Hotel Review: Hotel Le Germain-Dominion

I wish this was my living room

To say that I have dreamt about this hotel for the last twelve years would not be an exaggeration. Mr. C&G and I last stayed at the Hotel Le Germain-Dominion before kids with our BFFs who were 2 months away from having kids. It was a whole lifetime ago but the chic boutique hotel has never been out of my mind.

I have no idea why it took us so long to make the return trip to Quebec City, this time with the kiddos, but a few weeks ago Mr. C&G surprised us with an anniversary weekend away at my favorite hotel. And I'm so happy to report it lived up to and exceeded my highest expectations. As soon as we walked up the stone stairs and into the sleek, dark wood lobby, I knew the Hotel Le Germain-Dominion's fabulousness stood the test of time.

The red pillows didn't fit in the suitcases

The Hotel Le Germain-Dominion is housed in a former warehouse in the heart of Old Quebec, just a few blocks from the waterfront. Super high ceilings let in lots of light and the rooms are very airy and modern. I thought I'd embellished the memory of how comfortable the beds are, but as soon as I plopped down on the Frette sheets I knew I wasn't going to want to leave. And I certainly will not be waiting another twelve years to return.

For such a swanky boutique hotel, it's amazing how family friendly they are. We had help before our arrival with planning kid friendly (but trés chic) restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. The suggestions the concierge sent matched up with the list I had and they were able to recommend who could modify the Quebecois menus to fit the little C&Gs tastes. Definitely valuable insider information in a new city with a unique type of food.

Shhhh. . . Top secret 

They also left the boys a very special treasure map to follow on our weekend, directing them to all the best ice cream parlors in town. It may have been a bit too cold for ice cream, but they really enjoyed tracking down the spots "just in case" they wanted a chilly treat later.

Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate (a Big C&G favorite) are all available anytime in the hotel lobby, along with wines by the glass and a small selection of cocktails. Buttery, flaky croissants are delivered from local favorite Paillard fresh everyday to the breakfast buffet, and I regularly made a mess of crumbs all over the French language newspapers I was pretending to read.

When a cold drizzle cut our sightseeing short we retreated to the comfort of the overstuffed couches and roaring fireplace in the hotel lobby. I sank into a cozy corner with a book while the boys sat at the giant table by the window playing board games. I may have dozed off a few times, that's how comfortable I was, and that was before cocktail hour.

Cozy and elegant spot for a nap

Quebec City really rolls out the sparkling white carpet during the winter and there are a ton of outdoor activities to help you work off the croissants and poutine. Nobody embraces winter quite like the Canadians (maybe the Scandinavians) with ice skating, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing right in the center of the city. Toboggan your way down to Dufferin Terrace in front of the Chateau Frontenac and grab some sweets at the sugar shack.

When your cheeks are pink and your nose is frozen, head back to the cozy warmth of the elegant Hotel Le Germain-Dominion, steam up some hot chocolates, and thaw out your tootsies in front of the fire for the perfect French Canadian getaway.