by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: January 29, 2008   Last Updated: July 30, 2009

I have to admit that I have never considered myself a Super 8 kind of person. I am more of a luxury B&B or Boutique Hotel kind of girl. Every year we spend a long weekend in Quebec City and we always stay at a different hotel or B&B on every trip. We have stayed at the Chateau Frontenac, Auberge St. Pierre, Hotel Bellevue, Relais Alexandre, Lowes and several others. None of these can even remotely be considered a bargain hotel.

2007 was different. For the first time in all our years of travel, the American dollar was not worth more than the Canadian Looney. It was just about even Steven. No more $200 hotels for $140. I had booked the Courtyard by Marriott for $179 Canadian, add to that the parking of over $20 per night and the provincial and federal tax and we were at about $225 per night. Now I have to admit the location would have been great but no, just too high. I began an all out search to find a hotel I had never considered before.

We ended up at the Super 8 at 7286 Blvd Wilfrid Hamel and since we had our 9 year old grandson with us the 80 foot slide into the pool was a big attraction. This property is almost brand new and so everything just about sparkled. We had a very comfortable room with two queen beds and plenty of space. There was an open closet with an iron and ironing board and we also had a coffee pot in our room. There was a desk but there was no Internet access in the room however wireless was available in the public areas and the lobby had comfortable couches facing the fireplace. The breakfast room has two large flat screen TV's and people were in there watching them at all times of the day. If you have the urge to work out there is a small gym and if you would rather snack out, well there are vending machines.

Breakfast was included and was a quite extensive continental. Parking was free and the rate of $98 was much more in line with what I wanted to spend. The location was not the best, about 6 or 7 miles outside of town but I was willing to drive a little to save $100 a night.

The area where the hotel is located has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Right next door is the House of Tang a very good Chinese Buffet and the chain restaurant Normandin also has an eatery close by.

Did I get big fluffy towels and luxury soap and shampoo? No but I did get a very good buy and in the end I was happy with the choice I made, very happy indeed.

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