Nestled between the pretty village of Baie-Saint-Paul, the snow mountains, and St. Lawrence River, Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix is a shining star that manages to delight at every turn.  Take your preconceived notions of what a resort should be, throw it away, and you get something unexpectedly awesome.  While this is open all year round, winter is in my opinion the best time to visit for some much needed R&R.

Keep reading to learn about my Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix review and why you should plan your winter vacation out here in the province of Quebec in Canada.

At first glance, it looks like quite the unusual hotel but all you need to do is step inside and you’ll realize that this place is somewhere special.

Now I’ve gone to a few fancy hotels in the past couple of years but this one takes the cake when it comes to the blending of modern contemporary design with a cozy charm that makes you feel at home.

The Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix Review

Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix review - Main Building Interior

The resort’s origin starts in 2007 when a fire ravaged the 100-year-old dairy farm that was standing there at the time.  Despite the accident, the construction of the hotel continued and its designer, Donald Gauthier, made a bold statement in incorporating the tiniest of farm elements into every single detail.  Giant red barn doors stand guard at front, there’s extensive use of reclaimed wood, table clothes have that farm-to-table quality, and you’ll even find old milk bottles used as light fixtures.

What makes Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix so special though is how they’ve been able to thread sophisticated contemporary elements with rustic country style.  Throughout the property, there’s the presence of felt-like material that gives the space a welcoming gesture.  The warm and fuzzies are balanced by the duality of straight edges and the raw use of concrete and chrome finishes.

The Room

Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix Family Room

Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix Family Room Bathroom

Family Room Interior

With the 3 of us, we stayed in one of the family rooms which was quite the treat.  Brilliantly designed, there’s a queen-sized bed and a bunk bed for two right behind.  This is complemented by a beautiful sliding barn door that opens into a simple yet sophisticated bathroom equipped with a heavenly rainfall shower.  Then of course there’s the nice nod to the farm again with the pig that’s tucked in the corner of the room.

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So what are you waiting for? If you’re planning a trip to Quebec for a winter getaway? Book your stay at Le Germain Charlevoix before they sell out.
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The Snowboarding

Mont-Saint-Anne

As much as we were there to enjoy the property, our primary objective of this trip to Charlevoix was to hit the slopes.  What’s nice about the location about this resort is its proximity to Le Massif and Mont Saint-Anne.  With the help of the St. Lawrence Summits ticket package, we were able to do both mountains on consecutive days.  It’s a glorious thing to be carving snow in excess of 60 km/h while enjoying the the St. Lawrence River in full panorama.

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The Spa

Spa Du Verger in Charlevoix

Spa du Verger Hot Pool

Spa du Verger Charlevoix Sauna

The dilemma that you will face of course is that no matter how good the snow is out there, you’re going to want to get back to Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix as quickly as you can because the thermal spa experience at Spa du Verger is not to be missed.  In true nordic spa fashion, $25 gets you access to the outdoor bath area (two hot and one cold), the relaxation room, sauna, and eucalyptus steam room.  The idea is that you’re supposed to do a rotation of each one to clear up your pores and also maximize on relaxation.  Let me just tell you that it was well worth the price of admission.

The Food

Les Labours for Breakfast Buffet

Les Labours Artic Char

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Then of course there’s the food.  Our original plan was to go into town to eat but we soon realized that the food at the resort was just too good.  For breakfast, Les Labours has an excellent buffet option with quite the extensive selection.  Life is good when indulging on chocolate truffles and cream puffs for Sunday Brunch becomes your biggest problem of the day. #FirstWorldProblems

Dinner at Les Labours is foodie’s delight.  Based on locally-sourced ingredients and cooked in an open kitchen, I had the most delicious arctic char with almond butter and verjuice.  It was cooked to perfection and that’s usually not the case for fish dishes at fine dining restaurants.

On another night, we wanted to keep it casual so we went to Le Bercail by the lobby for pizza, their spin on poutine, and salmon tartar.  It’s the ambiance that I like the most here.  On weekends a DJ spins tracks into the night and on other nights it’s a great place to grab a drink and sit by the fireplace.  The best part is that the prices for food here are quite reasonable.

The Town of Charlevoix

Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix At Night

Charlevoix is lovely region of Quebec that you must add to your itinerary.  For first timers, Baie-Saint-Paul is often a pleasant surprise as one of Quebec’s centre for cultural and arts.  It’s a place that has a hint of Park City, Utah but less commercial and pretentious.  You can tell there’s a strong sense of community here and a focus on promoting each other’s specialty whether it be art, food or other goods.

If you’re like me and looking for your next winter vacation spot, make Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix your home for the weekend.

What To Pack For Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix

This accommodation includes a lot of you’ll already need. We’ve still listed some of our favorite travel items below though!

  • Suitcase: Being that we basically live out of suitcases on our travels, the Db Journey Strøm 60L Rollerbag is our top choice. This is a bit of an unconventional shape for a check-in bag but I love how cavernous it is inside, allowing you to fit in way more than a standard 26″ spinner luggage. The only caveats to this bag are that it doesn’t have 4 wheels and because it’s a taller bag, maneuvering it around corners and objects can be trickier. Pair it with the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube for your rolled shirts, or Peak Design Packing Cubes, which have compression zippers and built in dirty clothes compartments!
  • Toiletry Bag: All your toiletry items, like the Braun Shaver, will fit inside this favorite toiletry bag. Make sure to watch our video review.
  • Warm Layers: If you decide to go in the winter months like us, you’ll need lots of warm layers if you plan on leaving the hotel. With a fleece top and fleece pants, wool socks and a downy jacket, you can’t go wrong!
  • Shoes: Rainbow Flip FlopsOur favourite sandals are great for the pool or use in the hotel room.
  • Hat and Gloves: A must-have, and while you’d think for really cold weather you might need something extra, but your standard toque (what we call a beanie in Canada) is totally enough. If your head gets really cold though you can always layer with this layering beanie. The layering continues with this nifty glove system that has roots in the military but really taken up by the photography community. This liner glove has a pocket for hand warmers and is touch screen compatible. Throw a pair of The Heat Company Shell Full Leather gloves on top, which open up to reveal the liner gloves so you have full access to your fingers.
  • Ski Goggles: If you plan to hit the slopes like us, we would highly recommend bringing ski googles or sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Know Before You Go

  • Each of the 145 rooms is completely different and unique.
  • The resort offers a number of different types of rooms that range from smaller ones for couples, families (the room we stayed in) or even dorm rooms if you’re a solo traveller.
  • Baie-Saint-Paul is right there and completely walkable from the hotel.
  • Free wifi for all!
  • Activities offered for free:  Ice skating rink with free skate rentals, snowshoe rentals, hiking trail that takes you straight out to the river, board game rentals, and fire pit (comes with marshmallows) that’s open on the weekend.
  • The Spa du Verger is complete with a relaxation room, outdoor hot/cold baths, sauna, and eucalyptus steam room.
    • If you plan on going here, remember to bring your own flip flops.  That being said, you can borrow theirs for free if you forget.
  • There are two restaurants open in the winter:
    • Les Labours restaurant – This is a top notch gourmet restaurant that has an amazing breakfast buffet on the weekends.  The dinner experience there is also quite fantastic.  Reservations are recommended.
    • Le Bercail lounge bar – Great for hanging out, grabbing a drink, eating a casual meal for lunch/dinner and jamming to the DJ Friday and Saturday night.
  • Inquire with front desk about the any ski package promotions if you’re thinking about doing some combination of Le Massif, Mont Saint-Anne and Stoneham.  They can buy it for you right there and bill it to your room.
  • Check their full list of activities so that you can plan ahead.

Map of Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix


Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.

Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.

Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.

eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.

  • AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
  • Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
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  • Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
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Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

  • HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 15% discount (from June 19-29)!
  • RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
  • SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
  • Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
  • InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

We visited Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix as part of our tour around Quebec in 2015 and loved it so much that I decided to go back.  I was a guest of the resort but all opinions are of course my own.

William Tang of Going Awesome Places
About The Author

Will Tang

Will Tang, founder of Going Awesome Places, has traveled to 51 countries. He shares his insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists. Will’s travels have been featured on Huffington Post, Men’s Journal, and Entrepreneur.

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