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How to Book a Winter Trip to Quebec City

How to · Travel

How to Book a Winter Trip to Quebec City

Plan your escape to the Quebec Winter Carnival with a straightforward monthly budget and a 15-month timeline.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $1,800 before anything else
Across the 0% window $120.00/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $1,800 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

Quebec City in winter looks like a movie set. You have cobblestone streets, massive ice sculptures, and the smell of maple taffy cooling on fresh snow. The Winter Carnival is the best time to go, even if it is freezing. It turns the old city into a giant party with night parades and an ice palace.

A full trip usually runs about $1800. We can manage that cost by using the Discover it® Cash Back (Discover) card to spread things out. It gives us a specific window to pay for the flights and hotels without interest catching up to us.

The 0% window is a deadline, not free money. If you still have a balance after those 15 months, the standard interest rate kicks in on whatever is left. Stay on schedule to avoid those extra costs.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your festival dates

    The Carnival runs from late January through mid-February. Aim for the middle weekends to see the biggest parades and snow sculptures. Book a spot in Old Quebec at least six months out so you are close to the action.

  2. 02

    Watch the flight prices

    Flying into Quebec City can get pricey during the festival. Set your alerts early. If the price stays high, look at flights to Montreal and take the train for the last leg of the trip.

  3. 03

    Use your 0% window

    Put the $1800 cost on the Discover it® Cash Back (Discover). This card offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. It lets you book everything now while the inventory is high.

  4. 04

    Set a monthly target

    To pay off the trip before the interest starts, you need to pay $120 every month. Set up an automatic transfer so you don't have to think about it. This clears the deck in exactly 15 months.

  5. 05

    Gear up for the cold

    Quebec winters are no joke and you will be outside a lot. Buy heavy wool socks and waterproof boots before you head north. It is cheaper to buy gear at home than to pay tourist prices in a frozen city.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

Is the festival expensive?

The main events require an Effigy pass, which is a small plastic tag. It is usually under $30 and gets you into most areas for the whole festival. Your main costs will be the hotel and food.

Do I need to speak French?

Most people in the tourist areas of Quebec City speak English well. It is polite to learn a few basic phrases like Bonjour and Merci. You will get along just fine without being fluent.

How do I get around?

Old Quebec is small and very walkable. For events further out, the city runs a shuttle bus service during the festival. You won't need a rental car unless you plan to leave the city.

What is the best thing to eat?

Try the poutine and the beaver tails, which are fried dough pastries. You should also look for Caribou, a warm alcoholic drink famous at the festival. It helps with the cold.