Maison Harvey Lessard

I don’t understand the high rating. The room was clean, but tiny, and the small deck was pleasant. The location was the main downside: this isn’t within walking distance of town, where parking is very limited, and we wished we’d stayed somewhere walkable. The main road is some distance away, but whenever a ferry unloads, cars and trucks roar up the hill, speeding with their engines going. There’s no breakfast, though there is a Keurig for coffee.

We stayed at this lovely inn in July 2021 and found it relaxing. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the fjord views are spectacular. It’s also very close to town and local points of interest. I’d personally have liked a TV in the standard room, and breakfast to go would be a nice option, but that’s just my preference.

At $232 a night, this was a poor place to rest. The sound insulation is bad, and you can hear the route outside the window. There’s no air conditioning, and the bedding seems to be 100% polystyrene, so sleeping badly on vacation turned rest into a punishment. The toilet door isn’t airtight either, which doesn’t help comfort. There’s no breakfast, and the third-floor room is reached by a narrow staircase. It feels like the owners care only about money and aren’t interested in guest comfort.

The best part of La Maison Harvey Lessard was the outdoor space. Our ground-floor room opened onto its own little backyard patio with a table and two chairs, overlooking the garden and then the Rivière Saguenay and the ferry to Baie Ste-Catherine. Watching the sunset over the wildflowers as the ferry crossed the fjord is something I’ll never forget. The hosts have arranged the rooms to make the most of that view. We stayed two nights in June 2022. The room was clean and comfortable, and there was free street parking in front. There’s no air conditioning, but they provide a fan, and opening the patio door in the evening cooled things down. In the front vestibule, a charming kitchenette has a toaster, kettle, fridge, microwave, dishes and cutlery, tea, and coffee. We arrived late and called the host, who was gracious and accommodating. She left our key somewhere accessible and said we could call if we needed anything. She was patient with my non-fluent French, too. The house is at the top of a steep hill, and I wouldn’t relish driving up in icy weather, but it’s close to the highway and otherwise easy to reach. Many thanks!