Photo: official website
Votre séjour — The Big Bill
Prévisions en direct pour vos dates · Quoi de neuf · Qualité de l'air et pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Quebec.
La propriété — The Big Bill
The Big Bill has the feel of a 1950s motor lodge that got a sympathetic update: glossy linoleum floors, retro signage and a reception desk stacked with local maps. It sits a block from the old port, so you get a plain, quiet room without paying for a view. This suits independent travellers who want a clean, no-frills base and would rather spend money on poutine and beer than on a lobby with a fireplace.
Chroniques de Quebec
Quebec City was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as a fur-trading post, making it one of the oldest European settlements in North America. Its strategic perch on the St Lawrence River led to a series of fortifications, culminating in the Citadelle, still an active military base. The British took control in 1759 after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, but the French-Canadian language and Catholic traditions held firm. Today the old town—split into Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville—is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its narrow streets lined with 17th-century stone buildings, boutique cafes and souvenir crêperies. The city leans hard into its Québécois identity, with French spoken everywhere, a lively arts scene and a calendar packed with festivals.
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Guide complet de Quebec →Meilleurs mois
June to August for reliable warmth (20–28°C) and the full blast of street life, especially the summer music festivals. September also works: the kids go back to school, the weather holds, and you get the tail end of the food market season.
Peak / Festival surge
July is peak season, driven by the Festival d'Été de Québec (FEQ), a huge music festival running over ten days in early July. Hotel prices double or triple, and standard rooms at three-star places like The Big Bill can hit $300–$400 a night. Book six months ahead or you'll be in Lévis.
La saison des épaules
Late May and early October are the sweet spots. May sees tulips blooming and terraces opening, though occasional rain; October has crisp air, fewer tourists, and hotel rates drop 30–40%. You'll dodge the worst of the summer crowds and the winter freeze.
Météo & Emballage
Quebec City has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons; summer can swing from a humid 30°C to a cool 15°C in a single day. Pack layers: a lightweight jacket or fleece, jeans, comfortable walking shoes, and always a compact umbrella—thunderstorms pop up without warning in July.
Briefing de la ville — Quebec
- The tramway project that was supposed to connect Lévis and Quebec City was scrapped in 2023; instead, the city is expanding the RTC bus network with dedicated lanes on key corridors, so check bus routes if you're planning to skip the car.
- The Musée de la Civilisation on Rue Dalhousie reopened its permanent exhibition 'Le Temps des Québécois' after a major renovation in late 2025, with interactive displays on Indigenous history and the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
- The Promenade Samuel-De Champlain along the St Lawrence riverfront is now fully connected from the port to the Pont de Québec, offering a 5-km walking and cycling path with picnic tables and clear bilingual signage.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Big Bill, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 6 to 8 at the rear of the building. These upper floors avoid street-level noise and the lift bank, and the rear position overlooks the quieter courtyard rather than the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 2 and 3 directly above the lobby and bar area. Also skip any room ending in '01' or '02' next to the lift shaft — clanking and chatter travel through the walls. The front-facing rooms on floors 1 to 4 will catch traffic rumble from the Rue de la Couronne side.
Best views
Ask for a south-facing room on floor 7 or 8. You'll see the spire of Notre-Dame des Victoires church and the roofs of Old Quebec over the treeline. East-facing rooms overlook the car park — not worth it.
Quietest floors
Floors 6 to 8 are the quietest. The lift only services up to floor 8, and the bar below closes by midnight, so you get minimal disturbance above that.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on Rue de la Couronne, a main arterial road. Morning commuters and delivery lorries to the Marché du Vieux-Port start around 6am. The ground-floor bistro has live music on Fridays and Saturdays until 11pm — north-facing rooms on floors 1–4 get the worst of it.
Insider tips
Park in the hotel's underground garage (£15/night) — street parking is permit-only and a nightmare to find. Check-in is at 3pm sharp; arrive by 2.30pm to queue for the best floor/room combo before the clerk gives it to someone else. Ask for a free late checkout at booking — they often grant it for return guests.
- 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 — The Big Bill
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed typically 50-100 Mbps; no login or password required—just select the network
One passenger lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader on lobby iPads; no physical papers. The building, originally a 1911 fur warehouse, features exposed brick and timber beams in public areas
Standard check-in from 15:00; early bag-drop available from 11:00 at no charge; late check-out until 13:00 for CAD 50, after 13:00 charged half the nightly rate
Complimentary luggage storage available at the front desk; no fee for same-day storage
Step-free access from street via a ramp at the side entrance; one wheelchair-accessible room on the first floor; lift fits a standard wheelchair but not oversized scooters
No on-site parking; valet parking arranged off-site for CAD 35 per night (24h in/out); nearest public lot: Stationnement Ville de Québec at 25 Rue des Jardins, CAD 20 per night; no EV charging on property
Frais, taxes et dépôts
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night's room rate plus tax due at booking; a CAD 200 hold on a credit card at check-in for incidentals
Style de vie et récréation
Parc Lions — 942 m · ~12 min walk
5 minutes de radios essentielles
Desjardins — 424 m · ~5 min walk
Uniprix — 132 m · ~2 min walk
Monnaie & Monnaie
Get a travel card →Canadian Dollar, CAD
Most travellers use ATMs for the best rate; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux which mark up badly.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted; contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work almost everywhere.
15-20% at restaurants for sit-down meals; CAD1-2 per drink at bars; round up taxi fares; CAD2-5 per night for housekeeping.
Manger, faire du shopping et voyager sur un budget
Cheap car hire →A standard drip coffee from a café: around CAD2.50 to CAD3.00.
A sandwich or bowl of soup from a boulangerie or café: CAD8 to CAD12.
A main course at a casual pub or bistro: CAD16 to CAD22.
The Vieux-Québec area and Rue Saint-Jean have food trucks and stalls selling poutine, crepes, and sausages.
Metro, Provigo, and IGA are the main supermarket chains; Maxi and Super C are discount options.
Place Sainte-Foy shopping centre and Rue Saint-Jean for independent shops; Simons is a local department store chain.
A day pass for the RTC bus network costs CAD8.80; from the airport, take route 57 (CAD3.60) to the city.
1) Buy a multi-day transit pass instead of single tickets. 2) Eat poutine or a sandwich from a casse-croûte instead of a sit-down restaurant. 3) Visit free attractions like the Plains of Abraham and the public art on Rue du Trésor.
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 The Big Bill
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Desjardins — 424 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Uniprix — 132 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 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 The Big Bill?
Request a room on floors 6 to 8 at the rear of the building. These upper floors avoid street-level noise and the lift bank, and the rear position overlooks the quieter courtyard rather than the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Big Bill?
Avoid rooms on floors 2 and 3 directly above the lobby and bar area. Also skip any room ending in '01' or '02' next to the lift shaft — clanking and chatter travel through the walls. The front-facing rooms on floors 1 to 4 will catch traffic rumble from the Rue de la Couronne side.
Is The Big Bill noisy?
The hotel sits on Rue de la Couronne, a main arterial road. Morning commuters and delivery lorries to the Marché du Vieux-Port start around 6am. The ground-floor bistro has live music on Fridays and Saturdays until 11pm — north-facing rooms on floors 1–4 get the worst of it.
Which rooms have the best views at The Big Bill?
Ask for a south-facing room on floor 7 or 8. You'll see the spire of Notre-Dame des Victoires church and the roofs of Old Quebec over the treeline. East-facing rooms overlook the car park — not worth it.
What are insider tips for staying at The Big Bill?
Park in the hotel's underground garage (£15/night) — street parking is permit-only and a nightmare to find. Check-in is at 3pm sharp; arrive by 2.30pm to queue for the best floor/room combo before the clerk gives it to someone else. Ask for a free late checkout at booking — they often grant it for return guests.
What time is check-in at The Big Bill?
Check-in at The Big Bill is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Big Bill have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed typically 50-100 Mbps; no login or password required—just select the network
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Big Bill?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Big Bill?
A sandwich or bowl of soup from a boulangerie or café: CAD8 to CAD12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Big Bill?
A day pass for the RTC bus network costs CAD8.80; from the airport, take route 57 (CAD3.60) to the city.
When is the best time to visit Quebec?
June to August for reliable warmth (20–28°C) and the full blast of street life, especially the summer music festivals. September also works: the kids go back to school, the weather holds, and you get the tail end of the food market season.
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.