TRAVEL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 MONTREAL GAZETTE H9 NEW MARRIOTT A CITY TREAT

ROCHELLE LASH Checking In

The freshly minted Marriott Courtyard Québec is full of sur- prises. It breaks the mould of the cookie-cutter chain hotel, with its sleek design, dramatic floor- to-ceiling windows and minimal- ist contemporary décor. This six-week-young hotel is built around convenience and value, with free Netflix on TV, an indoor pool, sofa beds in most of the rooms and free parking right outside the door, both outdoors and in an open-air covered area. The food at the in-house Com- missariat is delectable. Chef Patrice Massicotte has worked in Japan and Spain (at the renowned El Bulli) and has been the private chef of Cirque du Soleil tycoon Guy Laliberté. And yes, there is life outside The lobby gleams with white marble floors and a glass-and-granite staircase, and open spaces flow from the front the venerable walls and vin- desk to the bar and lounging areas. PHOTOS: MARRIOTT COURTYARD QUÉBEC tage charm of Old Quebec. The Courtyard is one block from bedside lighting; plentiful mobile Highway 40, about nine kilome- device charging outlets; desks tres north of Place Royale, and with ergonomic work chairs; and a short hop from Île d’Orléans, blackout drapes that overlap so and Mont- they are 110-per-cent dark. Ste-Anne. Location, the upside: The Mar- Modern design: The lobby gleams riott Courtyard’s location in the IF YOU GO with white marble floors and a busy suburb of Lebourgneuf has glass-and-granite staircase, and more advantages than I expected. the open spaces flow from front “It’s central,” said Bill May, Marriott Courtyard Québec: desk to bar to lounging areas. who drove a van loaded with 418-380-2700, 888-236 2427, The private media pods in the gear from Windsor, Ont., with marriott.com/yqbcq; 900 des lobby are a first for me. Each has his wife Tara and his two sons, Rocailles, Quebec City. its own sofa and TV, so guests can 15 and 17. “We spent a day in Old Price: Rates fluctuate. Rooms gather in their own little groups. Quebec, but we also toured Île start at approximately $179 “Millennials and Gen Xers d’Orléans and went hiking in the until Oct. 15 (suites cost want to socialize outside of their mountains.” more), including Wi-Fi, fitness rooms,” said general manager Skiers and boarders can zoom centre, indoor pool, parking, Yves Pouliot. “You can sink into to Stoneham Mountain Resort All 160 guest rooms come with a microwave, mini-fridge and coffee maker. in-room kitchenettes and a media pod, watch TV and have in 20 minutes and to Mont-Ste- You can prep light frozen meals or cereal from The Market, off the lobby. coffee. Marriott Rewards a drink. The kids sit together and Anne in 40 minutes. And the members get benefits. All take selfies.” hotel is five kilometres from Cen- For families: If you are on the of it, you can rent strollers and guests get lowest rates when The Marriott Courtyard brand tre Vidéotron, where the Boston road with young children, the have lunch at the food court. they book directly. CAA and is few-frills, so this hotel does not Bruins will play the Montreal Marriott Courtyard has your Dining in: Commissariat, the in- senior discounts apply, when have a concierge, a bellman or Canadiens in a pre-season game back. Every room is equipped house bar and bistro, is indepen- available. a car valet. It’s a bit of a do-it- Oct. 4. with a microwave, a mini-fridge dent of the Marriott Courtyard, Commissariat: 418-380- yourself visit, but you can borrow For cyclists, the Marriott and coffee maker, and you can so it’s not restricted by formula 2700; breakfast, lunch, a luggage cart, and the latest Courtyard is located directly on prep light meals from The Mar- hotel recipes. Chef Massicotte dinner, bar; children’s menu bells and whistles help. Marriott the car-free Corridor des Chemi- ket, a handy dispensary off the calls it bistro-chic, and it likely available. Rewards members can get a Mar- nots that runs south to the Old lobby that stocks frozen meals, will evolve into the go-to for local Quebec City Tourism: 877- riott iPhone app in advance and Port, about 10 kilometres north just-add-water noodle bowls, residents and businesspeople. 783-1608, quebecregion.com get their room keys at the front to Wendake and also connects beverages and cereal. Highlights at breakfast include desk without paperwork. And with another 100 or so kilometres The Méga Parc des Galeries thin crepes with strawberries and gras, salmon tataki with jalape- the Go Board! interactive large of trails west to Portneuf and east de la Capitale is a weatherproof whipped cream, eggs Benedict nos, boudin with spicy mango screen in the lobby is a virtual to Mont-Ste-Anne. entertainment paradise for kids, and grilled brioches with ham salsa, braised octopus, pork belly tourist guide. For business travellers, the about two kilometres from the and cheese. Lunch is a three- marinated in miso, canard confit, Special touches in all 160 guest hotel is at an industrial-techno- hotel. It’s an indoor amusement course repast of pasta, salad, beef hangar steak, seafood risotto and rooms include: faucets placed logical-financial nexus of major park with a merry-go-round and or fish. roast cod with arugula pesto and near the shower entrance so companies including HP, SNC- Ferris wheel, as well as a year- Massicotte’s favourite dinner caramelized cauliflower purée. you can adjust the temperature Lavalin, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmith- round indoor skating rink and plates at Commissariat are: [email protected] before getting wet; excellent Kline and Promutuel Insurance. IMAX screen. If you make a day lobster and shrimp salad, foie twitter.com/rochellelash QUEBEC

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SMART SUITES www.smartsuitesburlington.com | 1700 Shelburne Rd., So. Burlington, Vt. | Toll free 877-862-6800 Come and enjoy our hospitality in either a studio efficiency at US $92.00 or a more spacious one bedroom suite at US $112.00/night including a deluxe continental breakfast and free WIFI. Mention the Gazette special. Not valid with other discounts and always subject to availability. Rates in effect May 1 - October 31, 2016. Take Exit 13 off I-89, left on Rt 7 (Shelburne Rd) for 1.5 miles. Same entrance as Holiday Inn Express.

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