Nomadic hotel, comfortable glamping

A hybrid between camping and hotels, on a site that changes every two and a half months. We stayed at the UNIQ Hotel, currently located in the Eastern Townships, at Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook.

Valerie Simard
The Press

(Coaticook) From Route 147, a few turns from the well-known Coaticook dairy, you can see the fifteen lotus tents placed in a field adjacent to the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook campground. The set has the air of a hippie-chic village different from the usual ready-to-camp and inevitably arouses the curiosity of the inhabitants of the region.

Launched in the summer of 2020, the Hôtel UNIQ (Unités nomades insolites québécoises) was first and foremost a response to the temporary lack of accommodation in the region during festivals. The pandemic having forced the cancellation of all events, the concept has moved from a festive context to a relaxing environment, without however leaving aside the community aspect. “We wanted to make people live the spirit of travel, but in Quebec, co-founder Myriam Corbeil told us when launching Hôtel UNIQ. There really wasn’t a concept like that, glamping where there is a meeting place. »

Two years later, this vision continues to be central to the experience. Even if each family bubble benefits from its own tent, all are called upon to socialize at happy hour and meals under the common tent, or in the evening around the campfire, tasting S’mores and listening to the stories of a local anthropologist or the music of a local artist. “We really want to foster community spirit,” emphasizes Myriam Corbeil.

During our visit last weekend, however, traffic was low, as the tourist season in Quebec has not yet officially started. But one can easily imagine how these meeting points become places conducive to impromptu exchanges, the time for a simple hello or more if affinities.

Here is a recipe that is duplicated from one site to another. The facilities too, and the little touches (welcome cocktail on arrival, morning coffee, local drinks and snacks). There is no electricity on site, but the common tent has everything you need to cook, serve meals (propane rounds and barbecue, coffee maker, kitchen utensils and dishes) and charge your cell phone. It is also possible to order in advance a breakfast or a three-course dinner prepared by a local chef.

Inside the tents, comfort is key. Unlike camping, you sleep in a bed with bedding provided. Two chairs and a small desk complete the furniture. The background noise of traffic (one of the weak points of this site) and the rather dazzling morning light, since the tents are located in full sun, could however disturb those who seek total peace of mind. Wolf and corks will be your best allies.

The basic tent includes a double bed, but it is possible to add two additional single beds for families. The UNIQ experience is also perfectly adapted to children, particularly that of the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook: the activities are numerous, the facilities of the adjacent campsite are accessible (toilet block, swimming pool, water games) and the mosquitoes are rare.

It’s also a great opportunity to see the Foresta Lumina night course by Moment Factory, which has been illuminating the gorge and its mythical suspension bridge since 2014.

You can also discover the beauties of the gorge during the day or take advantage of the activities offered on the site, such as an outdoor escape game (The legend of Liéri), the popular mountain bike or the farmhouse in Margaret and its wide variety of animals – a big hit with the little ones.

You must also walk all or part of the Tillotson trail, less known than that of the Gorge, but also more peaceful. This 8.5 km loop passes very close to the site occupied by the UNIQ Hotel. We walk along flowered meadows before entering the forest animated by a stream and waterfalls. Wonderful.

Since the UNIQ Hotel is still a pearl to be discovered, spontaneous glampers will be happy to learn that there are still several availabilities for the weeks to come (even on weekends!); a rare situation in the ready-to-camp landscape in Quebec. The pop-up village will be in Coaticook until 1^er August, then, from August 4 to October 16, at Domaine Saint-Bernard, in Mont-Tremblant, a site he had visited last year and which was a big crush, confides Myriam Corbeil.

Having not given up on its desire to tie in with festivals, Hôtel UNIQ will also be passing through in a reduced version on Île Saint-Quentin, in Trois-Rivières, from June 30 to July 11, when the FestiVoix will beat its full downtown.

The beauty of this concept is also that you can go back to it without replaying in the same film.

From $149 per night. Two night minimum stay.