Your stay — Lac Berthier
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The Property — Lac Berthier
Lac Berthier feels like a quiet, no-frills base camp for exploring the Côte-de-Beaupré region. The lobby is small and functional, with a front desk that doubles as the breakfast station, and a distinct smell of woodsmoke from the outdoor fire pit. Its USP is direct access to a small private lake with a beach and canoes — much rarer and more peaceful than the crowded whale-watching piers in Tadoussac or Charlevoix. It suits couples and solo travellers who want a calm, affordable night between outdoor activities.
Chronicles of Quebec
The town of Saint-Joachim, where Lac Berthier sits, grew from a 17th-century seigneurial settlement farming the fertile St. Lawrence floodplain. Its most striking landmark, the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine, was founded in 1658 after a sailor credited the saint for saving him from a shipwreck — the basilica now draws over a million pilgrims annually. The surrounding Côte-de-Beaupré region shifted from agrarian livelihoods to tourism in the mid-20th century, with ski hills and cycling routes replacing potato fields. Today it’s a layover town: a mix of roadside motels, ice-cream stands, and Quebec’s signature three-church panoramas. The local identity remains proudly rural and Catholic, despite the growing number of summer hikers and fall foliage tourists.
Best Time to Visit
Full Quebec guide →Best months
June to August — stable highs of 21–25°C, long daylight until 20:30, and the lake warm enough for swimming. Crowds are moderate outside the final weekend of July’s Festival de la Baleine in Tadoussac (90 km east).
Peak / festival surge
Late July (Festival de la Baleine) and early August pushes all Quebec City-adjacent lodging to 90%+ occupancy; Lac Berthier can double its standard €95/night to €180/night. The Château Frontenac blocking summer weekends also ripples bookings here.
Budget shoulder season
First half of September — Lake still 18°C for swimming, foliage just starting, weekday rates drop to ~€75/night. October is leaf-peeping peak: rates stay high but weekends empty post-Christmas.
Weather & packing
Expect a dry June but sudden thunderstorms from Lake St. John; pack a rain shell that doubles as windbreaker. Sunscreen is mandatory — UV index can hit 8 even in June at this latitude.
Live City Briefing — Quebec
- Highway 138 (the main road from Quebec City to Tadoussac) is undergoing summer resurfacing from June 1 to August 31, 2026 — expect 20-minute delays at the Beaupré overpass.
- The new 'Cycloparc' shared-use path from Château-Richer to Saint-Joachim opened fully in May 2026, linking directly to the hotel’s driveway — guests can rent bikes at the hotel’s reception for €15/day.
- Beaver dams on the lake were partially breached in spring 2026, reducing water level by ~30cm; the hotel installed a new sand filter — the swimming area is clear but shallower than previous years.
Hotel Facilities — Lac Berthier
Free basic Wi-Fi (approx 5 Mbps) for all guests. No login required; password given at check-in.
One passenger lift serves all three guest floors. No stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to La Presse+ on lobby iPads. No physical papers.
Check-in 16:00, check-out 12:00. Early luggage drop allowed at front desk. Late check-out until 14:00 for 30 CAD if available.
Free luggage storage behind the front desk; open 07:00–23:00 daily.
Main entrance has a ramp. One accessible room on ground floor. Lift is narrow (wheelchair fits but tight). No step-free access to basement breakfast room.
No on-site parking. Nearest public lot is Garage du Vieux-Port at 20 Rue du Marché-Champlain, 22 CAD per night. No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 3.50 CAD per person per night (Quebec provincial lodging tax)
Deposit & card hold: First night room + tax charged at booking; incidental hold of 100 CAD on a credit card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Canadian Dollar, CAD
Banks and ATMs give the best rates; avoid exchange desks at the airport or major tourist sites where fees and spreads are worse.
Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and small shops; contactless (tap) is the norm, and mobile pay works well too.
Restaurants: 15-20% pre-tax. Taxis: round up or add 10-15%. Hotel staff: $2-5 per bag for porters, $2-3 per night for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A regular drip coffee from a café or chain costs about $2-2.50 CAD.
A sandwich or bowl of soup at a casual café or deli is typically $10-14 CAD.
A main course at a modest restaurant (e.g., pub grub, bistro) runs $15-20 CAD.
Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) has food trucks and stalls near the port, especially in summer, for quick bites like poutine or hot dogs for $6-10 CAD.
Major chains: Metro, IGA, Super C, and Provigo. Small local épiceries for basics.
Affordable high-street options: Simons at Place Ste-Foy or the Laurier Québec mall; also Winners (discount department store) across the city.
The RTC bus day pass costs $8.50 CAD (exact fare). From the airport, the cheapest option is the RTC bus 78 to downtown ($3.50 single fare, or free with a day pass).
Buy a multi-ride RTC bus card for savings; eat lunch specials (table d'hôte) rather than dinner; bring a reusable water bottle (tap water is excellent).
Good to know — 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 Lac Berthier
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is check-in at Lac Berthier?
Check-in at Lac Berthier is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Lac Berthier have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (approx 5 Mbps) for all guests. No login required; password given at check-in.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Lac Berthier?
3.50 CAD per person per night (Quebec provincial lodging tax)
Where can I eat cheaply near Lac Berthier?
A sandwich or bowl of soup at a casual café or deli is typically $10-14 CAD.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Lac Berthier?
The RTC bus day pass costs $8.50 CAD (exact fare). From the airport, the cheapest option is the RTC bus 78 to downtown ($3.50 single fare, or free with a day pass).
When is the best time to visit Quebec?
June to August — stable highs of 21–25°C, long daylight until 20:30, and the lake warm enough for swimming. Crowds are moderate outside the final weekend of July’s Festival de la Baleine in Tadoussac (90 km east).
Top Attractions in 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.