Quebec: The Place So Nice, We Went There Twice
Overlooking Old Quebec in October, with Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony in the background. We’re headed back there this week, on a “land cruise” through Montreal and Quebec City. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
If you’ve read this blog for longer than half a second, you’ll know that it takes a lot for me to go on a non-cruise trip. In the past, I’ve done a handful of “land cruises” when the opportunity has come up, including a visit to the Canadian Maritimes in 2013 and a trip to check out all that families could do in Miami, Florida that same year.
Now, just a few weeks away from my adventures in Myanmar, I’ve managed to squeeze in another trip to Quebec – known as La Belle Province. It’s rather remarkable, because I was just here three weeks ago, to tour Silversea Cruises’ ultra-luxurious Silver Whisper in port in Quebec City.
Despite being Canadian, I had never been to Quebec City, and it made an enormous impression on me. Now, I’m heading back.
My short five-day trip will take me first to Montreal, and the elegant Ritz-Carlton Montreal. From there, I’ll hop into a rental car and drive to Quebec City for a three-night stay at the historic and luxurious Auberge Saint-Antoine.
The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, built in 1912, was the first Ritz-branded property in North America. Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton.
Really, I’m here to take photographs and gather information for a feature on romance in both cities; romantic ideas for Valentines Day. It seems a long way away, but in terms of print deadlines, it’s actually critical to gather the information and take the photos now. I wasn’t really going to even blog about it, but I decided – what the heck. Both hotels would make excellent pre-and-post-cruise properties for the numerous Canada and New England sailings that wind their way through here each fall, and let’s face it: romance in these destinations knows no bounds.
You also don’t need a good excuse to stay at either hotel – both of which were recently ranked as among the very best in Canada.
The Ritz-Carlton Montreal opens up to reveal a world of opulence inside. Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton.
The Ritz-Carlton Montreal sits at the corner of Sherbrooke and Drummond in Montreal, just steps from McGill University and within easy reach of Old Montreal. Built in 1912, it was the first hotel in North America to bear the “Ritz-Carlton” name.
The only AAA Five Diamond hotel in Quebec, the Ritz-Carlton is home to Maison Boulud, the hotel’s upscale on-site restaurant that offers up a refreshing twist on French cuisine. Headed up by 3-Michelin star Chef Daniel Boulud, dishes are designed to honour the fine culinary heritage of France and Quebec, but with a focus on utilising local produce and artisanal Qu
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