We decided to take advantage of the Fairmont promotion – two nights for the price of one – and chose the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu hotel for the occasion.
The signs indicating that we are close to the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu are before us. We can’t wait to see this famous manor, which our friends have been talking about for years.
The Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu hotel is located in La Malbaie in the Pointe-au-Pic area.
I had called the manor a few days before our arrival to ask them some questions about a resort experience fee – $25 per room – in addition to the room rate. A description can be found on their website so here are some excerpts:
My point was mostly about the “Outdoor Parking” that was included in the resort experience fee. I wanted confirmation that parking was free. I was told that it was free, but only for off-site parking. When I asked if these parking lots were far from the entrance, the answer was “a six to fifteen minute walk”.
In the first parking lot, number seven (7), we saw there were already a lot of cars so we decided to find a free space to leave our car.
For your information, this parking lot is less than a five-minute walk from the Fairmont entrance. Since the casino is closed, it was easy to find a space. However, I was told that these free parking lots are normally taken up by the casino’s many guests since no one from the hotel checks to ensure a guaranteed parking space for their guests unless they pay for valet parking.
When we arrived at the entrance of the manor, the doorman opened the door and took our temperature – via the hand – with a machine. They did this a few times during our stay. The lobby is majestic, with large spaces with installed barriers to encourage people to go in the right direction to avoid crossing paths.
There is also numerous hand sanitizing stations scattered in the main lobby and a few other places several places, such as the elevators.
The service at the reception was polite and cordial. The staff thoroughly explained the measures taken following Covid-19. No cleaning would be done during our stay, but a simple phone call to the reception would allow us to receive all the necessities (towel, soap). They also advised us of which activities would or would not be taking place as well as the hotel’s restaurant hours.
We were even told that if we wish to eat in one of their two restaurants, it was strongly recommended that we make a reservation, as seating was limited.
And indeed, as soon as our registration was completed, we tried to make a reservation at the “St-Laurent”, for that evening and it was full.
The Manor has over 405 rooms. And ours was located on the second floor. It included two double beds, a 42″ TV, a Nespresso coffee machine, tea, a kettle, and a mini-bar.
The room was quite large, with classic decor, but unlike other hotels, the electrical outlets were not easily accessible. It’s a small detail, but for people like me who use their cell phone a lot, having an outlet close to the bed is very practical.
The bathroom, reasonably sized, is where you will find the necessary material for your personal hygiene. The view from the room overlooked the hotel entrance and the soundproofing wasn’t too bad.
The Manoir Richelieu offers a splendid view of the river. The hotel’s terraces have many chairs to rest or simply admire the landscape.
One of these terraces is dotted with cannons, which gives it a fortress-like appearance. On another, you can see guides to the solar system. You could also start your hike here via the Planet Trail. A very pleasant hike, by the way. Note that the vast majority of activities are available; pools (indoor and outdoor), golf, tennis, spa, and the gym. At the time of my stay, the casino was unfortunately closed, but it was scheduled to open in the following days.
If you feel like having a drink at the bar “La Brise”, with a view of the river, the prices are quite reasonable and the staff very friendly.
For our first meal, we had no choice but to take it at the “Bellerive” restaurant which offers an evening buffet – from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – at a cost of $30.00 per person plus the usual fees (taxes and tip).
The service is done by the staff. You go to the food counters and tell the person what you’d like. This system makes the service a bit slow, as you have to queue, but fortunately, there aren’t too many choices; meat, fish, a choice of pasta, vegetables, potatoes, cheese, salad, and a range of desserts.
As far as the flavour of the food is concerned, it’s a buffet! Nothing to get worked up about.
Our meal the next day at the Restaurant Saint-Laurent was, however, to our expectations!
Among other things, they offer a $56 per person menu which includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert with a foie gras mousse as a bonus.
Once again, the menu is quite limited, but everyone will find something to their liking. In any case, we loved this meal. Although when you add a bottle of wine, the bill can get a little out of hand. And again, the staff was great.
The St. Lawrence has a schedule from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. only.
The Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu would probably not have been my first choice if there was no Accor Live Limitless promotion, as the hotel’s prices aren’t ideal.
But our experience at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu was a great. We loved the experience of a hotel in this category – its spectacular location, dedicated staff, and many activities which we would have liked to enjoy more. However, we only had two nights and with visits to the surrounding areas, it is not enough time to discover and use all that this hotel has to hotel offer.
For another review of the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Hotel, check out Caroline’s article!
Savings are here:
