Best way from Northern ME to Quebec City (Brunswick, Caribou: hotels, transfer)

[MainerWannabe]

Are there public transports to and from say Caribou/PQ/Van Buren to Quebec City? Northern ME is my focus to purchase property to eventually move/retire in, but I want to be able to get some "city fix" whenever I feel the need. I love Quebec City, and can see myself spending a weekend or two there, God willing none else than at the Chateau Frontenac! (I can dream, can't I?) But not sure about driving the distance in the dead of winter...

[Bydand]

Downtown Caribou to the Chateau Frontenac's entrance is about 4.5 hours in decent weather. In the winter those numbers can be right on as well, or way off depending on the conditions, which is impossible to guess. Made that drive several times myself (even spent the start of the Honeymoon with that drive). I don't recall there being a Public Transportation handy that makes the trip into Quebec City... but honestly, the 20 years I lived in the Caribou area, I never once really looked into public transportation either. Last time I stayed at the Chateau Frontenac it was cheaper than what the Caribou Inn and Convention center wanted for a room, and there is ZERO comparing those two places. One is a beautiful, luxury hotel overlooking the old town area of Quebec city; and the other is a filthy, run down, dump.

[maineguy8888]

Acadian Bus Lines runs from Fredericton to Quebec City and beyond (on the Transcanada). My friend has taken it several times. You can access it at several towns right across the border.
(There may be another Canadian bus line also).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

Acadian Bus Lines runs from Fredericton to Quebec City and beyond (on the Transcanada). My friend has taken it several times. You can access it at several towns right across the border.
(There may be another Canadian bus line also).

I think Acadian Lines runs only to Rivière-du-Loup, which is about 2 hours east of Quebec City. From there you can take Orléans Express buses to Quebec City and Montreal.

If you are in Van Buren, you can probably even walk to the Acadian Lines bus stop in St-Léonard, New Brunswick just across the bridge. Not sure about Caribou though...

[Kiwiluver]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Downtown Caribou to the Chateau Frontenac's entrance is about 4.5 hours in decent weather. In the winter those numbers can be right on as well, or way off depending on the conditions, which is impossible to guess. Made that drive several times myself (even spent the start of the Honeymoon with that drive). I don't recall there being a Public Transportation handy that makes the trip into Quebec City... but honestly, the 20 years I lived in the Caribou area, I never once really looked into public transportation either. Last time I stayed at the Chateau Frontenac it was cheaper than what the Caribou Inn and Convention center wanted for a room, and there is ZERO comparing those two places. One is a beautiful, luxury hotel overlooking the old town area of Quebec city; and the other is a filthy, run down, dump.

Book ahead, I tried to get a room at Chateau Frontenac last weekend, SOLD OUT! 'course there was this skating thingy going on in downtown Quebec.

[MainerWannabe]

Originally Posted by Kiwiluver

Book ahead, I tried to get a room at Chateau Frontenac last weekend, SOLD OUT! 'course there was this skating thingy going on in downtown Quebec.

That's some good advice! I actually never stayed at the Frontenac, but I think it is one of the grandest hotels of the world. Definitely planning on staying when/if I'll get that that city boy inside bored...

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I think Acadian Lines runs only to Rivière-du-Loup, which is about 2 hours east of Quebec City. From there you can take Orléans Express buses to Quebec City and Montreal.

If you are in Van Buren, you can probably even walk to the Acadian Lines bus stop in St-Léonard, New Brunswick just across the bridge. Not sure about Caribou though...

You may be right; in any event it's an easy transfer.
The closest stop to Caribou would be Perth-Andover (about fifteen minutes away).

[Northern Maine Land Man]

The Chateau Frontenac should bve on everybody's bucket list. That said, the Beaver Club restaurant in the Canadian Pacific in Montreal should also be in the bucket. I pulled in to Montreal in February back in 92 and decided that the town was really dead. Then I found "Underground Montreal". There are malls and fine restaurants everywhere and they are all underground as part of the subway system. It's amazing and most people speak some English.

[MainerWannabe]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

The Chateau Frontenac should bve on everybody's bucket list. That said, the Beaver Club restaurant in the Canadian Pacific in Montreal should also be in the bucket. I pulled in to Montreal in February back in 92 and decided that the town was really dead. Then I found "Underground Montreal". There are malls and fine restaurants everywhere and they are all underground as part of the subway system. It's amazing and most people speak some English.

I give you that. The underground in Montreal is something! But Montreal is not as beautiful as Quebec City, nor does it give you the impression that you are somewhere in Europe. I believe they expanded their underground since '92, you should go for another visit, very cool.