June 24, 2024 Tauck Groups Capital Cities, Canada. Is there a need for dressy dinner apparel? From Southern California where casual is the mode.
Thanks, MCM
We are just finishing this tour. People dressed a little for the welcome and farewell dinners and also for one in Montreal. Only one man wore a suit. Button shirts for men and slacks with a nice top for ladies was much more common. You will want comfortable walking shoes for activities during the day.
In Montreal we would like to see The Aura at Notre Dame Basilica which is at 6 pm. What time would you normally meet for dinner? We’re on the September 12, 2024 tour.
Tauck covers your dinners both evenings in Montreal. You can choose your own time for dinner in the hotel the first night; the next night Tauck will take the group to a restaurant in the old town area. My preference would be to not miss that dinner. Perhaps you can visit the Basilica beforehand on the first night? You can check the hotel's website for dinner hours. If you need to miss that dinner (first night), it might be possible for the tour director to give you a voucher for a light meal in the lounge after your Basilica visit. They can do wonders!
Thanks, DTTM Traveler! Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to cancel my trip on July 12th. I hope you have a great time! I rescheduled my trip to next year!
Would love to here about your experience!
Yes, DTTMTraveler, please do post your thoughts of the trip. It is always nice to compare notes. This tour was one of our favorite North American tours. Enjoy.
So good to read everyone’s thoughts and suggestions. We are on the September 24th trip. On day two, can anyone please tell me about what time the tour arrives at Niagara-on- the-Lake for lunch? And any suggestions on restaurants in Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec? Many thanks!
We took this fabulous tour in 2018. The Niagara-on-the-Lake lunch occurred immediately after the Niagara Falls excursion, so I would say that it was probably around the normal lunch time, but not before noon. Perhaps someone who was recently there can corroborate this.
Regarding restaurants, there are many places within walking distance of the hotels. Your tour guide will give you a list of places. In my opinion, the Fairmont properties are destinations in their own right with several dining choices on site. In Quebec City, below the hotel in the old section and still within the confines of the walled city, we ate at Aux Anciens Canadiens and had a very nice meal. The restaurant is in an old house--very quaint but with an upscale menu. The hotel concierge suggested dinner reservations and made them for us. We had added several days post-tour and actually ate there twice. I don't recall having to make reservations for lunch.
This is one of the tours that Tauck will be adding a "smaller" group experience. We were delighted with the small group, but believe this particular tour would be ideal for the smaller group.
Regardless, I hope you have a wonderful time and that you will report back with your thoughts. Don't forget to try some authentic Poutine in Quebec City!
Kfnknfzk, thank you so much. I’ve put Aux Anciens Canadiens on our restaurant list. We are going early and will stay longer in Quebec City. It’s always nice to have an idea of what dining options are available ahead of arriving. Definitely plan to try the Poutine! Yes, will report back. Thanks again!
I’m Sandi from New City NY. Traveling solo on Sept 8 departure. Any suggestions for guide books to plan free time? I am spending extra day in Quebec from gift of time and want to plan my day. Looking forward to this trip and hope to get “adopted” by others to join them for meals or other activities. I am open to almost anything! Thanks.
Sandi - I can't help you with guide books since they tend to only show the usual tourist areas. Merely my opinion. We prefer to just get out and wander. Many times, our best memories are from the places/areas we have stumbled upon. You can also get information from 'official tourist boards' on the internet. I would stay clear from sites that are attempting to sell you tours--tours you can easily do on your own.
Quebec City is great for strolling. After walking the boardwalk, head down to the old area and explore the many shops, neighborhoods and eateries. I do not know if it is still there, but around the corner from the hotel and next to a small chapel is (or was) an open air market where local artisans sold their handmade items--jewelry, pottery, textiles, et al. I hope it is still there.
Kfnknfzk, thank you for the information about the market in Quebec City. I love that kind of thing and hope it’s still there. Such great advice about enjoying the unplanned experiences! Thanks again, Grace
I sure hope it is still there. I remember the artisan I purchased some jewelry from mentioned it was there for a very long time. Hopefully someone with more recent experience will comment.
I look forward to hearing about your experiences. Warm regards.
Sandi, I hope you have a better experience than my recent tour in mid-June. First, if you are not happy with your room, report it to your Tour Director. My room at the Le Chateau Frontenac was a total disappointment; certainly nothing special. As a solo traveler, I am very content eating alone; a good thing as most of the couples on my tour chose to dine alone, unless we were all dining as a group. The day we took the boat cruise, we did not sit down for lunch until 1:50pm so be prepared. You mentioned gift of time so obviously this is not your first tour with Tauck. It was my 15th and certainly did not meet my expectations. Hopefully, you will have a better experience.
We took this tour in June (2024) and enjoyed it. We booked a small group tour, but there were only 18 of us. We did our GOT in Toronto, but the free time provided in Quebec City gave us time to do some exploring. As we were driving to the hotel, we drove under one of the gates/ramparts that were part of the fortification protecting Quebec City. After we had dinner, we walked back to this area to take some pictures (first one below). There are stairs you can take for a better view of the wall and also the surrounding area. My knees aren't great so we didn't do that.
We also went to the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of Quebec. It is within easy walking distance of the hotel. The church has a "Holy Door" and it is the only one in North America. I think there are seven worldwide. They are usually sealed shut unless opened for a special jubilee celebration (usually every 25 years). We have seen the one at the Vatican twice, but it was sealed both times. The one in Quebec is currently open to mark the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Quebec diocese. It will be sealed again on December 8, 2024. The door is on the side of the church and a staff person pointed it out to us. We did walk through the door to enter the church. The second picture below is the exterior of the door.
Tauck's tour of Quebec City included the Parliament, Plains of Abraham and a walking tour in Lower Quebec. Lower Quebec had an interesting history and there were lots of shops and restaurants. For the Tauck part of the tour, we got there by bus but there is a funicular you can take that leaves just behind the hotel. Our TD gave us each two tickets but if your TD doesn't do that, they are only $5. We spent a couple of hours there on our own. When you are in Lower Quebec, be sure to look back up at the hotel. It is a great view.
We walked along the Dufferin Terrace, a wide boardwalk just behind the hotel which has some great views. You can also buy tickets to go under the Terrace. It is an archeological site of the Chateau Saint-Louise and has a display of artifacts from French and British governors (1620-1834). It is not extensive but was interesting. We had some extra time before we had to leave for the airport so did it independently rather than with a guide.
Our local guide recommended we tour the Citadel. You need to go on a tour - you can't just walk around. We didn't have time for that. Tauck also provided a tour of the hotel which most of our group did. There is a lot of history including how plans for Operation Overlord (D-day) were discussed here. Our tour was a good experience and we especially enjoyed our time in Montreal and Quebec City.
cvc - Great thoughts on Quebec City. This will be very helpful for those traveling soon. For those fit enough, you can also walk the steps instead of taking the funicular. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Street vendors in QC sell poutine. I was looking skeptical, so was offered a sample. Let's just say that was plenty, but then again I'm not a gravy person. Enjoy and let us know what you think. Hope you find some late season berries! If anyone's headed there soon, last time I was in QC the Plein Air Art/Craft Festival was on; it opens July 30, runs about 2 weeks. https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/what-to-do-quebec-city/events/plein-art
Certainly not traditional, but in Quebec City we had Poutine with chunks of bleu cheese as a replacement for the brown gravy, as well as with the cheese curds. Decadent, but I could only handle a few bites and a defibrillator should definitely be an accompaniment.
I am so looking forward to going on this trip! I chose to use my free night in Toronto. So, I will be starting the trip a day early. Any suggestions of things to do in Toronto? I am a solo traveler, so any ideas will be helpful. Thanks!
Toronto always seems to have construction going on. Consider taking the hop-on-hop-off bus for an introduction to the city. I enjoyed the Bata Shoe Museum--somewhat quirky but very educational. There is also The Path, an underground walkway with shops. I didn't find it to be that interesting, but it is nice to walk in inclement weather.
Even though you will have a brief tour of the Royal Ontario Museum prior to the welcome reception and dinner, it is a fabulous place to explore. There are many other fine museums. There is the CN Tower, but I haven't been there.
I'm going in May 2025. Sounds like I would be better off staying the extra night in Quebec City. I haven't made my flight arrangements, so maybe I'll see if I can switch.
Comments
I'm pretty sure this tour is fully booked. For the people who will be joining me, where are you from?
Thanks, AK
I'll try again! Anyone going on this trip? July 12th, 2024?
Thanks, AK
June 24, 2024 Tauck Groups Capital Cities, Canada. Is there a need for dressy dinner apparel? From Southern California where casual is the mode.
Thanks, MCM
We are just finishing this tour. People dressed a little for the welcome and farewell dinners and also for one in Montreal. Only one man wore a suit. Button shirts for men and slacks with a nice top for ladies was much more common. You will want comfortable walking shoes for activities during the day.
In Montreal we would like to see The Aura at Notre Dame Basilica which is at 6 pm. What time would you normally meet for dinner? We’re on the September 12, 2024 tour.
Tauck covers your dinners both evenings in Montreal. You can choose your own time for dinner in the hotel the first night; the next night Tauck will take the group to a restaurant in the old town area. My preference would be to not miss that dinner. Perhaps you can visit the Basilica beforehand on the first night? You can check the hotel's website for dinner hours. If you need to miss that dinner (first night), it might be possible for the tour director to give you a voucher for a light meal in the lounge after your Basilica visit. They can do wonders!
Good luck. We enjoyed this tour immensely.
Thank you. The Aura is only at 6 pm so we’ll figure it out with our tour director. Looking forward to a wonderful time.
My pleasure. I hope you have the good fortune of having Felix A as your tour director. Please consider posting a review after your tour. Have fun!
We are on July 12 trip. Round Rock, TX. Meeting Florida friends on the trip. Looking forward to "cooler" temps!
Thanks, DTTM Traveler! Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to cancel my trip on July 12th. I hope you have a great time! I rescheduled my trip to next year!
Would love to here about your experience!
Yes, DTTMTraveler, please do post your thoughts of the trip. It is always nice to compare notes. This tour was one of our favorite North American tours. Enjoy.
So good to read everyone’s thoughts and suggestions. We are on the September 24th trip. On day two, can anyone please tell me about what time the tour arrives at Niagara-on- the-Lake for lunch? And any suggestions on restaurants in Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec? Many thanks!
Grace_Dean,
We took this fabulous tour in 2018. The Niagara-on-the-Lake lunch occurred immediately after the Niagara Falls excursion, so I would say that it was probably around the normal lunch time, but not before noon. Perhaps someone who was recently there can corroborate this.
Regarding restaurants, there are many places within walking distance of the hotels. Your tour guide will give you a list of places. In my opinion, the Fairmont properties are destinations in their own right with several dining choices on site. In Quebec City, below the hotel in the old section and still within the confines of the walled city, we ate at Aux Anciens Canadiens and had a very nice meal. The restaurant is in an old house--very quaint but with an upscale menu. The hotel concierge suggested dinner reservations and made them for us. We had added several days post-tour and actually ate there twice. I don't recall having to make reservations for lunch.
This is one of the tours that Tauck will be adding a "smaller" group experience. We were delighted with the small group, but believe this particular tour would be ideal for the smaller group.
Regardless, I hope you have a wonderful time and that you will report back with your thoughts. Don't forget to try some authentic Poutine in Quebec City!
Kfnknfzk, thank you so much. I’ve put Aux Anciens Canadiens on our restaurant list. We are going early and will stay longer in Quebec City. It’s always nice to have an idea of what dining options are available ahead of arriving. Definitely plan to try the Poutine! Yes, will report back. Thanks again!
I’m Sandi from New City NY. Traveling solo on Sept 8 departure. Any suggestions for guide books to plan free time? I am spending extra day in Quebec from gift of time and want to plan my day. Looking forward to this trip and hope to get “adopted” by others to join them for meals or other activities. I am open to almost anything! Thanks.
You are most welcome, Grace_Dean.
Sandi - I can't help you with guide books since they tend to only show the usual tourist areas. Merely my opinion. We prefer to just get out and wander. Many times, our best memories are from the places/areas we have stumbled upon. You can also get information from 'official tourist boards' on the internet. I would stay clear from sites that are attempting to sell you tours--tours you can easily do on your own.
Quebec City is great for strolling. After walking the boardwalk, head down to the old area and explore the many shops, neighborhoods and eateries. I do not know if it is still there, but around the corner from the hotel and next to a small chapel is (or was) an open air market where local artisans sold their handmade items--jewelry, pottery, textiles, et al. I hope it is still there.
Thanks. Helpful info for my free day in Quebec
Kfnknfzk, thank you for the information about the market in Quebec City. I love that kind of thing and hope it’s still there. Such great advice about enjoying the unplanned experiences! Thanks again, Grace
I sure hope it is still there. I remember the artisan I purchased some jewelry from mentioned it was there for a very long time. Hopefully someone with more recent experience will comment.
I look forward to hearing about your experiences. Warm regards.
Sandi, I hope you have a better experience than my recent tour in mid-June. First, if you are not happy with your room, report it to your Tour Director. My room at the Le Chateau Frontenac was a total disappointment; certainly nothing special. As a solo traveler, I am very content eating alone; a good thing as most of the couples on my tour chose to dine alone, unless we were all dining as a group. The day we took the boat cruise, we did not sit down for lunch until 1:50pm so be prepared. You mentioned gift of time so obviously this is not your first tour with Tauck. It was my 15th and certainly did not meet my expectations. Hopefully, you will have a better experience.
We took this tour in June (2024) and enjoyed it. We booked a small group tour, but there were only 18 of us. We did our GOT in Toronto, but the free time provided in Quebec City gave us time to do some exploring. As we were driving to the hotel, we drove under one of the gates/ramparts that were part of the fortification protecting Quebec City. After we had dinner, we walked back to this area to take some pictures (first one below). There are stairs you can take for a better view of the wall and also the surrounding area. My knees aren't great so we didn't do that.
We also went to the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of Quebec. It is within easy walking distance of the hotel. The church has a "Holy Door" and it is the only one in North America. I think there are seven worldwide. They are usually sealed shut unless opened for a special jubilee celebration (usually every 25 years). We have seen the one at the Vatican twice, but it was sealed both times. The one in Quebec is currently open to mark the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Quebec diocese. It will be sealed again on December 8, 2024. The door is on the side of the church and a staff person pointed it out to us. We did walk through the door to enter the church. The second picture below is the exterior of the door.
Tauck's tour of Quebec City included the Parliament, Plains of Abraham and a walking tour in Lower Quebec. Lower Quebec had an interesting history and there were lots of shops and restaurants. For the Tauck part of the tour, we got there by bus but there is a funicular you can take that leaves just behind the hotel. Our TD gave us each two tickets but if your TD doesn't do that, they are only $5. We spent a couple of hours there on our own. When you are in Lower Quebec, be sure to look back up at the hotel. It is a great view.
We walked along the Dufferin Terrace, a wide boardwalk just behind the hotel which has some great views. You can also buy tickets to go under the Terrace. It is an archeological site of the Chateau Saint-Louise and has a display of artifacts from French and British governors (1620-1834). It is not extensive but was interesting. We had some extra time before we had to leave for the airport so did it independently rather than with a guide.
Our local guide recommended we tour the Citadel. You need to go on a tour - you can't just walk around. We didn't have time for that. Tauck also provided a tour of the hotel which most of our group did. There is a lot of history including how plans for Operation Overlord (D-day) were discussed here. Our tour was a good experience and we especially enjoyed our time in Montreal and Quebec City.
cvc - Great thoughts on Quebec City. This will be very helpful for those traveling soon. For those fit enough, you can also walk the steps instead of taking the funicular. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Street vendors in QC sell poutine. I was looking skeptical, so was offered a sample. Let's just say that was plenty, but then again I'm not a gravy person. Enjoy and let us know what you think. Hope you find some late season berries! If anyone's headed there soon, last time I was in QC the Plein Air Art/Craft Festival was on; it opens July 30, runs about 2 weeks.
https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/what-to-do-quebec-city/events/plein-art
Certainly not traditional, but in Quebec City we had Poutine with chunks of bleu cheese as a replacement for the brown gravy, as well as with the cheese curds. Decadent, but I could only handle a few bites and a defibrillator should definitely be an accompaniment.
I am so looking forward to going on this trip! I chose to use my free night in Toronto. So, I will be starting the trip a day early. Any suggestions of things to do in Toronto? I am a solo traveler, so any ideas will be helpful. Thanks!
Capstar -
Toronto always seems to have construction going on. Consider taking the hop-on-hop-off bus for an introduction to the city. I enjoyed the Bata Shoe Museum--somewhat quirky but very educational. There is also The Path, an underground walkway with shops. I didn't find it to be that interesting, but it is nice to walk in inclement weather.
Even though you will have a brief tour of the Royal Ontario Museum prior to the welcome reception and dinner, it is a fabulous place to explore. There are many other fine museums. There is the CN Tower, but I haven't been there.
Enjoy!
Capstar - When are you going? If you like baseball, you could check the Blue Jays schedule.
I'm going in May 2025. Sounds like I would be better off staying the extra night in Quebec City. I haven't made my flight arrangements, so maybe I'll see if I can switch.
YAY! I was able to switch !! Thanks
I'm glad that worked for you. I hope you enjoy Quebec City as much as we do. You will think you are in Europe!