Is the Hotel Ambassadeur Autism Friendly? -

Quebec City was the second stop on our East Coast Canada road trip, with a two-night stay at the Hotel Ambassadeur.

Zen and I had stayed here a couple of years earlier on a trip to New Brunswick. As soon as I saw that splash pad, I knew we had to come back with Brie. I usually try to book a hotel with a pool when I travel with Brie, since a swim before bed helps her regulate after a long day. I knew she’d be excited to see there was a splash pad too, which made this an easy choice for our stay.

Quick Facts about the Hotel Ambassadeur

It is a budget-friendly hotel, with rooms starting as low as $105/night.
The hotel is a 12-minute drive to Old Quebec, 8 minutes to Montmorency Falls, and 30 minutes to Canyon Sainte-Anne.
There is an on-site restaurant, plus a Cora’s and Subway in the plaza attached to the hotel, and a Tim Hortons just beside it.
Parking is free.
The highlight of the hotel is the atrium, with a heated pool, hot tub, and splash pad.

This review focuses specifically on what makes Hotel Ambassadeur autism-friendly. If you’re looking for a more general overview of the property, you can read my full Hotel Ambassadeur review.

If you’re planning a trip and want more autism-friendly attractions and activities in Quebec City, check out my Sensory Friendly in Quebec City Guide (coming soon, so follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss it). I’ll also be sharing our Is It Autism Friendly? review of Canyon Sainte-Anne, as well as my full guide on Things to Do in Quebec City.

And if you’re just starting out and want practical tips to make travelling with an autistic child easier, be sure to read our autism travel guide.

Now, let’s get into my Hotel Ambassadeur autism review.

My Hotel Ambassadeur Autism-Friendly Rating

Overall rating: 8/10

We had a good stay at the Hotel Ambassadeur, but it’s definitely dated and a bit run-down. That said, it was clean and comfortable, which matters more to me. Outdated furniture and some chipped paint aren’t deal breakers, as long as everything is actually clean.

What really makes this hotel worth booking is the atrium. The pool and splash pad are the highlights, and they make this a great choice for autistic kids who love the water.

Hotel Ambassadeur Rooms

Rating: 7/10

We stayed in an Economy Two Queen room, which is just a standard hotel room. The room was pretty small, but we still had enough space to store our luggage and bags of food. The mini fridge was smaller than I expected, but it fit what we had brought for breakfasts and lunches.

Brie goes to bed at 9:00 every night, and she’s very strict about her schedule. She prefers the room to be dark and quiet, so we can’t watch TV once she’s ready for bed. She does wear a sleep mask, so a bit of light from a phone doesn’t bother her at least.

This makes stays in a standard hotel room tricky, compared to a suite or Airbnb where Brie would have her own space. Luckily, the atrium has lots of seating, and the balconies overlooking it have some lounge chairs too. This gave Zen and I somewhere to relax on our phones without having to turn the volume off, while Brie and Grandma went to bed early.

Noise

Rating: 7/10

The Hotel Ambassadeur does a good job with soundproofing, which is rare in a hotel.

On our first night, Zen and I could hear a dog barking from a room down the hall as we walked back around 10:00. I was a bit worried when we could still hear it at our door. But once we were inside and the door was closed, it was completely quiet. We also had a fan running, which helped block out any extra noise.

Brie had no issues with outside sounds. She was fast asleep when we got back and slept through the night without any issues.

Safety For Children with Autism

Rating:7/10

The room felt as safe as any standard hotel room. The door had a chain lock, which would help slow down a child trying to leave. If your child is prone to wandering or running, I would still recommend bringing a travel door alarm. I always sleep better knowing I’ll wake up if Brie tries to leave.

At night, the doors to the atrium (where the pool is located) and the balcony areas are locked, so a child who manages to get out of the room through the night at least wouldn’t be able to get to the water.

Hotel Ambassadeur Auism-Friendly Amenities

Rating: 9/10

The Hotel Ambassadeur is very child-oriented, which makes it a great choice for families traveling with autistic kids.

This was the first hotel I’ve seen with a splash pad. It’s a great feature for all kids, especially for children like Brie who love water. That said, there were a couple of safety concerns. First, the splash pad was very slippery—Brie fell while running through the water on our second night. Second, it sits on a platform a few steps above the atrium, and there’s no barrier to prevent a child from falling off.

The pool was great. It’s not too big, and it isn’t too deep. There is plenty of seating on the pool deck, so parents can easily supervise older kids who can touch from outside the water.

The atrium itself is large and has a relaxing tropical theme. It’s a perfect spot for a child who needs more space to run or play than they would have in their room.

We didn’t try the on-site restaurant, but there are lots of kid-friendly options nearby. Subway and Cora’s are in the attached plaza, Tim Hortons is right beside the hotel, and there’s a McDonald’s is just past the plaza. This makes dinner options easy and convenient for families.

Ready to book?

Click here to check out the Hotel Ambassadeur rates.

Brie’s Experience at Hotel Ambassadeur

During our stay at the Hotel Ambassadeur, the air conditioners were broken. The hotel contacted us in advance and offered to relocate us, but we chose to stay and accept their 50% discount instead. Brie had no issues with the heat, and with a fan running, it didn’t affect her sleep at all.

This was probably her favorite hotel of our East Coast Canada road trip—thanks to the pool, the splash pad, and the birds.

Right after checking in, we headed to the atrium to swim because it was so hot. As soon as we got there, Brie noticed a cage with two birds. She was fascinated, watching them for a while before heading to the splash pad.

She figured out how to turn the splash pad on quickly, but didn’t go right in. A couple of other kids noticed she had turned it on and ran over to go in. Then, she happily ran through it. After she finished playing, she was ready for the pool. Even Grandma came in and stayed longer than I expected, since the water was so warm. When we got out of the pool, Brie went back to the bird cage before heading into the hot tub. After about 10 minutes, she was done and ready to go back up to the room.

On the second night, Grandma took Brie to the pool while I organized a few things in the room. When I joined them, I found Grandma relaxing on a lounger while Brie played with a little girl in the pool. Brie was never the type to make friends at playgrounds, so it was amazing to see her engaging and playing with another child. The other child looked about 8. While Brie is 18, her developmental level is much younger, so they were able to play together without any awkwardness.

After a while, the girl asked Brie if she wanted to go to the splash pad. Of course, she said yes. They had a great time running around until Brie slipped and fell. She hit the ground hard but wasn’t hurt. She just needed a minute to sit, and then she was back up and playing—this time being careful and going slower.

Other Quebec City Hotel Options

Prefer something a bit more updated? Here are some other great child-friendly hotels in Quebec City to consider:

L’Hôtel Québec ($-$$)
Hôtel Must ($-$$)
Hotel & Suites Le Dauphin Quebec ($$-$$$)

While the Hotel Ambassadeur does need some renovations and upgrades, it’s still a clean and comfortable option. For families looking for a budget-friendly hotel with extra amenities for the kids, it’s a great choice.

If you want to see more hotels and attractions we’ve rated for being autism-friendly (on our East Coast Canada road trip and other trips throughout Ontario) follow us on Facebook and TikTok. We share reviews of autism friendly events, attractions, and hotels, plus practical tips for families planning sensory-friendly travel across Canada and beyond.

Do you have tips for staying at a hotel with an autistic child? Join our new Autism on Vacation Facebook group, where families can share reviews, swap advice, and get help planning their trips.