Gite du haut des arbres

The view is amazing, and it’s a unique place to stay. There are fun spots to explore in the common areas, especially outside. Our room had everything we needed, including a private bathroom, which was great, though it was so tiny that moving around was difficult. It’s about a 15-minute drive downtown, and a taxi costs around $20 plus tip. The Google description needs updating because breakfast isn’t included.

We only drove through and didn’t have enough time to stay longer, but even a one-day visit left a huge impression. It’s a charming, chic, modern place, and would be lovely for a couple, a family, or a group of friends.

The property is about a 10-minute drive from Chicoutimi, and the river views are beautiful. The landscaping and layout are lovely, with wooden stairs to the rooms and buildings, a water feature, Adirondack chairs, and more. Our room was clean and well equipped, and there was plenty of hot water for the shower. We stayed in “La Suite,” which has a private entrance and an advertised private patio. The entrance was private, but the large patio with the BBQ, table, and chairs was only semi-private. The shared pool is reached through that patio, so guests going to the pool walk across it and can look straight into the room through its large, completely clear patio doors. The glass isn’t tinted, so the room is visible from the patio and even from the pool area if someone is standing. There’s no clear sign saying the patio is private, so other guests might wander in while exploring. Soundproofing is poor too, and we could hear everything happening in the nearby staircase and corridor. The room was still nice and comfortable, but anyone for whom privacy matters most may want to look elsewhere. The breakfast was disappointing. From the website and photos, I expected a warm homemade breakfast served in the morning, but it was left for us the night before. It was one plastic-wrapped pastry that didn’t seem homemade or fresh, a muffin more like cake in taste and texture, a store-bought juice box, a small yogurt, and a small apple. I’d skip it. A bakery or supermarket in town would be much cheaper and better.

The river and ice views were beautiful, and Saguenay worked well as a base for dog sledding and the winter festival. We really enjoyed our stay at Gite Du Haut Arbres and will come back. The only difficulty was the language gap: we speak very little French, and our hosts speak very little English.