Jaro Hotel Quebec City: Family-Friendly Stay with Aquarium Access

Who Owns Jaro Hotels?

Jaro Hotels is owned by AGAPQ (Association des gens d’affaires de la région de Québec), a business association that has operated hotels under the Jaro brand since the late 1990s. The group currently manages seven properties in the Québec City area, including three that are most frequently reviewed online: L’Hôtel Québec par JARO, Hôtel Québec Inn par JARO, and Hôtel Palace Royal par JARO.

The Jaro brand positions itself as a midscale-to-upscale alternative to international chains, emphasizing local ownership and direct booking advantages. According to the chain’s official site, Jaro Hotels operates a Best Price Guarantee that promises guests will not find a cheaper room price elsewhere for the same hotel, room type, and dates when booked directly on hotelsjaro.com. Under this policy, if a lower public rate is found on another online booking site within 24 hours of direct booking, Jaro will match the rate and apply an additional 10% discount.

Ownership Structure

AGAPQ, the parent organization, represents a network of local business owners in the Québec City region. This structure means Jaro Hotels operates as a regional cooperative rather than a franchise of a global brand. Travelers who prefer supporting locally owned accommodations may find this relevant when comparing options.

History of Jaro Hotels

The brand expanded significantly in the 2000s, with Hôtel Palace Royal par JARO opening in December 2000 as a four-star property steps from Château Frontenac and Rue Saint-Jean. L’Hôtel Québec par JARO, the largest property in the portfolio, opened as a family-focused resort targeting vacationing households with children.

What Is Jaro?

Jaro is a regional hotel chain based in Québec City, operating seven properties across the metropolitan area. Unlike international brands that franchise globally, Jaro Hotels focuses on the Québec City market, offering accommodations that range from family-oriented resorts to business-focused properties near the airport.

Brand Overview

The Jaro brand emphasizes family-friendly amenities at its flagship L’Hôtel Québec par JARO, which markets itself as Québec City’s top vacation destination for families. This property features 204 rooms, an indoor pool with a water playground, a playground area, an arcade/game room, a kids’ club, and nightly entertainment. According to Booking.com, the hotel also offers continental breakfast, a hot tub, a sauna, and an on-site Restaurant-Bar Le 10Vagues.

Types of Properties

Jaro Hotels operates three distinct property types:

• L’Hôtel Québec par JARO: A 204-room family resort in the Laurier Québec commercial area, approximately 8 km from the historic centre of Québec City. Check-in time is from 17:00 and check-out is until 11:00.
• Hôtel Québec Inn par JARO: A 3-star property at 7175 Boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel Ouest in the Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge borough, about 7.3 miles from downtown. This property targets both leisure and airport-area business travelers with an indoor pool, fitness centre, restaurant, bar/lounge, free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a business centre.
• Hôtel Palace Royal par JARO: A four-star hotel in Old Québec, steps from Château Frontenac and the fortifications. This property features a tropical indoor garden and pool area, free Wi-Fi, a gym, and regular live music in the evenings.

What Is the Best Hotel to Stay at in Québec City?

The answer depends on traveler priorities. For iconic heritage and luxury, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is widely considered the most famous hotel in Québec City, recognized by Forbes Travel Guide as one of the city’s leading luxury properties. Bon Traveler describes it as the most iconic hotel, emphasizing its château architecture and bluff-top location above the St. Lawrence River.

However, for families with young children, Jaro Hotels offers specific advantages that larger historic properties may not match. L’Hôtel Québec par JARO has a toddler room with a sand table and blocks, a water playground, and organized nightly entertainment—features that are uncommon in Old Québec boutique hotels.

Jaro Hotel vs. Château Frontenac

Direct comparisons between Jaro properties and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac reveal clear trade-offs. Château Frontenac offers unrivaled historic setting and walking access to Old Québec attractions like Château Frontenac itself, the Citadelle, and Petit-Champlain. Jaro’s family properties offer more space for children and resort-style amenities but require transportation to reach the historic centre.

Hôtel Palace Royal par JARO, positioned near Château Frontenac, attempts to bridge this gap with a central Old Québec location and upscale amenities including a tropical indoor garden and pool. However, Château Frontenac remains the flagship luxury option, while Hôtel Palace Royal competes in the mid-to-upper price range for central properties.

Criteria for Best

When evaluating “best” hotel in Québec City, travelers should consider:

• Location: Old Québec for walkability; suburban areas for family amenities and parking
• Amenities: Water parks and kids’ clubs at Jaro; historic ambiance and fine dining at Château Frontenac
• Price: KAYAK data shows Hôtel Québec Inn traditional rooms starting around US$60 per night; a classic room at Hôtel Palace Royal cost approximately CA$331 for one night in recent reviews
• Purpose: Business travelers may prefer Hôtel Québec Inn near the airport; families may prefer L’Hôtel Québec; luxury seekers may prefer Château Frontenac

Is It Better to Stay in Old Québec or Québec City?

This question reflects a common decision point for visitors to the region. Old Québec (Vieux-Québec) is the UNESCO-listed historic core, widely regarded as the best area to stay for tourists wanting to walk to major sights. A YouTube travel guide on where to stay in Québec notes that the historic centre of Old Québec offers unparalleled access to the walled city’s attractions.

Jaro Hotel’s flagship property, L’Hôtel Québec par JARO, is located near Parc Aquarium du Québec, not in Old Québec. Hotels.com notes that this location makes the hotel particularly convenient for visitors prioritizing retail and highway access rather than walking to Old Québec’s historical sites. Laurier Québec, an adjacent shopping district, provides retail therapy and easy highway connections.

Location of Jaro Hotels

Jaro properties occupy two distinct geographic zones:

• Suburban family zone: L’Hôtel Québec par JARO and Hôtel Québec Inn par JARO are positioned in the suburbs, with L’Hôtel Québec approximately 8 km from the historic centre and Hôtel Québec Inn about 7.3 miles from downtown. These properties are better suited for travelers with cars or those prioritizing family amenities over walkability.
• Central Old Québec zone: Hôtel Palace Royal par JARO is steps from Château Frontenac, Rue Saint-Jean, and the fortifications of Old Québec. This property is approximately 500 metres from Place d’Youville bus station, making it viable for travelers who want central access without staying at Château Frontenac.

What Old Québec Offers

Staying in Old Québec provides walking access to Château Frontenac, the Citadelle, Petit-Champlain, and the city’s historic fortifications. The official tourism board, Destination Québec cité, recommends several centrally located Old Québec properties including Monsieur Jean, Le Germain Hotel Quebec, and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac as top choices for visitors who prioritize walking access to attractions. The same guide lists multiple Lofts Vieux-Québec apartment-style options as alternatives for travelers wanting kitchen facilities and more space.

However, Old Québec properties generally lack the large-scale family amenities found at L’Hôtel Québec par JARO. Boutique hotels like Hotel 71, ranked as the best boutique hotel in Old Québec City by Bon Traveler, emphasize design-driven historic-building aesthetics rather than water playgrounds and kids’ clubs.