Your stay — Motel de la Plage
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The Property — Motel de la Plage
Motel de la Plage is a no-nonsense seaside motel on Boulevard Sainte-Anne, Quebec City's main artery to the east. Its lobby smells faintly of coffee and suntan lotion, with a rack of free tourist maps and a receptionist who'll tell you exactly where to park. The rooms are basic but clean, each with a small fridge and a view of the St. Lawrence River or the car park. It suits budget-conscious couples or families who want to wake up 200 metres from the beach and spend their money on poutine, not pillows.
Chronicles of Quebec
Quebec City, founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, is the only fortified city north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its Upper Town clings to the Cape Diamond promontory, with winding cobblestone streets and 17th-century stone buildings that survived both British sieges and urban renewal. The Lower Town, along the St. Lawrence, grew as a port and commercial hub, now blending historic warehouses with craft breweries and street art. Today, the city is proudly bilingual and fiercely attached to its French heritage, hosting a vibrant winter carnival and summer music festivals that draw visitors from across Canada and Europe.
Best Time to Visit
Full Quebec guide →Best months
June and September offer mild temperatures (18–25°C) and lower visitor numbers than July–August. July is warm but busy with the Festival d'Été de Québec, which drives hotel prices up 30–50%.
Peak / festival surge
Peak is July, especially during the 11-day Festival d'Été de Québec (first half of July), when the city swells with 1 million+ attendees. Motel de la Plage rooms can reach $250/night, and advance booking is essential. August also stays busy with the New France Festival (mid-August) and pleasant weather.
Budget shoulder season
Late September and October are the best shoulder months: hotel prices drop 20–30%, daytime highs hover around 15°C, and the autumn foliage peaks in early October. Risk of rain increases, but days are still comfortable for sightseeing with a light coat.
Weather & packing
Quebec City's climate is continental: summers are humid and can hit 35°C in a heatwave, but evenings often drop to 12°C, especially near the river. Pack a rain jacket, a light fleece, and comfortable walking shoes — you'll do 10 km a day on cobblestones and hills.
Live City Briefing — Quebec
- The new tramway project (TramCité) is still under construction; expect partial closures of Boulevard Charest and detours around Saint-Roch until at least 2027.
- The Château Frontenac's Dufferin Terrace walkway is open after winter repairs, offering the classic St. Lawrence views.
- Several new patios have opened along Rue Saint-Joseph, and the Marché du Vieux-Port now has extended summer hours until 8 PM.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Motel de la Plage, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a ground-floor room facing the rear car park. These avoid street noise and stairs.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor (upper level) — no lift, you'll carry luggage up stairs. Also avoid rooms facing Boulevard de Sainte-Anne, which gets traffic noise from the busy dual carriageway.
Best views
Rooms at the back look over the car park and some trees; street-side views are just traffic. No water view.
Quietest floors
Ground floor only — top floor has footsteps from rooms above and street sound carries.
🔊 Noise notes
Boulevard de Sainte-Anne is a main road into Quebec City, busy from 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. Summer brings motorbikes. No bar or club noise.
Insider tips
1. Park for free — one space per room included, but it's first-come. Arrive by 4pm in summer to secure a spot. 2. If you need a quiet room, ask for one near the rear stairwell (not street side) and furthest from the main entrance ramp.
- 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
Hotel Facilities — Motel de la Plage
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 25 Mbps download, no login required but limit of 4 devices per room.
No lift. Two-storey motel with exterior corridors — all rooms accessible by stairs only.
Free digital access to Le Soleil via PressReader; no physical papers. No notable heritage quirks.
Check-in from 15:00 to 23:00. Early bag drop available from 10:00. Late check-out until 14:00 for CAD 30 (subject to availability).
Free storage at front desk on day of arrival before check-in or after check-out.
Two ground-floor rooms with step-free entry and wider doorways. No lift or roll-in shower. Main entrance has a ramp.
Free on-site parking for one vehicle per room. No valet. Nearest public car park is under CAD 10/day at Place de la Cité. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CAD 3.50 per room per night
Deposit & card hold: First night deposit required at booking; CAD 150 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église de Saint-Irénée (753 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Terrain des loisirs — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Salle de concert du Domaine Forget de Charlevoix — 356 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Caisse Desjardins — 865 m · ~11 min walk
Léon & Lilly — 150 m · ~2 min walk
Station Saint-Irénée — 929 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Canadian Dollar, CAD
Most travellers use ATMs for the best rate; avoid exchange bureaux at Jean Lesage Airport or at tourist spots like Old Quebec as they often have poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; Amex is less common in small shops and cafes. Tap-to-pay is standard almost everywhere, even for small amounts.
15-20% in restaurants for good service; $1-2 per drink at bars; $2-5 per night for housekeeping; taxi drivers get 10-15% or rounded up.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic drip coffee from a boulangerie or corner store runs around $2.00–$2.50 CAD.
A sandwich or soup-and-sandwich combo from a casual café or snack bar will be $10–$14 CAD.
A main dish like poutine, a burger, or a bistro-style plat du jour in a casual restaurant costs $15–$20 CAD.
Food trucks on Rue Saint-Jean and around Place d'Youville offer poutine, smoked-meat sandwiches, and crêpes for $8–$12 CAD.
Provigo, Maxi, and IGA are the main supermarket chains, with Maxi usually the cheapest for basics.
For affordable basics, check Simons (local department store) or chains like Old Navy and H&M in shopping centres such as Place Sainte-Foy.
A day pass for the RTC bus system is $8.50 CAD (exact change or app) and is the cheapest way around. From the airport, take the RTC 78 bus downtown for $3.50 CAD.
Skip the tour buses — walk the old city free; buy lunch at Marchés (like Marché du Vieux-Port) for picnic deals; fill a water bottle from public fountains (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 Motel de la Plage
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Caisse Desjardins — 865 m · ~11 min walk
🚐 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 are the best rooms at Motel de la Plage?
Request a ground-floor room facing the rear car park. These avoid street noise and stairs.
Which rooms should I avoid at Motel de la Plage?
Avoid rooms on the first floor (upper level) — no lift, you'll carry luggage up stairs. Also avoid rooms facing Boulevard de Sainte-Anne, which gets traffic noise from the busy dual carriageway.
Is Motel de la Plage noisy?
Boulevard de Sainte-Anne is a main road into Quebec City, busy from 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. Summer brings motorbikes. No bar or club noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Motel de la Plage?
Rooms at the back look over the car park and some trees; street-side views are just traffic. No water view.
What are insider tips for staying at Motel de la Plage?
1. Park for free — one space per room included, but it's first-come. Arrive by 4pm in summer to secure a spot. 2. If you need a quiet room, ask for one near the rear stairwell (not street side) and furthest from the main entrance ramp.
What time is check-in at Motel de la Plage?
Check-in at Motel de la Plage is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Motel de la Plage have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 25 Mbps download, no login required but limit of 4 devices per room.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Motel de la Plage?
CAD 3.50 per room per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Motel de la Plage?
A sandwich or soup-and-sandwich combo from a casual café or snack bar will be $10–$14 CAD.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Motel de la Plage?
A day pass for the RTC bus system is $8.50 CAD (exact change or app) and is the cheapest way around. From the airport, take the RTC 78 bus downtown for $3.50 CAD.
When is the best time to visit Quebec?
June and September offer mild temperatures (18–25°C) and lower visitor numbers than July–August. July is warm but busy with the Festival d'Été de Québec, which drives hotel prices up 30–50%.
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.