HotelChatter

My wife and I went to Le Chateau Montebello 29 years ago for our honeymoon. We returned this August for 2 nights in a Deluxe Riverview Suite on the 3rd floor directly over the patio area of the Igloo Bar. We checked in early and headed to the patio for lunch.

Would you like flies with that?
Lunch of burgers on the patio was disappointing with so many flies that everyone on the patio could be seen swatting swarms of them competing for their meals. We ate very quickly and tried to keep our meals covered as much as possible during that short stay. We then noticed that the patio was directly down wind from the horse corral and stables and not far from the horse trail along the shoreline. That might explain the enormous amount of flies. (I hate to think that it was because the food preparation and storage areas were not kept clean.)

Did you notice that while making up the room?
We went back to our room after lunch and we found out that the telephone did not work... and later that the TV did not work either. The faucet in the bathroom sink was defective and spraying water everywhere. There was also mold around the bathtub. The screens on the windows were so poorly installed that they couldn't keep a hummingbird out let alone a fly... (remember, we were just above the fly-invested patio).

May I see your ID? Never mind your "Kiddies' Pass" will do.
We stopped by "La Seignerie" Bistro/Bar in the hotel for a glass of wine before dinner and noticed quite a number of very noisy children at the pool table and games area of the bar. We couldn't hear each other talk so we brought this to the attention of the waiting staff. We were assured that children would not be allowed in the bar after 9:30 PM because that's when the entertainment (band) starts. We stopped off at the bar again the next night at around 10:00 PM and were stunned to see a lot of kids still in the pool table area of the bar. A baby was asleep in the arms of a woman who was standing at the bar. A child of approximately 7 years old was sitting at the bar. A toddler was lying in the lap of a man who was watching the band play. We got our drinks and made a hasty retreat to the lobby.

Smoking, non-smoking, or whatever.
The entire hotel is designated by law in the Province of Quebec as "non-smoking". However, the first afternoon I reported smelling cigarette smoke just down the hallway from our suite. Eventually someone came by to spray something to mask the odour.

It happened again on the second day and a fellow from security came by to talk to the smokers down the hall from us... but on the way he mentioned that he will be going to the 4th floor because a guest was reported smoking there too.

Most reputable hotels have a published policy that there will be a room-cleaning charge of $200+ if there is evidence of someone smoking in a room. It seems to be a "whatever" attitude at Le Chateau Montebello.

If you don't follow the rules of the hotel you must leave!
We went to bed the first night and left the windows open with the AC turned off for two reasons: (1) we wanted to take advantage of the cool country air (as suggested on the hotel's website)... (2) I have asthma, so I find it easier to breathe during the night with fresh air that is not dried out by Air Conditioning.

Shortly after going to bed at around 11:30 PM, we could hear 4 men talking loud... while they were smoking on the (now closed) Igloo Bar's patio just below our room. I called the front desk to have them stop the noise and the smoke that was now coming into our suite.

I called again at around 12:00 AM because nothing was done, only to be informed that she still could not find the security person.

I called yet again at 12:30 AM only to be met by the voice of a man on the other end of the line, telling me: (1) I am the only one complaining about the noise and smoke... (2) the men on the patio are not making noise... (3) the rules of the hotel are to keep the windows closed at all times... and... if I don't want to follow the rules, then I must leave! (He ignored the fact that the windows should be kept closed only when using the AC as published.)

After that conversation, I wondered, "Where do they find these people?" I understand that it's difficult to find professional people for a hotel when one must draw from a very limited source such as the small towns in rural Quebec. I decided to have a chat with the General Manager, but he could not be seen without an appointment. So, I had a meeting with the "Manager of the Day", who assured me that he would look into the inappropriate behaviour of the employee in question. I suggested that the fellow who treated me so horribly that night should donate a $100 to Lung Cancer Research in lieu of an apology.

Harley Davidsons everywhere!
Le Chateau Montebello is located on the western end of the town of Montebello in the Province of Quebec. You will find Montebello to be an incredible location if you're into motorcycling. It's a "biker's" mecca! Check out the long parades of motorcyclists going through the town... and in particular, the Harleys lined up at the bistro bar on the main street of Montebello and you'll understand why.

Saving Grace!
Mr. Marcel Mundel (Director, Food and Beverage) and the dining room and kitchen staff were probably the hotel's best assets. The dinners were superb in terms of taste, preparation and presentation.