Auberge Internationale de Québec is honestly more beautiful than the vast majority of the one hundred dollar-plus hotels we've stayed in. Located in the heart of the Old Upper City, getting there by car is, ahem, somewhat challenging, but there is parking available nearby for twelve dollars a day. And you won't need a car once you've arrived, because everything you want to see is within walking distance.
What looks like a small, unassuming brick building from the outside reveals itself as a palace of hosteldom on the inside, complete with hardwood floors, glassed-in walkways, and stained glass windows. There's a bistro, kitchen, TV room, patio, library, and even an auditorium (a boys' choir staying in the hostel gave us a free concert one afternoon). One of the lounges features an old-fashioned phone booth -- great for mushy private phone calls to significant others back home. The rooms are spacious and open, with broad windowsills perfect for sitting and reading, daydreaming, or just watching the world go by. The sound of horses' hooves on the cobblestones below is commonplace. It feels like you've stepped into another world: a perfect feeling for the amazing city of Quebec. The hostel runs all kinds of programs from city tours to pub crawls for anyone looking to be social.
We were impressed by the keycard system for getting into the rooms, until our cards decided to stop working every couple of hours. FYI, "mon cle ne marche pas" is how to say "my key doesn't work" in French -- if you're in one of the larger rooms where the system overloads, that phrase will come in handy. One more dependable security feature is a lockable cabinet for each guest, a welcome change after many Canadian hostels with only coin-operated lockers. The bathrooms were fairly standard, although a few more shower stalls would've come in handy for the morning rush.
So often when you stay in hostels you feel as if you've missed out on the atmosphere and beauty of the city you're in for the sake of saving money. This hostel ensures that you can experience Quebec even if you can't afford to stay at the Chateau Frontenac. Have fun and bon voyage!
— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
August 2006
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