Pamela MacNaughtanLast Updated on October 17, 2024 by Pamela MacNaughtan
A light wind whistles around me as I stand on the balcony of my room at Estello Suites & Spa overlooking the thermal spa, surrounded by stones and a manicured lawn; Lac Megantic in the distance. The peacefulness of the surroundings washes over me slowly and I find myself breathing in the fresh air deeply.
A little over 2 hours from Quebec City by car, perched on the east side of Lac Megantic (the lake), Estello Suites & Spa opened in autumn 2023. It’s a large 3-storey house (which could be a Queen Anne but is likely an architectural doppelganger that I cannot name) with 11 suites and rooms, EV charging stations, and a beautiful spa.
I checked in early in the afternoon, hoping to spend an hour or more in the spa, cycling through the Nordic thermal spa and soaking in the peacefulness of the surroundings. When I was shown to my suite, I made a mental note to have an early night so I could enjoy it as well.
Rooms and Suites at Estello Suites & Spa
Erethial music plays throughout the hotel, and paintings and mirrors in gilded frames hang on cream-coloured walls with dark blue bottoms. Three rooms and eight suites are spread over three floors, each one unique in decor but with the same French country undertones.
The rooms are cozy, with a Queen-size Murphy bed and a kitchenette with a mini fridge, toaster oven and microwave. In the suites, guests have a full kitchen with dining space, and some include a living room with a sofa bed and a balcony.
My second-floor suite, Adara, gave me chills of delight the moment Gabriel opened the door and escorted me inside. The kitchen was spacious compared to my cramped space at home, with navy blue tiles above a gorgeous wood sideboard, a thick floating shelf with glasses and brass accents hanging above. A breakfast nook in the corner.
Gilded prints hung throughout, a comfy blue sofa bed rested against a wall in the living room, and the shower in the bathroom was decked out with two rainfall shower heads (seriously, four people could shower at the same time, it is that spacious. hahaha).
The Queen-size four-poster bed in the bedroom was far more comfortable than I anticipated, making getting up in the morning difficult. I love laying in a comfortable bed as morning light streams through thin white curtains. I’m a poor sleeper, and rarely sleep well in hotels, so when I do have a good night’s sleep, I cherish the memory.
The balcony, located off the bedroom, is large, with a black patio lounge set and a great view of the thermal spa and Lac Megantic. The cool breeze on the afternoon of my stay was a welcome gift after humid days in Muskoka a few days earlier.
Breakfast is fresh, light, and delivered to the room door. There are two breakfast tray choices. A fresh buttery croissant served with butter, jam, a fruit cup and coffee or toast with butter and jam, a hard-boiled egg, fruit smoothie, and coffee. It’s hard to choose one, both are quite good.
The Spa
Down the stairs from the lobby, is a relaxation space with blue French toile wallpaper, round marble tables, a water bottle filling station, and changing rooms. A bar-top with fresh fruit, labrador tea and flower-infused water for guests overlooks the thermal spa and lake.
The spa therapy and treatment rooms are to the left, with Japanese massage chairs, a red light therapy room, and blue and white striped hammocks. It’s a calming space, which I should have made time to enjoy fully, but I was eager to start my thermal cycles.
Nordic spas are among my favourite things about Quebec culture. Our weather is perfect for thermal cycles, cold plunges and Nordic swims. The change from hot to cold is said to stimulate the immune system and help with aches and pains. The cycle begins with 20 minutes in a sauna or hot tub, followed by a cold plunge for a few seconds, then relaxation for 15 minutes or until your body returns to its normal temperature.
The spa was quiet on my visit, and I started my thermal cycles sitting in the eucalyptus steam room, breathing deeply and working up a sweat. The jacuzzis and cold plunge pools are small, perfect for a couple of people, and the dry sauna has a pretty view of the lake. The heated pool is lovely, and I almost fell asleep on the lounge chairs afterwards.
There are a couple of fire stations for relaxation and lounge chairs near the lake. In winter, the relaxation dome is a popular destination.
I regret not using the massage chairs or red light therapy room, and the next time I visit Estello Suites & Spa they will be the first things I do, as well as a massage. The spa is beautiful, and open to guests and the public (4 hour pass is 56.34 CAD during the week, and 67.84 CAD on weekends).
Visiting Lac Megantic
The town of Lac Megantic is charming, and a short drive from Estello Suites & Spa. If you enjoyed a croissant at breakfast and crave more, head to Dans le Petrin (in the same building as Yuzu sushi). The pain perdu, which is croissant-like and covered with chocolate, is an excellent choice too.
La Garnison Microbrasserie is a laidback spot for local craft beer and light eats, and Musi-Café is a mainstay which was rebuilt after the oil tanker train tragedy on 6 July 2013. The town centre features a memorial and several sculptures, and Veteran’s Park is perfect for a relaxing picnic or a walk along the lake.
A 30-minute drive from the hotel is Mont-Megantic National Park, home to the world’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, an observation tower (currently under renovations), and ASTROLab, a museum with stargazing experiences.
It’s a popular area for golf, hiking, fishing, watersports, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and birding.
Stay at Estello Suites & Spa
My stay at Estello Suites & Spa was sponsored, and honestly, I will pay to stay here again. I love the decor, attention to detail, peacefulness of the location, and the spa. It’s a superb wellness destination in the Eastern Townships.
Gabriel, who was working the front desk when I arrived, has a great sense of humour, and despite what he thinks, his English is quite good too (which was a nice surprise when my French failed me).
The rooms and suites range from 165 to 500 CAD per night, which includes breakfast and spa access for the duration of your stay. Guests driving EV vehicles can charge at no extra cost (which was a delightful surprise when I arrived driving a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV).
The hotel’s website, which is where you book a stay, is in French but you can use sites like DeepL or Google Translate to help clarify things. It’s Quebec, a French-speaking province, so this is normal (and one of the reasons why I love living here).
Some staff speak a little English, and translation apps can help onsite if you get stuck. Honestly, everyone is wonderful and very patient. Saying “Bonjour” and “Merci” can go a long way when interacting with locals, here are a few helpful phrases if you want to go a bit further.
Ready for a wellness getaway near Lac Megantic?
