The Québec maritime Blog
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Panora, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Gaspésie
Laurence Caron
Workations in Eastern Québec: 8 Places to Stay
While working from home has increased in popularity over the past few years, the latest travel trend is to go on a “workation.” This allows you to keep working while taking a break from your usual routine by staying in a more exotic location, as you would on vacation.
Outside of the summer season in the maritime regions of Québec, there’s no shortage of accommodation options located in unique settings that offer good Wi-Fi and conducive work environments. Our selection of eight magical sites in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord and the Îles de la Madeleine will give you a glimpse of what awaits you in our regions.
Bas-Saint-Laurent
From the deck of L’Hermite as well as from this chalet’s dining room, you can soak up a full view of the Bic Islands. Tucked in the trees, this chalet is a great place to work on beautiful fall days as you cozy up to the woodstove. During your breaks or in the late afternoon, you can go for a walk along the shore or in nearby Parc national du Bic.
Vieux Loup de Mer is a “hotel chalet” complex offering 15 units, most of which overlook the Bic Harbour, including four with one bedroom. Furnished with carefully selected antiques, these chalets are very comfortable. You can also browse Le Garde-Manger, an on-site gourmet shop selling a wide variety of local food products.
Bonus: You can work remotely on your own or with others in the Petite Salle, which is equipped with tables, chairs, benches and a woodstove. This room is located in Le Pavillon, a new building available for small corporate events of all kinds.
Located in Saint-Simon-de-Rimouski, Chalets BSL offers three chalets accommodating 2, 4 or 6 people, which provide opportunities to commune with nature in the forest and by the sea. These modern units are equipped with a fireplace or woodstove as well as a hot tub to help you relax after a day of work, a walk along the water or a bike ride. For a more rustic experience, you can also stay in a “tiny house”-style glamping unit.
If you’re going on a solo workation, opt for the Villa du Cerf, a small, light-filled chalet at the edge of a wooded area. During your stay, you can move your laptop from the kitchen counter in the morning to the living room area in the afternoon or even out onto the picnic table. In addition to providing access to the St. Lawrence, this chalet will give you the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding forest, even as you sit at the window to work.
Bonus: Fatbikes are included in all rentals.
Gaspésie
Nestled off Route 132 only 10 minutes from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the seaside pods offered by Panora have a sleek design combining simplicity and quality. If you’re travelling alone (or with another person), you’ll want to stay in one of the three most recently built pods, which can accommodate 2 people (the others accommodate 4). All pods feature large windows overlooking the St. Lawrence. The interior layout is perfect for relaxing or working at the counter table, on the deck or in bed, always facing the sea!
To enjoy the great outdoors, you can soak in the hot tub on your deck, play on the nearby beach or explore Parc national de la Gaspésie, which is only a 30-minute drive from your pod.
Bonus: Take advantage of a 25% discount on stays of a week or more or a 45% discount on stays of a month or more (not available in July or August).
Enjoy a glamping experience near Chaleur Bay in Nouvelle where you can stay in a Thuya cabin nestled in a dense cedar forest and accessible on foot. These highly functional units offer a single room with large picture windows, a kitchenette, a table and a compost toilet. For more space, choose an Ublo cabin overlooking the cliffs and the bay. Although none of these units have running water, you’ll be provided with a tank you can fill at the reception building, which is near three full bathrooms.
To relax, reserve the thermal spa (steam room, Finnish sauna, hot and cold pools and relaxation areas) for three exclusive hours during the day, in the evening or even at night!
Bonus: From January 15 to May 15 or from September 15 to December 15, take advantage of the telework package with unlimited coffee for a 20% discount on weekday stays of 3 or more days.
Côte-Nord
Located about a half hour northeast of Tadoussac, Vacances Essipit is an ideal workation destination offering a stay with panoramic views of the St. Lawrence, not to mention the soothing sounds of the waves and the blow of the whales…
On site, you’ll find a condo hotel complex that includes both 1- and 2-bedroom seaside units, which are perfect for solo travellers and those on a workation with someone else. You can also stay in a cottage along the water or perched on a cliff.
Once you’re done working for the day, why not go for a stroll along the shoreline, explore a hiking trail, go for a bike ride or relax by a campfire. In the winter, you can also go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the surrounding area.
Bonus: September and October are the best months to watch whales from the shore!
Located in the boreal forest just outside the vibrant village of Tadoussac, this site near a dune area on Chemin de la Rivière-du-Moulin-à-Baude offers 10 cottages for 2 to 6 people close to a campground. In the off-season, the site is quiet and ideal for a workation. Some cottages overlook the St. Lawrence, and all are well-equipped. On sunny days, you can work on your deck or picnic table.
When you’re done for the day, head to Tadoussac for happy hour or a good meal in a restaurant, or set off to explore the area by bike (available for rent on site). The trailhead for the Dunes trail is within walking distance as is a lookout offering a view of the sea.
Bonus: You’ll also find a 2-km (1-mi.) treetop trekking course on site that includes 23 modules made of cedarwood and ropes!
Îles de la Madeleine
Located on Havre Aubert Island, this former schoolhouse has been completely renovated and expanded to create unique accommodations. The building features upcycled materials as well as works by local artists.
The four bedrooms, given the names of classrooms, can each accommodate 4 or 5 people and include a balcony with a view of the sea. Guests have access to a communal kitchen and a dining room. You can also stay in one of two apartments (for up to 8 people): the “study room” (on two floors) and the “principal’s office” (which has 2 bedrooms), both of which have a private deck. This lodging establishment is a great place for a workation or to share a room or apartment with family or friends on vacation.
Bonus: Open to all, the Salon du Moulin is a gathering place on the ground floor available for events of all kinds, including yoga retreats, musical happy hours, art workshops, etc.
Housed in a former general store in Bassin on Havre Aubert Island, this establishment is part of Maison Mer, a collection of exceptional accommodations available in the Îles de la Madeleine. The four en-suite bedrooms feature a sleek and functional design. Two offer panoramic views of the sea while the other two offer mountain views, with large picture windows through which to soak up the surrounding scenery. All rooms have a work area.
The common areas on the second floor (kitchen, dining room and lounge with library) also offer spaces to work.
Bonus: Located under the same roof, Maison Papier is a boutique and gallery showcasing the work of local artists. When you’re ready for a break, you can enjoy an espresso or latte at the coffee counter, along with a snack!
Obviously, these eight sites are only some of the accommodation options available to you in the maritime regions of Québec. Visit our “Where to Stay” page to find others and start planning your next workation!
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Author Anne Pélouas
Anne Pélouas, a native of France, has been a journalist in Québec for over three decades. She was the Canadian correspondent for the prestigious French daily newspaper Le Monde for 20 years, while also working as a freelance journalist specializing in tourism, the outdoors and the art of living for Québec publications, a niche she maintains with passion. She has travelled throughout the maritime regions of Québec and continues to be enchanted by the landscapes found here as well as by her memorable encounters and the unusual activities on offer, all of which provide rich fodder for her stories.
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