Hôtel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix

This is a gem of a hotel in a bucolic setting. Efficient, well thought out rooms, areas of indoor and outdoor recreation, a lovely lawn that serves as a happy hour setting where one can receive a complementary welcome beverage, and small bites. Young kids are able to visit the cows and goats. The restaurant sources much of its food from its farm. A lovely surprise of a place. We were there only one night and so wished we could have stayed longer!

We tried the Spa. It had some very nice amenities. Dry Nordic sauna, steam eucalyptus sauna, ice rub & Nordic shower afterwards. Plus a very hot, 40°c plunge pool, 38.9°c pool, and a 12°c cold plunge pool. We did at least 4 thermal cycles. Recommended.

Our recent stay in Charlevoix was, unfortunately, deeply disappointing. While the hotel itself is undeniably beautiful, set on a scenic farm with a thoughtful farm-to-table concept and eco-friendly initiatives, the service was a major letdown. From the moment staff realized we weren’t from Quebec, we felt unwelcome. We had been warned about the lack of friendliness in the area, but didn’t believe it until we experienced it firsthand. The poor service we received not just at the hotel, but throughout the village was disheartening enough that we ended up checking out a full day early. For a place that promotes warmth and hospitality, it delivered the exact opposite. One of the most upsetting experiences came from the restaurant on the main level, shockingly different from the excellent $400+ dinner we’d had the night before upstairs. We stopped by to make a reservation for the evening, casually dressed in athleisure after a hike. The host took one look at us, realized we were English-speaking, and instantly dismissed us. He didn’t even check the system, just told us they were fully booked. When we asked again, he pretended to move the mouse and gave the same answer. My partner, who’s lived in Quebec for 30 years, asked to speak with the manager. The manager immediately recognized us from the night before and confirmed there was availability. He apologized for the host’s attitude, which said a lot. Tired and trying to make the most of our stay, we stayed for dinner — and the service again was cold and dismissive. When asked what he recommended, the server said “I don’t know.” When I asked if the soup of the day was good, he shrugged and said, “I guess… it’s soup.” That about sums up the energy we got throughout our entire stay — indifferent, passive-aggressive, and completely lacking in hospitality. We told the front concierge exactly why we were checking out early. He didn’t seem surprised. But because we booked through Booking.com, we were told nothing could be done — no refund, no credit, just an offer to buy us a drink at the bar (the one we got treated like garbage at) we are sober so we politely declined. Interesting how quickly they distance themselves when the service doesn’t meet expectations. We spent $1,300 for 3 nights — not including the meals we had at both restaurants, and breakfast every morning. We spent a total of 2000$ in the two full days we stayed there for. For that price, the absolute bare minimum should be feeling safe and respected not judged, ignored, or made to feel like an outsider. We did enjoy the spa, but even then, how can you truly relax when you’re surrounded by such cold, unwelcoming energy just because you’re not French? This stay was emotionally draining and truthfully, I haven’t even shared everything that happened. We left feeling disrespected and abused. We had money to spend, we were excited for a beautiful weekend, and we were completely let down. If you’re not from Quebec, I strongly suggest skipping this place. Drive 45 minutes to Malbaie, the experience there will be a hundred times better. I’ll stick to my beautiful province going forward. No wonder Quebec has such a poor reputation when it comes to welcoming others.