My stay at Fairmont Le Château Montebello was 100% fantastic!!! My family and I went for my…read morebrother's big birthday, a place where they all had been 11 years before. Didn't know what to expect with the world's largest log cabin, but it was a visit I would recommend for anyone seeking to enjoy 5-star service level in a extremely beautiful, historic facility that allows you to go "off the grid" and appreciate the analog recreational activities that this hyperfast digital world tries to crowd out of your bandwidth.
From the moment entering the main gate diving through the forest, you recognize this massive western red cedar log cabin château will be something different, and nothing like my original preconception that it would be like the Biltmore in Ashville. Entering into the stupendous great hall lobby with stone central fireplaces at its core, no matter how tall and majestic, Le Château Montebello immerses you in a cozy, human scale.
My room, with period-design furnishings, log wall, and window facing a green courtyard and glimpse of the Ottawa River, reminded me of my childhood Adirondack and Appalachian vacations decades ago. The bright, updated, modern, sleek bathroom however kept with the times. Should you need it, there was wifi and TV, but my focus was to allow myself to break away from the outside world, taking advantage of time with my family and what this true resort had to offer.
Every day started with their amazing breakfast buffet, included with our room, that provided wonderful freshly prepared food, including local specialties. We regularly sat in the windowed section with its river view. During the day I took advantage of what the hotel included with my room - so many different options to spend your time: a spectacular indoor pool hall with hot tubs and sauna, a gym, a bike, an outdoor pool and hot tub, plus (my favorite) the mini golf course. (My real golfer family, who also played a round on their main golf course, laughed about it until they experienced it was tougher than it looked, but all around fun and perfect for kids of all ages!) Note - There are board games in the great hall, everything that will make a memorable experience for a family with kids.
You'll notice throughout the hotel people walking around in the Château's white guest robes, given the many amenities to help you relax. Did take advantage of a massage at the spa (an extra charge), which really enabled any stress that I had to melt away.
Must add, outstanding staff!!! They did everything to make this trip incredibly special. I wanted to give a surprise photo of my brother and me on his special birthday, which landed on a Saturday, and the only place nearby with an instant photo printing service was in Papineauville, but I didn't have access to the car. Understanding my predicament, the concierge arranged the hotel van take me there to make it happen! (Again, big thank you, guys!!!)
The hotel offers wonderful events as well. The two I enjoyed were food related (of course): exhibit of wonderful local food businesses, which allowed delicious tastings and a filming of a finale of a Quebec TV's MasterChef Junior kid cooking competition.
Every night, we met up at Bar "Le Foyer" in the great hall. allowing us time to together to appreciate the experience. We also had several dinners at the Château's various restaurants, as well as a lunch there outdoor. (Will separately review dinners at their Aux Chantignoles and The Grill BBQ and lunch at Le Riverain. Check out all my other Montebello food-related and outdoor activity reviews, too!)
Come expecting to be transported to a way enjoying the quality of life disconnected to today's attention-grabbing, frenetic world and connected to those more simple, time-tested pleasures that endure and provide a well-deserved reprieve. Everything about my stay with my family provided one of those incredible memories of a lifetime! Cannot more highly recommend Fairmont Le Château Montebello!!!