I have lived in Ottawa for over ten years, and have never had the opportunity to visit Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. I was always curious about the resort given its long 90-year history and unique design (it’s the biggest log cabin building in the world!) I’ve had many friends visit, at all different times of the year, and it always seemed to me like a great destination for families.

Recently I was given the opportunity to take my own trip to Montebello, and brought my two girls along for a special “girls weekend.” The extent of my children’s hotel experience includes seedy motels on the drive to Florida and a stay in Calgary for my brother’s wedding (which they don’t remember!) So going to a nice resort was a BIG DEAL!!

When to go

After a really difficult year, we knew it was time for a little staycation, so we chose to go in late September. Although I could see Montebello being beautiful in the summer, there was a lot to be said for the brilliant fall colours and the cozy atmosphere. Fairmont Le Château Montebello is a four season resort, so there is plenty to see and do in all kinds of weather. We can’t wait to return in the winter for snowshoeing, skating, skiing and sleigh rides!

What to do with kids

The question may be “what is there NOT to do with kids?” Even with the restrictions due to covid-19, there was so much to do that we can’t wait to go back and do more! The Resort Experience Fee gives you access to many different types of activities in the summer and winter. Some of our fall faves included:

Mini-golf
Outdoor play structure
Bike rentals
Hiking trails
Watercraft rentals (we didn’t get a chance to do this one!)
Swimming pool

It was also a lovely experience just to sit in front of the big fireplace and people watch. There are many things to do off the resort as well, and we had a fun trip to ChocoMotive, where we got to watch chocolates being made (and bought some to take home, of course.)

One slight disappointment was that the Manoir Papineau National Historic Site was closed (they have been closed since Spring 2019 for some major renovations, and won’t reopen likely until 2021) - another reason for us to return in the future!

What to eat

There are many options for dining at Fairmont Le Château Montebello (although some dining areas are closed at the moment due to covid-19.) Because we were arriving later in the day and wanted time to explore, we opted for in-room dining - which was exactly what the kids wanted to do! I also brought a lot of snacks, and there is a mini fridge in the room in which to store your food.

When I told people we were headed to Montebello, everyone RAVED about the breakfast - I now see why. If there’s one meal my kids love it’s breakfast! We enjoyed crepes, sausages, scrambled eggs, several different kinds of muffins and pastries and freshly made smoothies. Needless to say, we were stuffed by the time we left.

Rooms

We stayed in one of the newly renovated rooms with two double beds. As a notoriously bad sleeper, I fell in love with the supremely comfortable beds. The bathroom was bright, clean and the white subway tile was on point. That said, if we were to return as a family of four, I don’t think we would be comfortable with double beds. My girls are getting big enough that they roll and kick all night, so they need a bit more space. When we return, we’ll likely opt for the Deluxe Room, which has the option for two Queen beds and a sofa bed.

Covid-wise

Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello is doing an amazing job keeping their employees and guests safe during the pandemic. When we arrived at the gate, we were screened and our temperatures were taken. Our temperatures were also taken before we used the swimming pool. Masks are mandatory inside the hotel, except of course in your own room (or while swimming) - the only time I saw people remove their masks was in the dining room for breakfast or while sitting in front of the fireplace. Since the resort is so big, I never felt like we were crowded in any way. Obviously any hotel or trip you take carries some moderate risk, but I felt comfortable taking that risk. See a much more detailed outline of their policies on their website.

In all, the trip was an amazing escape from the reality of the last number of months. My kids were wowed by the entire experience, and we’re already planning our winter vacay!

Disclaimer: We were provided a one night’s stay at Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello (including resort fee and breakfast) in exchange for a review of our experience. All opinions are my own!