The Real Deal: Seven nights' apartment accommodations and a three-day museum/two-day bus pass, for $889 per person—all taxes included.
When: Saturdays through Dec. 12, 2009. Add $70 for Jan. 31, Feb. 7, June 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, and Dec. 19.
The fine print: All taxes and fees included. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $615. Some apartments require a supplement in addition to the base price. There are also options for three or four people. See the pricing info here. You can also book a two-week stay at some of the apartments. U.S. citizens will need a valid passport for travel in Canada. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Untours, 888/868-6871, untours.com.
Why it's a deal: Note that the trip price breaks down to $127 per person per night, including all taxes. You'll enjoy the authentic experience of living in an apartment in Lower Town, and you'll meet the owners to get their recommendations for the city. There's a kitchen, so you can save money on food, and the included museum and bus pass is a $50 value per person. Plus, you'll receive city maps and brochures and attend an orientation session.
Trip details: The Canada-Quebec Vacation Rentals are brand new for Untours, a company that specializes in apartment rentals, primarily in Europe.
After you book, Untours will send you its guide to Quebec City, so you can begin planning your visit. Untours hosts an orientation session shortly after arrival, where you can ask questions about the city or your apartment.
You can choose from a variety of Quebec City properties, based on availability for your travel dates. One property available for a one-week stay starting Jan. 3 is in Vieux Port in Old Quebec's Lower Town.
The Vieux Port apartment is a one-bedroom corner apartment with a full kitchen. The living room, which has cable TV and a DVD player, and a view of a marina. There's also a washing machine, free parking, Internet, and a roof terrace (shared with the rest of the building).
Your included Museum Card covers admission to 18 local museums and attractions for three consecutive days. See the Musee du Fort, which has a 400-square-foot model of Quebec City in 1750. A 30-minute show reenacts the six sieges of the city on the model. Or view exhibits at the Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec. This spring, the art museum will host an exhibit called "It Happened in your Neighbourhood: Contemporary Art in Quebec." The card doubles as a two-day bus pass.
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Quebec City: A unique Canadian hideaway
Quebec City is divided into Upper Town and Lower Town; most of Untours' apartment rentals are in Lower Town, the oldest part of the city. One highlight is Place Royale, a market square surrounded by 17th- and 18th-century houses. Lower Town is characterized by winding, narrow streets and old but restored buildings. To get to Upper Town (and to test your athletic prowess), take the "breakneck stairs," which have been around since the early 1600s.
Quebec City's rainiest months are June through September. Temperatures will top out in the upper 70s Fahrenheit in July and bottom out around 10 degrees in January.
For more tips on what to do, visit Quebec City's official tourism site.
Getting there: A recent Kayak search yielded these airfares to Quebec City in January 2009: $409 from Las Vegas (United), $548 from San Francisco (United), $559 from Miami (Northwest), $563 from St. Louis (Northwest), $566 from New York City (Northwest), $617 from D.C. (Northwest), and $689 from Denver (Northwest).
Transfers to and from the airport are not included; Quebec's official tourism site has some recommendations for shuttle services. Otherwise, a taxi ride will cost about $30.