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With more than 25,000 rooms, Montréal has the highest proportion of hotel rooms per capita in North America. Options run the full gamut, giving you loads of choices for your stay. You can opt for the cinder block austerity of a college dorm room, the opulent luxury of a penthouse suite, and anything in between. However, booking a room on short notice can be a problem, especially during weekends or any time during the high tourist season (May-Sept). To get the room you want, plan ahead. Making your reservations well in advance can save you money, too.
Because Québec City is so small, accommodations can book up quickly for the high season (roughly May-Oct), so calling well in advance.
Your options are staggering when dining in Montréal, one of the world's great restaurant cities and a food-lover's paradise. Montréalers eat out often, so the city is brimming with contenders hoping to be the next "it" restaurant with the "in" crowd. But don't be intimidated. Eating in Montréal doesn't have to be an ordeal. Many restaurants offer tasty and diverse options at a good price, and the city has an endless variety of ethnic eats. In fact, Montréalers looking to score a quick bite are likely to choose a shish-taouk (Lebanese souvlaki), a samosa (meat or veggie Indian pastry), or sushi over a burger and fries. Don't fret: You can find burgers and fries, too.
Keep one thing in mind when dining in Québec City: French, French, and more French. That's what you can expect to eat in the heart of historic New France — and, fortunately, Québec City has plenty of great French restaurants. But if you're not a fan of frogs' legs, don't worry: Québeckers are enthusiastic about all categories of culinary delights. You can find everything to satisfy your palate, from sushi to pizza and pasta.
The best hotels
The most exciting development in Québec's hotel industry is the ever-multiplying number of boutique hotels. In Montréal, the W Hotel and the Hôtel Godin are the latest additions to an already crowded roster. Some of the first boutique hotels that started the trend here are Hôtel Le Germain, Hôtel Nelligan, Hôtel Gault, and Hôtel St. Paul. Many located in Vieux-Montréal took over 18th-century buildings that had fallen into disuse.
The Dominion 1912 and the Royal William are the boutique hotels in Québec City. Even if you don't stay in one this time, it's definitely worth sticking your head in and taking a look around.
The best restaurants
Eating well will be a major theme for your trip to Québec. In the French tradition, food, drink, and merrymaking are major concerns of the people here.
Au Pied de Cochon, which opened in 2002, remains one of the most exciting destinations on Montréal's culinary landscape. Toqué!, Beaver Club, and Moishe's are top-dollar places serving the very best. However, Montréal's restaurant scene is so varied that there's plenty of feasting for any budget. Bistros L'Express and Le Continental are longtime favorites among foodies.
Montréal's restaurant scene reflects the many ethnic communities that make up its population. There are tons of restaurant specializing in different cuisines from around the globe. Some of the most popular are also great values, like Taquéria Mexicaine, Rôtisserie Italienne, and Pushap Sweets (Indian). Schwartz's, a Hebrew deli, is a must for the city's best "smoked meat" (Montréal's way better version of corned beef or pastrami).
Also, don't miss stopping in at Cobalt, Le Cartet, or Le Reservoir for snazzy brunches on weekends.
Québec city is heavy on French food with lots of small bistros doing escargot, steak frites, crème brûlée, and other brasserie-type staples. Café du Monde and L'Ardoise are two notables among them. Québec City's finest tables include Le Paris-Brest, Le Saint-Amour, and Initiale. A great spot for a casual meal is Chez Victor, which has the best burgers in town.
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