Our Francophile cities to the north, Montréal and Québec City, offer beautiful architecture, small winding streets, charming cafes, and cultural attractions. Montréal, a city of 3.5 million, is a mere 45 miles from the U.S. border, accessible to much of the northeast by car ride or even faster by air. Québec City, about 150 miles to the north of Montréal, has a population of about 660,000 (if you include the greater metro area) and is a great place to stay if you're interested in both winter sports that require snow and urban attractions such as great restaurants and museums.
Air
Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com) frequently offers fare sales on its web site. Additionally, West Jet Airlines (tel. 888/WEST-JET; www.westjet.com) just wrapped up a sale of up to 50 percent off on flights across the U.S. to select destinations in Canada, including Montréal. It's worth keeping tabs on these airlines if you're planning to travel to Canada.
If your closest airport is not served by Air Canada or West Jet, United (tel. 800/UNITED-1; www.united.com) has a Canada Fall and Winter Fare Salethat is good for travel through December 15; a 14-day advance purchase is required and fares are valid for off-peak times (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday), and one-way. Some blackout dates apply. San Francisco-Montreal is priced from $234 one-way; Washington, D.C.-Montreal, $195. Round trip purchase is not required.
Montréal
Montréal's tourism organization (tel. 877-BONJOUR; www.tourisme-montreal.org) is offering a fall/winter "Sweet Deal" that actually runs through May 31, 2007. With this package, the first night starts at $109 (USD) and you can receive the second night for half-price. Other incentives vary depending on the hotel you select, but may include late checkout, buffet breakfast, upgrades, gifts, coupons, and more. The page lists nearly two dozen hotels that are participants, including the five-star Sofitel Montréal, priced at $180 (USD) and located downtown, or the boutique styled, all suites Le Saint-Suplice Hotel, located in Old Montréal, with prices starting from $190.The tourism site also provides a wealth of information about exhibits, festivals, restaurants (the city was featured on the cover of Gourmet not too long ago) and sports.
Expedia (tel. 800/EXPEDIA; www.expedia.com) offers Omni Mont-Royal Hotel in downtown Montréal, with rates from $132 per night for stays between October 25-December 9. The hotel is located in downtown's Golden Square Mile, with shopping and dining nearby; it is also within a few blocks from the Museum of Fine Arts and Mont-Royal Park. Amenities include a health club and spa, complimentary wireless Internet access, CD players and marble bathrooms.
Expedia also offers some all-inclusive packages, such as Delta Montréal a three and a half star hotel, with air and four nights from New York City, priced from $535. The Delta's rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, video game consoles (perfect for kids or adults), and is located within three blocks from Places des Arts and four from shopping and galleries of Ste-Catherine Street. The price posted reflects travel November 6-November 20. For just airfare, Expedia shows departures from $308 from New York and $325 from Boston.
Québec City
Aside from museums, beautiful architecture and winter activities, Québec City offers tourists the opportunity to stay at an Ice Hotel. Yes, a hotel made from ice. The Ice Hotel (tel. 877/505-0423; www.icehotel-canada.com) is offering a package called Happy Polar Halloween and N'Ice Thanksgiving promotion, which includes welcome cocktails served "in the rocks" access to hot tub and saunas, one night in a room at the Ice Hotel, hot beverage in the morning and full buffet breakfast, priced from $159 per person. You must book by October 31, but the hotel's season, as you might imagine, is short -- it's open January 5-April 1, 2007. You won't freeze, though, as the hotel recommends you dress in layers and sleep on a thick foam mattress, covered by either a wool blanket or deer pelts.
Québec City Tourism (tel. 418/641-6654; www.quebecregion.com) has a number of fall and winter specials available such as a two-night package from $141 (USD) at the recently renovated Best Western, a short walk from Old Québec, with American breakfast each morning and five-course meal for two, priced per person; taxes are extra. Or choose from a ski package from $208 at the Hilton in Old Québec for a one-night stay, with buffet breakfast and ski lift tickets to either Mont-Sainte-Anne or Stoneham included. You can also select your package based on activity (at www.quebecregion.com/e/forfaits.asp), whether winter sports, spas and health, romance, adventure or gastronomy.
Skiers and snowboarders might enjoy some of the specials that the Québec City area has to offer in nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne (about a half-hour away) and Stoneham. An entire family and then some can stay at the Chalets-Village Mont-Sainte-Anne (tel. 866/604-2807; www.chaletsvillage.ca) from $814 (USD) per house for up to 12 people for five nights, but some of the chalets can also accommodate up to 36 people.
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