Fraser Hotel
May 2022
The Fraser Motel is one of the few hotels in the town of Chandler in the Gaspe region. Not to be mistaken with the Fraser motel located in Riviere-du-Loup. It is located on highway 132, outside of town toward the west. It is not located close to the sea, and we can’t see it from the hotel or from the rooms. There is little commercial activity from a walking distance. There are restaurants and shops from a couple of minute drive. I stayed there for one night during a business trip.
The property
This establishment is built in part on two stories. Access to the room sis by a long corridor along the rooms from the reception. At the entrance there is a bar and a restaurant. The backyard gives access to an exterior pool, not heated, so opened only in the summer. A large parking lot surrounds the main building.
The room
Rooms are accessible from two doors, the first from the corridor lading to the reception, or a second leading directly outside in the parking. The room has two double beds and in of fair size. The beds are comfortable and have provided me an excellent night of sleep. The floor is covered with synthetic wood. A nightstand is placed between the beds and a power socket is accessible there.
The room is equipped with a small fridge, a luggage stand, an ironing board with its iron, and a Keurig capsule coffee maker. There is no microwave oven. A small open closet is available near the room entrance. A large desk is placed against a wall, but its chair is not on wheels. A power plug is accessible from the desk. A small table with two chairs is placed near the window. These three chairs of the same model are not very comfortable. The furniture is old and worn.
A small television set is installed on the wall above the desk. USB and HDMI are available behind the TV, but hard to reach. The television service only offers basic channels.
The bathroom
The bathroom seems to have been renovated recently. There is a shower and no bath. There is only a fixed glass panel to close the shower, no door. So, water falls on the floor during a shower. There is no shelf or soap dish in the shower to hold your soap or shampoo bottle. The shower is not very clean since there are mildew stains in the corners. I met silver fish on the floor (Lepisma saccharina).
The bathroom fan is loud.
The bathroom is rather small. The sink is a basin and this shape uses a lot of counter space which could be useful otherwise.
Services
Breakfast is not included with the room. Meals are served at the hotel restaurant, which is convenient since there is no alternative from a walking distance. I went to this restaurant during my stay and the dishes were excellent.
The exterior parking is free. It is a non-paved dirt surface very bumpy during my stay. At night, this area is not well lighted. According to indications, there is a snowmobile track nearby. It was not in operation during my stay since there was no snow.
During my stay, the free Wi-Fi signal (internet) was weak or not available. Otherwise, the cellular signal is not very strong in this side of the town.
The reception is not open 24 hours. The reception is not accessible early in the morning and late at night. An ingenious self-registering system is provided, with a key sake, located in the hotel entrance. So, if you are planning on arrival late, outside of the opening hours, it is recommended that you get in advance the procedure to get your room key.
Design
The bathroom seems to have been renovated, probably ten years ago. The room also, but the process does not seem to have been completed for the furniture. Colors and textures in the room are discrete but interesting, but the table and chairs do not match and are worn.
My two cents
In general, accommodation quality in the Gaspe region does not compare to what can be found elsewhere in Quebec, for the same price range. Chandler being one of the largest towns in the Baie des Chaleurs, an increase in the quality level could be expected. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Considering these factors, this hotel is your best choice in Chandler in terms of quality. It is a desirable choice for short business trips. But because of its location, it is not the best choice for vacations. Personally, my choice would lean towards an establishment closer to the commercial activity, and with a view on the sea, for this this type of stay.
The devil is in the details:
- Weak Wi-Fi (internet) signal or not available.
- Bumpy parking lot.
- Bathroom fan noisy.
Pros
- Restaurant and bar on site.
- Good restaurant.
Cons
- Desk chair without wheels and not comfortable.
- Humidity issues in the bathroom, molds, and silver fishes.
- No shelf or soap dish in the shower.