Gite du Lac à la tortue

Excellent

Accommodation clean and owners friendly but set in someone's back garden which was looking tired / scruffy. Not what we expected and not the private beach described. We were somewhat underwhelmed!

This place is an unbelievable hidden gem, and the reason its not a 4.9 or higher is due to only one, unreasonable one star. Jeanne is simply fantastic, her personality is all over the decor, the experience, and the ambiance. The food, views, and hospitality are all to die for, but keep your expectations low and away from a 5* hotel - and you’ll be amazed. We’ll be coming back here and recommending to friends for sure.

First impressions caused some concern - the entrance / parking area does not look like a rental hotel, you may feel like you're in a miskept home or home business. But the hosts were very welcoming, spoke English and were very friendly and helpful. Nice cottage on a small lake, chairs on the dock to watch the sunset. Service and meals were excellent, and they made us feel well-attended to. Nice location to go spend the day at the Parc nationale de la Mauricie, which has many hiking trails and beaches. The King size bed was like a futon mattress, but I had the best night sleep! Separate charge to use one of several hot tubs, but you can also schedule a massage in a lovely outbuilding.