Auberge Internationale La Vieille École occupies a former school at 295 1ère Avenue Est in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, and it is the budget choice on the north coast. The property carries a two-star class and offers a wide choice of rooms, from an economy single and standard rooms with a queen bed to junior suites, studios and larger suites that sleep four, some with a private bathroom and a few with a shared one, so it is worth reading the room description before you book. Views take in the sea, the garden, the hill or the mountains, depending on the room. Facilities include a terrace, a garden, laundry facilities, free WiFi in the rooms and free parking, and rooms have microwaves, coffee and tea makers and heating. The walls are described as sound-insulated and the windows have screens. The property is smoke-free, and pets are not allowed. It is listed as welcoming to LGBTQ travellers. Guest reviews are mixed and honest: visitors praise the cleanliness, the location and the staff, while some mention an old smell and dated beds, which is what you would expect from a converted school at a modest price. Check-in runs from mid afternoon until early evening and after-hours check-in is not available, and check-out is at 10:30 a.m.
Location and getting around
The inn is a few minutes by car from the wharf and Exploramer, and the road up route 299 to Gaspésie National Park starts nearby, so it is a practical base for a trip that mixes museum time with mountain time. The town has restaurants and shops, and the Centre de plein air de la Haute-Gaspésie, with its winter slopes, is a short drive. You will want a car, and the inn has free parking.
The rooms and the feel
The building is a school, so rooms vary in shape and size, from compact singles to large family suites of about thirty square metres. The studios and suites with a kitchen-style set-up of microwave and coffee maker suit families and groups who want to prepare simple meals. If you want a private bathroom, choose a standard, superior or suite room and check the details, because the smallest studio uses a shared one. The garden and the terrace are pleasant on a summer evening.
Who it suits and what to know: choose La Vieille École if price matters more than polish. It suits hikers who will spend most of the day outside, young travellers, cyclists and families who want space at a low rate. If you need a restaurant on site, a pool or a spa, look at Château Lamontagne or one of the larger hotels.
Book early for July and August, and ask the staff about arrival times, since there is no after-hours check-in. It is a friendly, basic and characterful place, and its value comes from its location and its rooms rather than from fittings.
Why stay here
- ✓Converted school building
- ✓Ten room types
- ✓Terrace
- ✓Garden
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Free parking
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓In-room microwave
Good questions
Where is La Vieille École?+
At 295 1ère Avenue Est in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, a few minutes by car from Exploramer and the wharf.
Do all rooms have a private bathroom?+
No. Most do, but the smallest studio uses a shared bathroom, so check the room description when you book.
Are pets allowed?+
No. Pets are not allowed, and check-in is from mid afternoon until early evening with no after-hours check-in.
