Getting to Quebec was tricky. Many tourist make their way to Quebec city from Montreal because that's where the closest international airport was located. On the map, it doesn't look far but I think it was a whole 4 (or 5) Hour train to from Montreal to Quebec. Check out how I got to Montreal here.
The train return ticket costs almost $130CAD. You can definitely get the escape fare if you happen to see it, then it'll be alot more affordable. So I arrived the Montreal Central Station and took the train to Gare du Palais, Quebec City. There are couple of stops before Gare du Palais so make sure you stop at the right one; any earlier and you'd be stuck in the countryside.
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| My train set to depart at 18:15 |
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| Keep this in case something happens to your luggage while traveling |
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| View of Montreal from the leaving train |
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| Arrive Quebec City past 10 to a ghostly train station |
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| Gare du Palais at Night |
Mine was probably the latest train to arrive Quebec City. My luggage stood sadly on the platform on its own. The train station was eerily quiet. Walking towards the exit I found myself in an empty train station. Other passengers probably familiar with this route already took off. Well but we were still excited, till we saw the steep slope up from outside the station towards old quebec city.
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| Location of the Hostel in Old Quebec |
Booking
The online site does not have a real time booking system. All bookings are done only through emailing the address found in 'contact form'. Before I arrived, I thought, "Shady or what?" but we took the chance and booked it. You arrive, and before you go up to your room, you're made to pay a deposit. That deposit is hand-written on a carbon paper receipt. After getting to our room we took a calculator out to check if we were short changed or charged extra. We weren't, but that gives you an indication how insecure we were. And do have enough cash on you for payment is only in cash. No credit or debit facilities were available.
Location
So, this hostel wasn't as glamorous as that in Montreal. It was much older and way crummier. I wouldn't stay here if given another chance though the beds were clean. Accommodation in Quebec City can be really expensive and if you're living in the Old Quebec City, it costs even more. Even International 5 Star Hotels are situated just outside the wall of Old Quebec City. So living in this Auberge was expensive but it's at an awesome location. If you've been to Venice, the location of this auberge would be like staying in close proximity to the Piazza San Marco.
How Many Stars?
This auberge seems like its a privately owned hostel. Don't expect to find people in uniforms helping you with your luggage, or doing the dishes. Even the receptionist isn't in uniform; the reception desk is just located in a room directly in view from the main door. The breakfast place is simply a kitchen and dishes and cups there come in all patterns and sizes, seems to have been left by previous occupants. (Eeew or EEEW.)
Sheets
This is the first time I had to pay extra for bedsheets. Weird huh? Sheets weren't included in the price of the bed. They came at an additional $5.
Sheets
This is the first time I had to pay extra for bedsheets. Weird huh? Sheets weren't included in the price of the bed. They came at an additional $5.
Toilets
The toilets on the dorm room floor was sick. I did not use it even once. Then how did I wash up you may ask. I went exploring the auberge and found a cleaner toilet on the private rooms floor. The thing is, no matter if you get a dorm room or a private room, there were only A communal toilet on each floor. Even on the private rooms floor, the shower was the button kind that you needed to press once every couple of seconds. x.x
This auberge only has mixed room dorms and private rooms. It was uncomfortable knowing its a mixed dorm, as always. You don't know who shares the room with you, you don't know if someone will take your stuff while you sleep or even drug you and move you elsewhere. Daunting ya. We slept with the lights on thankfully :) The friend I was with, Georgina didn't mind keeping the lights on though she slept on the upper bunk bed. We were also fortunate that no one came to share the room with us :) Yay! Means we had the entire room to ourselves, like living in a private room.
We were happy to have finally gotten rid of our luggages after half a day of travelling. And it was time for bed.
The location is great. Rue Couillard is a small street in Upper town that joins up with Rue Saint-Jean, the main street that runs through Old Quebec City and links to Quebec City outside the fort wall.
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| Beds in a 6 Bed Mixed Room |
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| Me and Georgina |
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| Auberge de la paix along Rue Couillard |
On our second night, a third friend came to join us and we shifted into a 3 bed private room. We heard that this is the best room in the entire Auberge because of its size. I was definitely elated that we finally had some personal space moving out the dorm but having such a huge room was a huge bonus I'd welcome anytime! This room had 2 single beds and a queen bed (right in front of the mirror and not pictured below). There was even a small sink in the room. So convenient :)
Oh. I have a love hate relationship with this auberge. The dorms were horrible but this private room reminds me of a very basic motel room. (I guess if it doesn't meet the standards of a hotel room its a motel room?)
I don't know whether to recommend this place or not. Oh yes. Wifi was horrible. It was only present in the lobby on the ground floor. Hmmm. Your call.
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| Very Van Gogh |
31 Rue Couillard, Québec, QC G1R 3T4, Canada
Quebec City Tourism Website here.
