A wonderful vacation

Guest: Jeanne (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

We just spent 10 days in Quebec city and stayed at the Belle Maison. We couldn't have been happier with the location. The best areas of the upper town are just short walks away (rue St. Jean, the Citadel, la Terrace Dufferin, access to lower town) as well as easy bus access for any excursions into other areas of the city (the aquarium, st. Roch district, le Musee des Beaux Arts). The parking place also a huge help when we rented a car for further excursions. And if you have a child, there is a park with a public wading pool just up the street that provided our son with hours of entertainment. The house is spacious, providing us a lot of room to comfortably spread out, and wonderfully appointed with beautiful furnishings and top quality linens and a well stocked kitchen. Local Epiceries are a mere block away, with larger grocery stores not much further. Our 4 year old had no problem with the stairs, however the floor plan of the house required us to be more vigilant than we might have been otherwise. I would echo the cooling comments. We had unseasonably warm weather as well for part of our stay, and though we did manage to keep the house mostly cool, (the owner provides several fans) we were surprised that so few windows opened to help the process. The owner couldn't have been more helpful. We made our reservations months ahead of time, and she stayed in contact with us constantly and responded to every request or question (large or small) immediately and most helpfully. Quebec is a wonderful city, Europe on our side of the Atlantic, a must-see for any Europhile and Francophile, and La Belle Maison is a beautiful, well located, quiet and peaceful place from which to enjoy it all.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The best way to experience Quebec City

Guest: jsned (Los Altos, California)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/24/10

We had the pleasure of staying at Belle Maison for one week in mid-July. The property greatly exceeded our expectations. The location simply can't be beat - the home is located inside the city walls only a block or two from the bustling city center, but those few blocks provide a nice buffer from street noise and activity that might bother people who choose lodging any closer to the city center. It's also worth mentioning the private parking - of course if you plan to stay in the city a car won't be necessary, but if you decide to embark on one of the many great day-trip opportunities, you'll definitely appreciate having a dedicated parking space for your car. In terms of value, the house costs less per night than nearby mid-tier hotels, and it's five or six times bigger than the average hotel room. As a family of three we really appreciated the ability to spread out, prepare many of our own meals, and truly feel at home for the week we were visiting. The house was tastefully appointed with antiques and other nice furnishings, so guests should expect to tread lightly. If I have to nitpick on anything I'd mention the lack of air conditioning, but we happened to stay during one of the warmest weeks of the year so our experience was probably quite unusual. The owners were wonderful to work with and they clearly take pride in their vacation home. The previous reviewer mentioned that the house wouldn't be suitable for children, although our 5-year-old son loved the place. In short, we were very happy at Belle Maison and would highly recommend it for anyone who's looking for an spacious, elegant place to stay close to the city center.

Owner response:a note for future renters: it was indeed an unusually hot week when this reviewer stayed in our house! in a typical quebec summer, even with some hot days, the house stays remarkably cool inside because the stone cools down a lot at night and retains the cool air during the day. the house usually feels like it is air conditioned when you walk in from outside, and some people like to wear a light sweater in the kitchen which is half underground...

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect location and home

Guest: Marie 'n David (Bel Air, MD)
Date of Stay: 07/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/14/09

We spent a week in this spacious and historic stone house, finding the location to be amazing- within the walls, mere blocks from everything (literally) particularly suited for any of Quebec's amazing festivals. Surrounded by historic buildings, small apartments and boutique hotels, we loved strolling back to "our" large home. We walked everywhere- no need for a car! The home is lovely, clean, very well appointed (a happy place to cook- we lacked nothing) and we recommend it highly. One caution- The home has three levels, and Quebec has quite steep streets- which is why I didn't recommended this property for small children and those with physical disabilities. We've rented houses all over the world, and if you are hesitant, don't be- it's terrific! The pictures don't do it justice...

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+.