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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 Manoir a few days before our arrival to ask them a few questions following a resort experience fee – $25 per room – in addition to the room rate. A description can be found on their website, so here are a few 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 located less than a five-minute walk from the Fairmont entrance. But interestingly, since the Casino is closed, it was easily possible to find a space, but I was told that normally, these free parking lots are overrun by the many Casino customers, since there is no follow-up (sticker or otherwise) from the hotel to ensure a guaranteed parking space for their guests, unless you pay for valet service.
Upon arrival at the Manoir entrance, the doorman opens the door and takes our temperature – via the hand – with a machine. This ritual will take place several times during our stay. The lobby is majestic, with large spaces and they have installed barriers to encourage people to take the right path in each direction to avoid crossings.
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 front desk was polite and cordial. The staff explains well the measures taken following COVID-19, that housekeeping will not be done during your stay, but that on the other hand, a simple phone call to the front desk will allow you to receive everything you need (towel, soap), they also advise you of possible or impossible activities as well as the schedules of the on-site restaurants.
We are even advised that if we wish to eat in one of their two restaurants, it is strongly recommended to make a reservation, as seating is limited.
And indeed, as soon as our check-in was completed, we tried to make a reservation at “St-Laurent” for that same evening and it was fully booked.
The Manoir has over 405 rooms. And ours was located on the first floor, it includes two double beds, a 42″ TV, a Nespresso coffee machine, tea, a kettle, a mini-bar.
The room is quite large, with a very classic decor and unlike other hotels, the electrical outlets are not easily accessible. It’s a 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. On the hotel terraces there are many chairs to rest or simply admire the beauty of the landscape.
In fact, one of these terraces is dotted with cannons, which gives it a fortress-like appearance and on another you can see explanations about the solar system. And it is also from this place that you could start your hike via the planets trail. A very pleasant hike, by the way. Note that the vast majority of activities are available; the pools (indoor and outdoor), golf, tennis, spa, gym. During my stay the Casino was unfortunately closed, but an opening was scheduled in the following days.
If you feel like having a good drink at the “La Brise” bar, with a view of the river, the prices are quite reasonable and the staff is very friendly.
For our first meal, we only had the choice of having 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 Restaurant Saint-Laurent was on the other hand up to our expectations!
They offer among other things a menu at $56 per person including an appetizer, a main course and a dessert with a bonus foie gras mousse.
Once again, the menu is quite limited, but everyone will find something to their taste. In any case, on our side, we loved this meal, although when you add a bottle of wine, the bill can rise to an unexpected level. And once again, the staff was very good.
The Saint-Laurent has hours from 5 PM to 9 PM only.
The Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu would probably not have been my first choice if there had not been an Accor Live Limitless promotion, because we must admit it, the pricing of this hotel is not for all budgets.
But our experience at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu was a great success. We loved experiencing a hotel of this category, its spectacular site, its dedicated staff, its many activities, which we would have liked to enjoy more, but in a two-night stay, in addition to visiting the surroundings, it’s not enough to discover and use everything this hotel offers its guests.
To maximize your stays and point accumulation, consult our complete guide to the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) program.
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