Votre séjour — Motel O’Charcoal
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La propriété — Motel O’Charcoal
Motel O’Charcoal is a no-fuss, exposed-brick motel near Quebec City's outer ring, favourably priced for a July short-stay. The lobby smells faintly of coffee and wood polish, and the staff hand you a booklet of city walking routes along with your key card. It’s built for independent travellers who want a clean, quiet room to crash in after a day of sightseeing, not for luxury seekers. The USP is location: a short bus hop from Old Quebec’s walls, but far enough that you’re not paying tourist-season rates.
Chroniques de Quebec
Quebec City began in 1608 as Samuel de Champlain’s fur-trading post on the St. Lawrence, making it one of North America’s oldest European settlements. Its Upper Town grew ringed by stone fortifications—the only fortified colonial city north of Mexico—while the Lower Town spread along the river. The 19th century brought grand British institutional buildings, and the 20th saw a careful preservation push that kept the old quarter intact. Today the city champions its French-Canadian identity, with street signs en français, a lively local music scene, and a prickly but proud sense of separateness from anglophone Canada.
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Guide complet de Quebec →Meilleurs mois
July, August, and early September: reliably warm (20–25°C), long daylight, and most festivals running. Book well ahead.
Peak / Festival surge
July is peak—the city is packed for the Quebec City Summer Festival (FEQ) in early July, with massive concerts and street closures. Hotel prices nearly double. Avoid if you hate crowds or noise; embrace if music is your draw.
La saison des épaules
May–June and October are the budget sweet spots. Spring is cool, fewer tourists, and hotels drop 30–40%. October has crisp air, foliage colour, and still decent weather for walking.
Météo & Emballage
Quebec City’s July climate is humid continental: hot days can suddenly turn cool and rainy. Pack layers—a light waterproof jacket and a sweater—because one day you'll need sunscreen at noon and a fleece by 9pm.
Briefing de la ville — Quebec
- Quebec City’s new tramway project broke ground in March 2026—expect road closures on the south shore and diverted bus routes until 2029. Check the RTC website for updated detours near the motel.
- The Old Port's boardwalk repairs (from the 2025 flood damage) are nearly done, but the stretch near Place Royale remains fenced until late July. The main ramparts walk is open.
- FEQ 2026 (July 1–11) will close several downtown streets and boost bus/Metro crowds. The motel is far enough to avoid noise, but allow extra time to reach the Plains of Abraham each day.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Motel O’Charcoal, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor at the rear of the motel (away from Rue l'Annonciation Nord). These rooms are quieter and easier to access from the car park — typical for a 3-star motel without a lift.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room facing the street (Rue l'Annonciation Nord) — that road is a main route through the Laurentian region, prone to truck and snowmobile traffic noise, especially in winter.
Best views
The motel sits in a wooded area near the Rivière du Nord. Rear rooms may offer a glimpse of the treeline rather than the car park or main road.
Quietest floors
Single-storey motel — all rooms are ground floor. Aim for a rear-facing unit.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue l'Annonciation Nord is a regional road, busy with logging trucks, snowmobiles in winter, and commuter traffic to Mont-Tremblant. The motel is a basic roadside stop; no bar or restaurant noise on site.
Insider tips
1. Park close to your room (ground-floor access) to avoid hauling luggage across the car park, especially in snow. 2. Check in early (3-4 PM) to choose a rear-facing room — motels of this rating often assign rooms on arrival and don't hold requests.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hôtel Facilités — Motel O’Charcoal
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 10 Mbps) with no login; no premium tier offered
No lift; all rooms on ground floor with two steps at each entrance, no stairs-only sections
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; a few free tourist brochures in the lobby
Standard check-in 15:00–21:00; early bag drop available from 12:00 on request; late check-out (until 13:00) is CAD 25 if availability allows
Free for same-day storage at front desk; no overnight storage
One ground-floor room with widened doors and a grab bar in the shower; no step-free path at main entrance, but a portable ramp is available on request
Free on-site parking for all guests (no reservation needed); no valet, no EV charging; nearest public car park is 5 km away in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac (CAD 8/day)
Frais, taxes et dépôts
City / tourist tax: None (no municipal tourist tax in small Quebec towns; hotel may charge 9.5% provincial GST/QST)
Deposit & card hold: Full room charge plus a CAD 100 incidental hold on a credit card at check-in; no advance deposit required if booking is cancelable
Faith & Dietary à proximité
- Church: Salle du Royaume (485 m · ~6 min walk)
Monnaie & Monnaie
Get a travel card →Canadian Dollar, CAD
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid currency exchange at airports or tourist bureaux which charge poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; contactless and mobile pay are common; American Express is less universal.
15-20% at restaurants; round up to the nearest dollar for taxis; $2-5 per night for housekeeping in hotels.
Manger, faire du shopping et voyager sur un budget
Cheap car hire →A regular coffee from a gas station or depanneur costs about $1.50-2.00.
A poutine or sandwich from a snack bar runs about $8-12.
A main course at a casual family-style restaurant is around $15-20.
Poutine and hot dogs are typical cheap eats, sold at chip trucks and snack bars along main roads.
IGA, Maxi, and Super C are common budget supermarkets in this area.
Walmart and Giant Tiger offer affordable clothing; markets are less common here.
No local public transit; driving or cycling is the cheapest way. The budget way from the airport is a rental car or a shuttle service (approx $30-50 one way).
Bring your own reusable bags for groceries (stores charge per bag). Buy food at supermarkets rather than convenience stores for better prices. Fill up gas in town, not at the airport.
Bon à savoir — Quebec
Type A/B · 120V
safe
$1 ≈ C$1.42 · CAD
Emergency Contacts
QuebecWhere to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Quebec, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Motel O’Charcoal
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →S’entourer
Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) → Chauveau Ouest & St-Louis
💡 Get off at St-Louis & Chauveau Ouest, then walk 6 minutes. Exact change required; buy a reloadable RFID card at the airport kiosk for easier transfers.
Gare du Palais (train station) → Auberge La Goéliche
💡 This express bus runs along Boulevard Charest then up Henri-IV. Sit on the left side for river views near the end. Off-peak runs can be 10 min late.
Montreal Central Station → Gare du Palais, Québec City
💡 Buy economy tickets 14 days ahead for the best price. From Gare du Palais, catch RTC #801 or take a 20-min Uber to the hotel.
Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) → Auberge La Goéliche
💡 Book a flat-rate taxi through the airport's official booth to avoid surge pricing. Tipping 10–15% is standard.
Questions fréquemment posées
What are the best rooms at Motel O’Charcoal?
Request a room on the first floor at the rear of the motel (away from Rue l'Annonciation Nord). These rooms are quieter and easier to access from the car park — typical for a 3-star motel without a lift.
Which rooms should I avoid at Motel O’Charcoal?
Avoid any room facing the street (Rue l'Annonciation Nord) — that road is a main route through the Laurentian region, prone to truck and snowmobile traffic noise, especially in winter.
Is Motel O’Charcoal noisy?
Rue l'Annonciation Nord is a regional road, busy with logging trucks, snowmobiles in winter, and commuter traffic to Mont-Tremblant. The motel is a basic roadside stop; no bar or restaurant noise on site.
Which rooms have the best views at Motel O’Charcoal?
The motel sits in a wooded area near the Rivière du Nord. Rear rooms may offer a glimpse of the treeline rather than the car park or main road.
What are insider tips for staying at Motel O’Charcoal?
1. Park close to your room (ground-floor access) to avoid hauling luggage across the car park, especially in snow. 2. Check in early (3-4 PM) to choose a rear-facing room — motels of this rating often assign rooms on arrival and don't hold requests.
What time is check-in at Motel O’Charcoal?
Check-in at Motel O’Charcoal is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Motel O’Charcoal have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 10 Mbps) with no login; no premium tier offered
Is there a city or tourist tax at Motel O’Charcoal?
None (no municipal tourist tax in small Quebec towns; hotel may charge 9.5% provincial GST/QST)
Where can I eat cheaply near Motel O’Charcoal?
A poutine or sandwich from a snack bar runs about $8-12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Motel O’Charcoal?
No local public transit; driving or cycling is the cheapest way. The budget way from the airport is a rental car or a shuttle service (approx $30-50 one way).
When is the best time to visit Quebec?
July, August, and early September: reliably warm (20–25°C), long daylight, and most festivals running. Book well ahead.
Principales attractions à Quebec
💡 Come at dusk for the free sound-and-light show on the square's buildings (projected on walls, May–October, starts at 9:00 PM).
💡 Visit on a free Sunday but get there by 10:00—queue forms fast. The permanent First Peoples exhibition is top-notch.
💡 Skip the main tourist drag on Rue Saint-Jean—cut into the side alleys like Rue des Jardins for quieter spots and cheaper cafes.
💡 Go early morning to avoid crowds and see the mist over the St. Lawrence. Free guided tours run in summer but you need to book online.
💡 Take the 800 bus from downtown (€3.50) instead of a tour. Walk down the staircase on the east side—less crowded and better photos. Free to enter the park.