Fairmont Le Château Montebello

This place is great if you’re an outdoorsy type! There’s a lot of fun activities to do like sledding and cross country skiing. I am NOT a very outdoorsy person though, so if you’re staying at this hotel, you might find yourself getting bored after 1 night. There’s no shopping or any of that stuff nearby, so you’re basically in the hotel all day. I think 1 night is perfect for someone like me at this hotel.
The have an amazing spa, pool, and a decent gym (not that much in the gym but it does the job). I HIGHLY recommend going to the spa. It is a bit pricey, but it’s worth it. I booked the mother and daughter spa package which cost around $ 230 for a mani pedi. When you book the spa they give you access to the spa lounge which is beautiful! Totally secluded, comfy couches, free coffee, tea, and desserts! The staff at the spa were super friendly too. You’re given sandals and a robe, and a locker to put all your stuff in. They did a very nice job with our nails and massages :) Very relaxing!
For dinner you have the choice between the menu or a brunch (cost about the same). They offer a vegan menu. I tried that out, and it was deliciouss! Very happy that more and more places are accommodating for different diets!
The pool room is beautiful and massive! We went early the next morning and it was a little busy. The gym however was empty. They don’t have that many machines and weights. I found the weights to be on the heavier side and they seriously lacked lighter ones (which ended up giving me shoulder pain the next day. Ouch!). Stick to the treadmills if you can’t use any of their other equipment.
Their brunches are always amazing and there’s something for anybody! I had no trouble finding food here. Lots of vegan options! Around the holiday time you should DEFINITELY book ahead of time. Especially if you have a big party.
The hotel rooms were nice. Very log-​cabin. Not the biggest, but most Fairmont hotels have small rooms since they’re old. Our room had a king size bed, but you could request a cot in there and it would easily fit.
The hotel itself is beautiful and i highly recommend visiting even if just for the brunch (a lot of people do this). You can even borrow board games or chess/​checker pieces from the front desk to use the game tables on the 2^nd floor! Maybe next time I visit I’ll be more willing to do some outdoor activities. :)

My friend and I were making our way to QC on a Thelma and Louise-​style road trip and I came across a groupon for $ 68 USD for this place for Sunday brunch, access to the pool, etc. and a $ 10 spa credit. We decided to make it part of our trip and I’m SO glad we did. We left our hotel in Cornwall ONT at about 9 am and was on the grounds in Montebello by almost 11. There is really nothing in that little town save the resort and it’s quite a resort. Very well maintained, sprawling, with a lot to do. The Sunday brunch was one of the best meals of my life. The food was amazing and varied. The service was exceptional, from the spa, to the restaurant, there were friendly smiles everywhere. We swam beforehand and had a massage and it was one of the highlights of our trip. I don’t know if I would ever be able to afford an actual vacation there but with our savings and the timing, it couldn’t be beat.

Very friendly and professional service! Truly a five star service!

We stayed at Montebello for a few days after the Christmas Holiday. We were delighted that the rush had slowed down and we could relax to our heart’s content. What a wonderful winter wonderland! First what we loved: staff and very good, strive to help as much as they can,
: great guided snowmobile tour with Gilles,
: fun skeet shooting experience with Michel,
: a nice spa day
: lovely groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross country skiing at all difficulty levels
: the best hotel lobby we have seen (hours in front of fire in slippers reading, petting hotel Retriever, Monte, served drinks from lobby bar) comfortable, casual, cozy
: Fantastic property to explore (although I am not sure what will happen now that Fairmont has sold the Kenauk property) Guides assured us it will be business as usual
: We had a great deal from Fairmont so we can’t comment about the prices at all
Some things we noticed that could be improved:
: Signeurie Bar: very bright… not a true relaxing pub type bar we expected… not cozy… more cafeteria in the basement of the hotel… not somewhere to linger (Lobby Bar is great though) Food at Signeurie was average at best (we had steak and fries) and was pretty expensive for the effort put into it.
: We booked a Jacuzzi room. Lovely size (especially after reading how small the other rooms are). Jacuzzi tub is typical type you can buy for your home, shower is large. The room is in the basement of the hotel so do expect it to be darker… tons of lights in the room as well as some large windows above head height. The room was very clean. However, do note that the room seemed tired … the bed was uncomfortable (not sure if they all were) and had seen better days. I rolled to the centre of the bed again and again as did my husband. We both had stiff backs and necks in the morning. The wallpaper was peeling up in places (because of the humidity from the jacuzzi perhaps?). The hotel is very very very hot. When we got into our room, the temperature was set to 25C and on top of that had a portable heating running. Once we had turned those right off the room stayed at about 23 without the heat on. Perhaps because of the fireplaces? Our solution was to open our windows for 10 mins at night before we went to sleep (even though it was –30 C windchill! It worked. I imagine these rooms are nice and cool in the Summer months.
Overall a lovely, different and interesting place to stay. It is perhaps the most casual of Fairmont properties but all the better for it.

I have visited MB three or four times — overnight, for dinner, and for drinks/​snacks.
First off, do go there at least once if you are in the neighbourhood. 5 stars for architecture and history. It really is a big, cathedral shaped-​log cabin, website says it is the world’s largest log cabin. Photos on the walls of the historic figures — the great and the good — are very cool.
Rooms are quaint and small. Not everybody’s cup of tea. The dining room is very old school — lots of waiters and white linens. But, unless you really love skiing /​outdoorsy winter sports, there is not a heck of a lot to do in Montebello village once you’re off the Château property.
My last visit was over the Christmas/​New Year holidays when the place is packed with (affluent) families there to escape/​embrace the holidays. We stopped in for a beer and a snack before dinner but the upstairs bar/​lobby beside the giant fireplace was very crowded. We fled to the basement bistro where we were pleasantly surprised to find great service and lots of empty tables. The Seigneurie Bar/​Bistro is the place where families bring their kids to eat as an alternative to the swanky dining room.
Everybody had an armload of toddlers and it was great fun for us (oldsters with grown children) to watch them run around.
Also, the «kids room» had a very grown up menu (in addition to a pizza and pasta bar) so we stayed for dinner. I had a nice carpaccio and greens plus roasted vegetable gnocchi as a main. My partner had a great hearty chowder and a lamb shank.
The place is an anachronism — a 1920s holiday experience at 2020s prices — but a national icon and definitely worth a visit

Okay, here’s the lowdown:
Food during our conference = amazing!!! ⁵⁄₅
Rooms are rustic and log cabin feeling! ³⁄₅
Room size = very small with even smaller bathrooms! ³⁄₅
Main lodge with fireplace is pretty impressive but very old feeling! ⁴⁄₅
Hallways smell like my grandma’s house (maybe because of carpet, maybe because of the old wood) ²⁄₅
Area along the river where you can go for a walk/​relax is very tranquil and peaceful! ⁴⁄₅
Meeting facilities = lots of meeting rooms, excellent selection of size and comfort! ⁴⁄₅
prices of drinks = expensive (but it is a Fairmont!) ²⁄₅
Overall rating 3.5 — 3.75 /​5

Well, perhaps they DO need a Unilocal!My 1^st star is for Alex at the marina boathouse, who was charming. The 2^nd star is for the lovely young red-​haired woman at the indoor pool, who was enthusiastically at her first week of work. The 3 missing stars are for the rude woman at reception. After paying more than I have ever paid for overnight mooring, I was told that I could «register» to request a wireless password, which was an additional $ 14 & which I would receive via email after 24 hours. Timing & money aside, I would need «immaculate reception» to get such an email! And her attitude … Well, I washed away that inhospitality in the beautiful pool. Happy travels!

one word. AWESOME!
The fact that I am the first shows that Unilocal is not needed for this historic hotel and landmark. Fairmont staff is over the top and as professional as any Fairmont you will ever visit. The restaurant has buffet or a-​la-​carte. Breakfast and dinners can be included in the price, making dinning as simple as showing up. The views to the river from the dinning room are beautiful, especially in winter.
What a great place to take the family for a few nights. A great and inspiring get-​away both in winter and summer.
No shortage of things to do.
But the greatest of all is simply reading in the the great hall. 4 storey stone fireplace built in the centre of a 4 story hex shaped log cabin.
in winter:
1. curling (4 playing surfaces in another log cabin)
2. skating + hockey matches in the afternoon
3. cross country skiing — you can go most of the way to Montréal is you have a couple days.
4. dog sledding
in doors:
1. squash
2. tennis
3. swimming
4. hot tubs
5. full spa and exercise room