So it is true, the hotel and the grounds are BEAUTIFUL. My husband, daughter and I enjoyed walking outside, we took advantage of the impressive pool and we ate delicious food all week-end. Overall it was a very nice hotel, but I am a bit disappointed in their service.

When I stay at a Fairmont, I expect certain standards. When we got there, we left our car and bags at the entrance. Check-in was seamless, we got to our room and then 20 minutes later, still no bags, we had to call th bellboy who thought our room was not ready so it was all in their storage. Annoying. But mistakes can happen and they got to our room pretty fast after my husband called so it was OK.

I was also annoyed that I had to remind them about my daughter's crib. When I made our reservation I did request a crib for my daughter. When we checked-in the lady at the front desk assured me she'd have it in our room in the next hours. In the end I had to call hours later when it was getting almost bedtime... Still no crib. That was fixed promptly after a phone call too.

Then THIS !!! My daughter was in need of a nap after a tiring ride outside, playing in the snow, so we thought we would take advantage of their 12pm checkout and have her nap before hitting the road back home. About 45 minutes into her nap.... Guess who knocked on the door.... Yep the housekeeping service, INSPITE of the Do Not Disturb sign on the door - and it was 10:30 am ?

My husband was napping too so I rushed to open the door before all her 'HOUSEKEEPING' and loud knocking would wake them up... She then very awkwardly told me she thought she had seen the bellboy coming out with our bags - no appologies mind you- then she quickly left when she realized how upset I was - I was so shocked actually all I could do was to stare at the DND sign while she was there, I could not think of what to say - I thought perhaps it had dropped on the floor or something but no, it was still on -

That was the worst BS excuse I ever heard while staying at a hotel... Thought you had seen the bellboy coming out with our stuff, really ? That would be something that could very well happen at a Holiday Inn or a Hilton perhaps but at a Fairmont I was totally shocked... Knocking on a door which has a DND sign and 1.5h before checkout time is a big NO-NO !

Fortunately she didn't wake up my daughter - we would have had a very cranky little girl for the rest of the day and her mamma wouldn't have been a happy camper. My husband did wake up tho and he was too very upset - napping on a Sunday morning is a luxury we rarely get to enjoy and don't really expect to be ruined by the housekeeping staff from a 5 star hotel...

So at 400$ a night we will probably try other 5 star hotels before we go back to Montebello - it was just a miss for us I guess. I can see why people love it and maybe we were just unlucky... But I am still too upset to consider giving it a second try.

My husband and I have stayed at Montebello every winter for the past five years. We enjoy it immensely each visit. Yes, it can be pricey, but keep in mind that this is a 5 star hotel. We wait for a special rate before we book. It's a deal! If you're not on a schedule, sign up for the Fairmont President's Club email and watch for the deals on rooms. If regular season prices are out of your reach, take advantage of off-season rates and special package deals.
The six-sided stone fireplace is both heartwarming and magnificent as you follow the chase up to the cavernous log roof, four stories up!
I treat myself to a visit to the spa every year. The hotel leaves us a 15% discount note for the spa each time we go, and I can't pass it up. Look for the monthly spa specials on their website--excellent deals. Clean spa, pool, change rooms, and exercise rooms. Lots of walking and cross-country ski trails. Pet-friendly for an extra $35/night. Wonderfully gifted pianist at the bar in the lobby, with drinks served where you sit quietly in front of the fire or while chatting with friends for cocktails.
Instead of eating breakfast at the hotel, choose true-blue Québécois greasy spoon fare in town at La Belle Bedaine (also reviewed on Tripadvisor!). The buffet, although expensive, perhaps, is well worth the experience and fabulous food. Hotel's restaurants have fine dinner menus. I recommend the crème brûlée for dessert.
Rooms are comfortable and retain the log cabin atmosphere of the whole resort. I am a big fan of classic hotels, which is why I don't mind the size of the bathrooms, as others have mentioned. Rooms have always been clean and quiet in my experience. Beds are easy to fall asleep in.
The quality remains the same level or better every visit.

This Fairmont property is only an hour's drive from downtown Ottawa, so we have "escaped" to the Chateau Montebello in a rural part of the province of Quebec at least half a dozen times in the past 4 or 5 years. Many people from Ottawa head here on Sunday's for a pleasant drive and to have the high-end brunch buffet in the main dining room. The setting is nothing less than spectacular...a historic massive log structure that evokes another, calmer, time. You relax as soon as you get there, when you take in the three storey magnificent central stone fireplace in the rustic lobby. There are dozens of couches to sit on near the fire, a grand piano, lots of tables with board games that can be borrowed, drink service, and, in winter, a little hut that serves boiled maple syrup served on snow. (for a fee) If you feel like doing more than dozing and reading by the fire, this resort always has dozens of activities planned. Over the years we have used the skating rink, the curling rink, the mini-golf course, the bicycles (for a ride through the forest trails nearby), and the playground. Our kids have been part of the kids club, which lets them play games and watch a movie while the adults had a nice dinner at the Chantiolles restaurant. They've also taken part in organized scavenger hunts, inside and outside the building. On every visit, we make time to go swimming at the magnificent indoor pool. It is connected by an underground tunnel from the hotel. You have to see this pool to believe it. It is a perfectly preserved architectural wonder. And upstairs from the pool there is a very good spa. I had the best massage of my life there on the last trip. But you could go to this property and do nothing but walk outside, by the water, and be perfectly happy. If you have kids, it's worth it take the 10-minute drive to Parc Omega, a nature park where you drive your car through to see many different animals up close. (They will come to your window if you want to feed them carrots.)
The attraction of the Fairmont Montebello is the setting, the unique building, and the relaxed pace. It can be quite pricey, and the rooms are quite small. The halls, which are like spokes leading from the grand lobby, can get quite noisy with kids running up and down. And the food is expensive and just decent. It's not bad food, by any means, but it's not exceptional either.

My husband and I were there during the winter and it was absolutely beautiful. Many outdoor activities, or just the right place to stay in and relax.
The food was stupendous (have to try the smoked meat on pretzel in casual restaurant).
The Chantiolles restaurant is great but pricey. I think I enjoyed my smoked meat sandwich more than my fancy beef. The cost of wine is very high too so bring in your own and enjoy it in the comfort of your room.
We loved having drinks from the bar in the lobby by the fireplace.
Sunday brunch amazing. But again pricey.
I loved this place and if we could afford it would make it a yearly event since this is where my husband proposed.