Delta Quebec Exceeds Expectations
October 5, 2014
I must admit that after taking a look at the website and seeing the looming building on the drive from the airport, hotel expectations were pretty low. Hamster cage plastic shower here we come. How wrong I was!
The Delta Quebec has some great things to offer. Mostly, I can’t recommend anyone more highly than Isabelle at the front desk. She was awesome. Helped me get set up on 1110 on the concierge floor with a walk in shower. And guess what, the room is modern and not at all rectangular.
Fall in Quebec
1110 is not a rectangle. it is a complex shape
desk pod
The bathroom has great design. And an all glass shower.
this shower is not plastic
From inside the shower
It’s peak Fall up here in Canada now. Gorgeous light. Peaking trees. Sadly, I am so wiped out from Helinki and London that I have to go to bed early and get some rest. We’ll leave Quebec exploration for tomorrow.
the dirty window will soon be cleaned
A surprising five showerheads for the Delta. Mostly because of Isabelle.
The concierge floor has an interesting staircase to the breakfast room.
Welcome to the club
Quebec is gorgeous in the Fall. Just walking around the city is incredible.
Quebec is the only walled city in North America
University Laval (architecture school)
Fall
Much French. Very flag.
Plus herbs and vegetables
Then again, somebody did build this silly building on purpose.
The ’70s called and they want their building back
After a long walk, the Hobbit Bistro is an excellent place for a glass of wine. Then dinner at Le Moine Echanson is out of this world. Best confit on this side of the pond (made with Goose) plus some of the strangest wine I have ever had:
Canoë Gaillac (La Sorga)
Le Raisin et l’Ange (Fable)
BO2 (Berranco Oscuro)
All three wines are artisan wines with crazy things going on with the yeast. Almost beer like.
It was a night of all Kevins, the first being Kevin Grégoire running the restaurant pretty much by himself on a Monday. Great server.
Then a major disappointment at L’Atelier which is rumored to be the best cocktail bar in town. Though Kevin Gaffrey was willing to play and was very attentive, none of the drinks I tasted was actually worth drinking (four strikes and you’re out). Even the CR2 was made incorrectly and had to be refactored. The main problem seems to be very bad melty ice. Want to ruin a Sazarac? Make it with bourbon and bad ice. Want to make an awful manhattan? Throw in some Campari and get it all confused about whether it is just a very bad Negroni. At least the Fernet Branca was good (since it was a straight shot). I do hope there is a better bar somewhere in Quebec. Too much flash and not enough oomph at L’Atelier. Skip it.
Oh yeah, and United airlines is a very sucky way to get to Quebec! Puddle hoppers in two hops.
I didn’t realize that the Indigo Hotel in Ottawa was part of a cookie cutter chain of 31 “boutique” hotels run by the Intercontinental. Dang.
In retrospect, I should have known what I was in for from my, um, interesting, stay in Jacksonville, Florida. Everything I said in that post applies: “far far better than your average Courtyard by Marriott. But it is no luxury hotel catering to hipsters and rock stars. Instead it appears to be catering to people who would like to be hip, even though they read USA Today and shop at big box stores.”
Lesson learned. Slowly. But learned.
Bathroom first. The shower is glass, but the floor is spongy and cheap. Everything looks better quality than it really is. It’s apparently all about appearances.
 Glass shower good. But cheaply constructed. |
 Bathroom seems new in that vacant apartment way. |
Bed is big and not very comfortable. But it looks big and comfortable.
Big uncomfortable bed.
Here’s how much they want my business. They choose to charge me $4 for a bottle of water. This does not make me feel welcome. Nope.
Welcome. Please insert your credit card here.
Big TV on particle board furniture. You look rich if you have a big TV, right?
All hail the television.
The lobby is nice enough, but once again that kind of super light furniture that looks great but weighs only 2 pounds. The Indigo Hotel is like a TV set for a hotel (hah, try parsing that one twice).
Lobby.
Three showerheads for the Indigo Hotel chain. Look elsewhere for a real boutique experience.
I other travel news, TSApre works now for international flights. Cool! And Global entry was a snap in Ottawa on the way out. Just don’t save time for breakfast after customs unless you like styrofoam plates.
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