Back on his island

It is to François Jacques, native of the island and dynamic owner of Québec Aventures Tours, that we owe these exotic routes, motorized to boot. And they are timely.

Fans know: it’s not easy to find rental scooters outside of Montreal. But for several years now, the man, an adventurer at heart, has sniffed out a good deal. By buying the old Motel Île d’Orléans (which he modestly repaired, with the means at hand, see box), in the village of Saint-Laurent, he added an adventurous formula, precisely, to the project: guided tours by bike, electric bike and scooter. Notice to those interested: he has vehicles galore, helmets included.

No, these are not fancy Vespas. Ours, rented at the beginning of the month, was a Scootterre Nostalgia, which had experience, certainly, but above all the great merit of being light, which makes driving all the more fluid. Note that you just need to be 18 years old and a driving license (driving experience is recommended, but not obligatory), and that’s it. Please note that several vehicles also take passengers aged 12 and over.

You have the smells, you feel the wind. No, you don’t have the exercise, but you see more things, without the shell of the tank.

François Jacques, founding owner of Québec Aventure Tours

François Jacques, who cycled in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand (not forgetting the United States, from one end to the other!), who worked in British Columbia as a history teacher, then at Coca- Cola in business development, always knew he would return to live on the island one day.

” Yes. Because there is nothing more beautiful than that,” he answers without hesitation, pointing straight ahead, towards this unique, immense view, towards the river. In the distance, on the continent, we can vaguely discern Château Frontenac. Impossible not to smile.

And that, this immensity punctuated by hills, small local businesses and heritage houses, scattered here and there, also “lends” itself very well to the scooter. “It’s a bit like the cycling experience,” he says.

Retro motel

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Let’s be honest, it’s not a great luxury. The rooms at the Motel Île d’Orléans, which also houses the offices (and bicycles) of Québec Aventure Tours, have been humbly renovated and don’t look like much. It’s clean, certainly, nicely flowered, but nothing more: a bed (or two), a bedside table, a small work table. On the wall: a flat screen. In a corner: a nice coffee machine and a mini-fridge. “It will never be Château Frontenac,” says its owner, François Jacques, with full knowledge of the facts. We don’t come here for the decor or the finish, but rather for the view. And there, nothing to complain about. From the balcony (and each of the 13 small rooms has one), the horizon is unique. Giant. It’s nice in the morning to sip your coffee there while savoring the immensity of the landscape. And we especially appreciate its ease of access (a few minutes from the island bridge), its cosmopolitan fauna, which is a little reminiscent ofSpanish hotel, and especially its price. Starting at $129 per room, good luck finding something better nearby. Without forgetting its terrace, freshly built on the roof, which next year will house a counter from the microbrewery La Barberie, from Quebec, and some dishes from its kitchen, La Bourrache.

507, route Prévost, Saint-Laurent-de-l’Île-d’Orléans

Visit the Motel Île d’Orléans website