is only a couple of years old in Montreal, so that might be a good pick anyway.

CAD is indeed loonies, Canadian Dollars – about the same as American, he he.

I remember when it was about 50 cents and the Americans made fun of the “Monopoly Money”.

I agree that it would be beneficial for the user to not have the program expire. On the business side of it, there is a HUGE cost to running these programs. Trust me… travelers have no idea of the expense.

Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites and Hampton Inns refused to create such a program for years because they were new products and didn’t need to. When Hilton bought them out and the economy took a downturn, these chains finally looked at the stats and saw the value. 80% of the travel business was being done by 20% of the customers. It was time to reward them for their loyalty.

And yes, the Hilton Garden Inn is probably a good pick. They are the newest chain in the Hilton family, and all are built from the ground up. I think that they issue the same amount of points as a regular Hilton. The official website will tell you how many points are issued per night.

@Pied_Pfeffer Part of the reason I don’t stay much at Hilton properties is because Hampton Inn is so inconsistent, and that is the level hotel I am typically picking from.

As long as you explore the Chateau Frontenac as a visitor, I personally would prefer to stay in Lower (Old) Quebec City.

@Dr_Lawrence Oh, I should have thought to PM you. You live in Montreal right?

I grew up there and was there until 1980.