Join Our State as we revel in the joy of Christmas and good cheer while we shop the markets, marvel at the lights and decorations, tour Québec City and Montréal, and savor the season of generosity.
November 30 – December 4, 2023
Package Includes:
Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport *- Four nights’ first-class hotel accommodations
- 7 meals: four breakfasts and three dinners
- Wine and beer reception
- All sightseeing and admissions as listed
- Deluxe motor coach transportation
- Professional tour guide and driver
- Our State host
- Baggage handling
- Hotel transfers
Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport **Note: Air is round-trip out of Montréal due to limited air capacity out of Québec City. Some departures may operate in reverse. Doing your own air for this tour is not recommended.
Accommodations:
- Two Nights – Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montréal
- Two Nights – Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Québec City
Note: On some dates, an alternate hotel may be substituted
Itinerary Highlights:
- Montréal City tour
- Montréal Underground City
- Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
- VIA Rail Canada train – Montréal to Québec
- Québec City tour
- Montmorency Falls
- Montréal Christmas Market
- Quartier Petit Champlain
- German Christmas Market
- Christmas Market in Québec City
- Albert Gilles Copper Art & Museum
DAY 1: ARRIVE MONTRÉAL
Upon arrival in Montréal, meet your tour director and transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay at the historic Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Although Montréal is one of the world’s five largest French-speaking cities, most residents are bilingual. Montréal hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics, and played host to Expo 67, considered to be the most successful world’s fair of the 20th Century. This evening, join your fellow Our State travelers for a wine and beer reception and Welcome Dinner.
Meals: D
Overnight: Montréal
DAY 2: MONTRÉAL CITY TOUR
Montréal, with its dual English and French cultures, is Canada’s most cosmopolitan city. This morning, enjoy a Montréal City tour highlighting the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Place Jacques-Cartier, McGill University, and a panoramic view of the city from atop Mount Royal. Stop to visit the Underground City (the RÉSO), one of Montréal’s biggest visitor attractions, which keeps Montrealer’s warm during the winter months. The RÉSO features shops and restaurants and is connected to subways, train stations, and hotels. Later, stop to explore a Christmas market. Whether it’s sipping mulled wine or walking in the changing landscape that gets you into the festive spirit, nothing says, “it’s the holiday season,” like a Christmas market. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers at a local restaurant in Old Town Montréal. The Old City features 17th and 18th century architecture, cafés, restaurants, and cobblestone streets all contributing to a quaint European-like charm.
Meals: B, D
Overnight: Montréal
DAY 3: MONTRÉAL – RAIL JOURNEY – QUÉBEC CITY
This morning, board VIA Rail Canada for the scenic and relaxing train ride to Québec City, the Paris of North America. Carved into the bluffs overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is the provincial capital and probably the best-preserved city in North America. Upon arrival, check into the famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac for a two-night stay. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore one of the oldest cities in Canada. Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has among its distinguishing characteristics narrow cobblestone streets, stone buildings, fortifications, and rich French-Canadian culture grounded in the French language. Perhaps, visit one of the Christmas markets on your own, do some shopping, or enjoy dinner at one of Québec City’s many restaurants.
Meals: B
Overnight: Québec City
DAY 4: QUÉBEC CITY TOUR
This morning, visit the Albert Gilles Copper Art & Museum. From copper ore to copper art, discover the mysterious atmosphere of a copper mine. See the copper bearing rocks and then admire the fine artifacts collected from around the world. Then, visit the historic Montmorency Falls, the highest falls in Eastern Canada, 98 feet higher than Niagara Falls and one of the most popular attractions in the region. Later, enjoy a Québec City tour introducing you to Old and New Québec, North America’s only walled city. The tour features the Plains of Abraham, La Citadelle de Québec, and views of the St. Lawrence River. Lights, decorations, and snow create an enchanting setting like no other within Old Québec. No wonder CNN ranked Québec City among the world’s top 15 destinations for celebrating the holidays! Visit the German Christmas Market in the heart of Old Québec, a market designed to recreate the atmosphere of the big European Christmas Markets. Visit the illuminated and decorated streets of the Quartier Petit Champlain. This district is located at the foot of the cliff under the Château Frontenac and recognized as one of the most beautiful areas of Old Québec City. Particularly magical in winter, the pedestrian streets are lined with shops and bistros, offering a festive atmosphere during the holiday season. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travelers at local restaurant with holiday flair.
Meals: B, D
Overnight: Québec City
DAY 5: QUÉBEC CITY* TO MONTRÉAL – FLY HOME
This morning, travel to Montréal for your flight home, filled with wonderful memories of your Montréal and Québec City Christmas Market experience.
Meals: B
*Note: Air is round-trip out of Montréal due to limited air capacity out of Québec City. Some departures may operate in reverse. Doing your own air for this tour is not recommended.
Tour Rates:
Regular Rate: $3,199 per person based on double occupancy
Booking Discount: $3,099 per person based on double occupancy*
Single supplement: $675
*Please ask about the “No Risk Deposit” plan.
For reservations and more information:
Premiere World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com
Additional Information:
What to expect on an Our State trip:
Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.
We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.
You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.
Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.
Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.
One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
Physical requirements:
Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.
Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.
Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.
We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.
If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions – Update:
Effective January 1, 2023, Our State highly encourages, but no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters for travelers on our domestic tours. This policy goes into effect for international travelers on April 30, 2023. We will keep all participants updated of any changes to these requirements.
