Quebec, eh?

Staying in Ste. Anne de Beaupre is a real challenge to the one week vacationer because there is so much to do.

First you have to visit Quebec City, which is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to go in North America. The city is easily accessible from Ste. Anne de Beaupre and there is lots of parking right in the heart of the old town. Once there, plan to walk and walk and walk. The boardwalk in front of the Chateau Frontenac is where you will find buskers and be able to look down on the St. Lawrence River. We even found a residence where my wife's ancestors lived probably in the 1700's. What a thrill!

The day we were there we had a special treat as the Canadian Forces "Snowbirds" aerobatic demonstration team were having their pictures taken by a chase plane against the backdrop of the Chateau.

Eating in old Quebec is not an expensive proposition. We had a table d'hote for about (Canadian), each which included three courses and the best Coq au Vin I have ever had.

Quick Tips:

The Canyon, les Sept Chutes and Mont Ste. Anne will offer enough outdoor adventure for the week. Wear good walking shoes, take lots of water and plan to use your sunscreen. Best Way To Get Around: You definitely need a car to enjoy Beaupre and the surrounding area. Many American visitors had flown into Montreal, rented a car, and driven the two hours to Beaupre. (That's a slow drive.)>

Best Things Nearby:
Everything from the quiet countryside to the amazing city of Quebec. We really enjoyed a day walking through The Canyon and the Sept Chutes. The latter falls are higher than Niagara and the walkways and guide information excellent. You do not have to be in superb shape as there are plenty of benches to rest at and enjoy the sound of rushing water and the incredible scenery.

Best Things About the Resort:
The friendly people. We met people from the United States and Canada and found young and old to be friendly and interesting.

Resort Experience:
The unit has everything one could want. We had a two bedroom unit with four people and it was quiet and comfortable. It has a large TV with VCR and videos are available free of charge from the office. We had one rainy day and thoroughly enjoyed relaxing in the unit. There are Bar BQ's available, bicycles for seeing the local area and an excellent restaurant and pub on site. This is was a great place to go and we would go right back. The local area has everything for the nature lover as well as being just 20 minutes from downtown Quebec City, which is one of the most beautiful places in North America.

In a week, we were so busy we did not even get to Mont Ste. Anne, which was right beside our timeshare. The ski storage which is assigned to each unit is built to perfectly hold two bicycles. There is no air conditioning so the units would be hot in the summer months but with the two bedroom we were able to get sufficient air flow to keep it cool.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

Best Things Nearby:
Puerto Vallarta, although it can take up to one hour to get there by local bus or $15 by taxi.

Best Things About the Resort:
The pool is huge and there are a lot of activities. The amenities are excellent and we came home very relaxed. The staff is also excellent and we had no problems while we were there.

Resort Experience:
The resort is excellent and we enjoyed our stay. We arranged for a two-bedroom suite 8/6, as well as two hotel rooms for two other couples through the Bonus Vacation plan, so we brought our own tour group with us. The suite, 8/6, had two large bedrooms, two full baths, and a main room with kitchen. I would not want to use the main room for other people as they would be on the pull out sofas and, I believe, would be not too comfortable. The suite suited two couples perfectly.

We had two problems that are of concern. The first was the Mayan Palace timeshare pitch, which lasted over four hours and got a little heated when we did not buy. The second is that we are still trying to settle our bill some four months after checkout. We paid the majority of our bill by cash and the rest by credit card. Originally, the credit charge came through ok, but a few months later, a larger charge was posted for the amount we had paid cash. The resort did not answer email queries and the matter is now being looked after by the charge card company. When we checked our resort receipt, it was stamped fully paid, but the date on the stamp was February not April (which was when we had actually checked out). It was not a good way to remember an excellent vacation at what is otherwise a first-class resort.

When arriving at the airport, you will be approached by someone selling timeshares. You will be able to "score" some excellent free tours for agreeing to attend a presentation, but I would suggest not giving the representative any money. We received three excellent free tours for no cash outlay.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good