Quebec: Manoir Hovey
For a post-lockdown weekend getaway, I was really craving some luxury. In mid-June of this year, Josh and I booked a room at the Relais & Chateaux Manoir Hovey, located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.
The Property
Manoir Hovey came into existence in 1900 as a summer home to Henry Atkinson, the owner of Georgia Power in Atlanta. The design of the house was inspired by George Washington’s Mount Vernon home in Virginia. In addition to being part of the Relais & Chateaux family, it was also ranked as one of the top 10 hotels in Canada in 2019 by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure.
The Room
There are various options for rooms or suites at Manoir Hovey. We stayed in a superior room. While ours didn’t have a balcony, many of the rooms at Manoir Hovey do. Seeing them on other rooms made me think it would make for a really lovely place to sit and enjoy room service or a book.
Our room did have a fireplace (which I’m sure would be great in winter!) and a huge whirlpool bathtub. I know there’s a debate in the travel world on “should I or shouldn’t I” when it comes to baths in hotels. I’m here to say, I will totally enjoy a bath in a hotel…especially when it’s the size of a hot tub in a 5-star luxury property!
The room wasn’t huge, but it was very comfortable and spacious enough for two people with weekend luggage. L’Occitane toiletries, a tea kettle and Nespresso machine, and complimentary bottled water also await you in the room.
Common Spaces & Dining
Going through my photos for this article, I realized…I have A LOT of photos of the common spaces of Manoir Hovey! This is, of course, entirely due the picturesque grounds and beautiful spaces inside the hotel.
The library on the first floor still holds some of the original books that were brought to the property in 1900. During our stay, I noticed nobody was ever in there, so it was a relaxing place to sit and read my own book or just peruse amongst the book titles.
There’s a pool on site and multiple places to dine or grab a drink. Le Hatley Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. There is a lovely little bar right outside the restaurant entrance. Le Tap Room is more informal, but still delicious, and serves lunch and dinner. We had some great wine and lobster rolls for lunch at this spot.
You can read all out our fine dining dinner experience at Le Hatley here!
Finally, my absolute favorite spot to relax was the English tea garden. The space is full of (perfectly spaced out) Muskoka chairs, a couple fire pits, small tables, and is completely surrounded by the most beautiful flowers. And just beyond the flowers you have a breathtaking view of Lac Massawippi.
The garden was also a great spot to relax at the end of the day with a cocktail from Le Tap Room.
Amenities & Activities
Manoir Hovey is a resort property and every detail has been thought of so that, honestly, you could probably spend an entire weekend without stepping foot off the property.
There are a host of complimentary activities. While we were there, the Saturday activities were morning yoga and a tennis lesson and on Sunday they offered a fly-fishing class. Though we didn’t partake in any of these activities, we REALLY loved the complimentary use of all water sports equipment! Josh and I hopped in a couple kayaks after breakfast on Saturday and spent a couple hours out on the water. In addition to kayaks, they also offer canoes and paddle boards. After working up a sweat paddling out on Lac Massawippi, I of course had to jump in. The water was so clean and refreshing! You could also rent bicycles and helmets from the hotel, as there is a bike path nearby.
The Location
Manoir Hovey is located in North Hatley, Quebec right on Lac Massawippi. While you certainly don’t need to leave the property, the nearby town has a couple dining establishments, a park, some shops, and a really lovely pier over the lake.
Additionally, it’s a great spot to explore other sites in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. The Domaine Bergeville winery is very close, though due to COVID wasn’t open when we visited. However, we were able to stop in the shops of two other nearby wineries: Vignoble Chemin de la Rivière and Vignoble Le Cep d’Argent. While the wineries can’t offer tastings or tours at this time, they are still more than happy to explain their wines and processes to you. We bought a couple bottles from each to take home and enjoy!
Finally, when in this area, don’t miss a stop at Abbaye De St-Benoit-Du-Lac. Again, you can’t tour the abbey at the moment, but really, it’s worth going to just for the cheese! The shop is open and offers a ton of great food and beverages.
To be honest, there’s so much to do in Quebec’s Eastern Townships…don’t be surprised if you find me back there to explore more this summer!
COVID Conscious
The staff at Hovey Manoir are 100% on their game when it comes to serving up fine hospitality in the midst of a pandemic. All staff are wearing masks at all times. They have installed hand sanitizer stations at every single entrance to the building and any entrance to a dining room, in addition to being placed strategically around the property. They have ensured social distancing stays in affect at reception and all common spaces on the property. Additionally, while I sat outside reading my book, I saw no less than three staff members outside wiping down chairs and tables at any given time.
Each room now includes a small bottle of Purell that can easily be placed in a purse or pocket to carry around with you. High touch items are wrapped in plastic after being cleaned so you know it was sanitized (think TV remote). All unnecessary objects have been removed from the room, such as decorative pillows.
Honestly, I was curious how luxury accommodations would be able to maintain their high standards of warmth and hospitality with these new restrictions in place. I was pleasantly surprised that I still felt the charm and character that I would expect from a Relais & Chateaux property while also feeling completely safe with regard to COVID.
Price
Room rates for standard rooms start at $210 CAD in mid-season and $310 CAD in high season. All rates include the complimentary activities on the property.
I booked this room through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program with American Express. Additional benefits from this program included complimentary daily breakfast for two people at Le Hatley as well as a $100 USD credit to be used in the restaurant. If you’re interested in learning more about how I maximize credit cards and their benefits, click here!
Ready to book? Click here!
Manoir Hovey is an excellent choice for celebrating something special. It’s also great if you’ve been confined to home for three months and you’re ready to celebrate the lifting of certain restrictions! If you’re curious about Quebec’s beautiful Eastern Townships, Manoir Hatley would be an ideal location from which to base your exploring.
