LAURENTIANS

Pre-Stay Guide

The Pre-Stay Guide to a Perfect Arrival at the Chalet Renne, Laurentians.

Hello there! Thank you for booking your stay at Chalet Renne. Here is some useful information to take into account before your arrival

Directions.

Navigate to our Chalet Renne! Refer to the google map here and DO NOT make the mistake of turning too soon on ch. du lac de la montagne noire in Lantier. Chalet Renne is in St-donat-de-montcalm.

239 chemin du lac de la montagne noire, saint-donat-de-montcalm, Quebec J0T 2C0

 

About the driveway:

Unlocking the front door.

Get August App installed on your phone (this is your bluetooth lock) and we will grant your profile access 1 week prior to your stay. Then follow these simple steps on your arrival:

House Rules - take them all in and let us know if you have questions!

  • Bringing outside guests on the property without the permission of the owners is forbidden. We do not allow parties.  

  • You can have a maximum of 10 guests staying in the Chalet unless we have a special arrangement with you. 

  • If the hot tub water needs to be replaced after your stay you are responsible for the replacement cost which is around $500 depending on the availability of a special hot tub water. 

  • Please do not smoke in the house. IF you are smoking outside the disposal of cigarettes is required to be in an ashtray (none are provided) and then put in the garbage. In other words, no trace of cigarette smoking should be left.

  • NO shedding dogs on the couches and bedrooms to respect future guests with allergies. We also ask that all dog poops be removed before leaving.

  • We live on a quiet lake and our neighbours value peace and quiet. Noise echos VERY easily when outside and on the lake. We also must stress that Chalet Renne is not “party-central”. We welcome you to come and have fun, just not at the expense of us and our neighbours!

More information about Chalet Renne - please read

  • The tap water is safe and very good to drink!

  • Heavy rains have become more frequent in Quebec. Please alert us if water has entered the basement.

  • We occasionally experience power outages that are beyond our control. We report outages as each occurs. No refunds or compensation will be given for any outages

  • Heavy rains have become more frequent in Quebec. Please alert us if water has entered the basement.

  • We DO NOT allow 2 wheel drive cars to descend the driveway between October and May. The driveway is too steep.

  • Here are the steps to start the AC:

    • Set to "Cool" settings on the panel above the desk

    • Set to 22 degrees.

    • Please note that it takes some time to cool the entire house, especially if the blinds and doors are open

    • DO NOT set AC lower than 21 degrees or it will overheat the system and you risk the chances of not having AC during your stay.

    • If you prefer the chalet to be cooler during your stay, we suggest closing the blinds and leaving doors shut. We are blessed with direct sunlight most of day but that raises the inside temperature.

Turn Your Quebec Vacation into a Retreat!

Try a Thermal Spa

Enjoy the deeply relaxing and invigorating health effects of a thermal spa experience right on our property. Nordic tradition is to heat the body through steam, radiant heat, or hot water and then rapidly cool the body through cold water immersion. We set up a dry sauna barrel and hot water spa next to the lake to allow for many ways to achieve the nordic tradition. We have 2 different thermal spa programs we recommend depending on the time of year.

Summertime Thermal Spa Program - May to November

  • 15 minutes in the dry sauna + add aroma infused water to the heater 3-10 times in spoonfuls to create steam, we suggest adding 10 drops of eucalyptus oil to the water container

  • 10 seconds or more in the lake (in May and November it may be enough to splash water on your body, it is that cold!)

  • 15 minutes in the spa - please make sure to wash your feet from sand and debris

Wintertime Thermal Spa Program

  • 15 minutes in the dry sauna + add aroma infused water to the heater 3-10 times in

    spoonfuls to create steam, we suggest adding 10 drops of eucalyptus oil to the water container

  • Stand in the cold or if there is snow, roll in the snow or scrub yourself with fresh snow

  • 15 minutes in the spa

Extra tips 

- bring water in the dry sauna to hydrate yourself all along

- take time to be still and meditate

- do this at night to experience the stars on a clear night

Swim in the Lake: All About Lac Boeuf

What is so special about our lake entrance?

We have a VERY shallow lake entrance. This means there is no possibility to dive off our dock from the shore and into the water. We LOVE this feature as it means there is very little chance of a drowning accident for adults, children or animals. We also enjoy a sandy entrance whereas just a few feet to the right and left there are wetlands. We get the benefits of the wetlands (water purification) but not the slimy feeling on our feet!

Where does the water come from?

Our dear (pun intended) little lake is a ground fed water reserve. This means there is no river that dumps into our lake. This is wonderful news! It means this water is pristine water with very little man made pollution possible as all water goes through the earth to be filtered before rising into the lake.

Why is the water orangey coloured?

You may notice the water has an orange tinge. This is because it is high in iron. This is not dangerous AT ALL. In fact, iron is something our bodies need every day, so drinking iron rich water is healthy. Our drinking water comes from a well dug behind the house so the same type of water you find in the lake will be in the drinking water. We balance the drinking water with salts because the iron stains all the porcelain in the bathrooms a nice rust colour otherwise. Our drinking water is tested regularly and is very delicious and perfect to drink.

Running, biking & walking near the Chalet

One of our founders favourite activities is running! Although running, biking or walking on the road is okay provided you are attentive to cars passing, we love the dirt road that wraps around the tiny lake we are on - Chemin Cloutier. The best running path is to run to Chemin Cloutier and follow the dirt road to the right all the way to the end and then come back and hug the right around lac boeuf and jog all the way to the end of the lake. Looping back and forth is about a 3.5km run.

Plan a private boating excursion

Getting on the larger lakes can be a fun experience. You can easily rent a boat for a day and cruise around. We recommend this rental place in St-Donat city center: https://locationaquaterre.com/

Hike Montagne Noire

The closest provincial hike is 5 minutes drive from Chalet Renne. It is a 2-3 hour hike to the summit and where you will find the remains of a plane that crashed in the 1940’s.

https://goo.gl/maps/b67Ssb76ENvg9Eqz6

For kids: the kid friendly hikes

There are 2 kid-friendly hikes worth mentioning because they are interesting and the distance is right for little legs.

Cap de la Fée (Fairy Cape Hike!): https://goo.gl/maps/YXZF9zju3VJW9sWf9

Very pretty hike!

Park Regional Val David Val Morin: https://g.page/ParcVDVMFarHills?share

Children’s mission & hike with goals and little activity zones built into an entirely flat hike. Perfect for very little hikers who also may want to be in strollers or on tricycles!

Eat out: Our Fave Local Restaurants

St-Donat - 15 minutes away

These are the quickest options to get to. There are classic pizza, hot dog, and ice cream places for fast foods. These are our fave restaurants to point out.

Dine-in

Couleur Cafe: https://couleurcafe.ca/?share

Cute little cafe in the heart of Saint Agathe village with delicious salads, sandwiches and coffee. They also offer catering.

Fast Eats

Boulangerie St-Donat: https://g.page/boulangeriestdonat?share

Famous for their pies, and providing great pastries and fresh bread!

Val David - 25 minutes away

When going on an excursion day we love to visit Val David for their art scene, farmers market, and hikes. You may want to slot in eating at one of these fave places too!

Dine-in

Le Mouton Noir: https://goo.gl/maps/R7JdM9RAFH8Gvm9c6

A fun eclectic place filled with life and great for a family friendly meal.

Fast Eats

Le General Cafe: https://goo.gl/maps/2wLc48gztFJZ1sgWA

Their healthy menu and variety of coffees. https://legeneralcafe.com/menu/dejeuners-diners/