We arrived at the Venise-en-Québec just before dusk, the last light shimmering across Missisquoi Bay and the distant Adirondacks. The 56-room hotel La Cache du Lac Champlain stood between the 18-hole fairways and Lake Champlain’s quiet shoreline as the sky slowly turned pink.
Our visit was only marred by a problem with the local water. Due to a temporary issue with the water purification facilities in Henryville-Venise, the town’s water was under a “boil first” advisory.
Location
Venise-en-Québec sits at the northern tip of Lake Champlain, about 45 minutes by car from Montréal and less than 15 minutes from the U.S. border crossing at Saint-Armand–Phillipsburg. That convenience makes La Cache an easy weekend escape for city dwellers and a clever overnight for cross-border road-trippers. Public transport is virtually nonexistent, so arrive on four wheels or two. Once here, you are footsteps from the lakefront promenade, a marina that rents stand-up paddleboards, and a golf course owned by the same company.
Cyclists can bring (or rent) bikes for the flat rural roads that loop through apple orchards and small vineyards. O Lac, the outdoor-gear outfit located just two blocks south of the hotel, rents bikes (and other gear) year-round, including fat-tire bikes for the winter.
Public Spaces
The lobby is open and airy with stone and blond-wood accents providing a modern, clean design. It isn’t necessarily a lobby that invites you to linger, although that might be different when the stone fireplace warms the lounge on winter evenings. There is another public area behind the elevators, featuring a golf shop, modern art, a café, and an entrance that opens onto the golf course.
Room Features
My Junior Suite felt closer to a downtown condo than a typical lakeside room. Three defined spaces—bedroom, living room, and bathroom—make the 500-plus-square-foot footprint feel even bigger. The king bed came with crisp cotton sheets and reading lamps, while a small sofa faced a 55-inch smart TV. The wall with the TV rotates to allow you to watch TV in bed. The room has an open architecture. Even the bathroom is only separated by a curtain.
- Get a Car Rental
- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Buy Travel Insurance
Sliding doors opened to a private balcony overlooking the ninth fairway, complete with plastic Adirondack chairs perfect for sunrise coffee. The bathroom had generous counter space. Wi-Fi was speedy, and soundproofing meant I never heard my neighbors.
Special Features
The headline attraction is Noah Spa, a Canadian-exclusive hydrotherapy circuit with underwater jets that pulse in a prescribed order—shoulders, lumbar, calves—leaving you noodly in all the right ways. Day passes cost less for hotel guests. With a 9:45 am departure and the spa opening at 10 am, I could only peer through the windows. There are also two outdoor soak pools and more Adirondack chairs on the lawn looking out at the lake.
Golfers can tee off on the adjacent par-70 course; non-golfers will appreciate the wide fairways for sunset strolls when play ends.
Pet owners, take note: only service animals are permitted, so book the nearby Gîte options if Fido is part of the crew.
Food and Dining
Le Greg Bistro & Bar anchors the ground floor with a spacious dining room and a sun room at the lake end. The dinner menu features Qubeqoise specialties
Breakfast is à la carte; try the omelet with local cheese. It is a beautiful space for someone who works on the road like me to bring down a laptop and linger over breakfast.
Facilities and Amenities
Beyond spa and golf, La Cache offers a compact fitness room with free weights and cardio machines, an indoor relaxation pool attached to the spa, and seasonal kayak rentals through a partner outfitter. Parking is ample and free. Families should note there’s no supervised kids’ club, but the lakeside playground five minutes south keeps younger travelers entertained.
Things Nearby
Within a 20-minute drive, you can sample award-winning soft cheeses at Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, sip ice cider at Domaine du P’tit Boire, or explore the wetlands at Réserve Naturelle de la Baie-Missisquoi—prime territory for migratory birds. History buffs can cross into Vermont for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, while cyclists might tackle the flat 29-kilometer Circuit du Paysan segment starting in Saint-Pierre-de-Veronne-à-Pike-River. In winter, the golf course transforms into a groomed cross-country loop, and the municipality sets up an illuminated ice-skating trail steps from the hotel.
See more at A Five-Day Foodie Exploration of Southern Québec.
Practical Advice
- Best Time to Visit: Late September pairs fall colors with thinner crowds, while July sees the lake at its warmest but books up fast.
- Getting There: From Montréal, take Autoroute 35 south; the hotel sits just off Route 202—keep an eye out for deer at dusk.
- Room to Request: Top-floor, lake-view suites avoid parking-lot headlights and offer sunrise panoramas over the water.
- Money Matters: Breakfast and spa services are à la carte, so add them to your nightly budget. Bundled packages that include green fees and spa access often shave about 15 percent off the price.
- Language: Staff switch effortlessly between French and English, but a cheerful “Bonjour” is always appreciated.
- Connectivity: Cellular data can roam onto U.S. towers; disable roaming if your Canadian plan doesn’t cover cross-border signals.
The Verdict
La Cache du Lac Champlain reminded me that even seasoned hotel hoppers can be charmed by thoughtful design and honest hospitality. It will not rival an urban luxury flagship for avant-garde art or pillow menus, yet the property delivers clean lines, strong service, and a sense of place rooted in Quebec’s agricultural heartland. If your idea of rejuvenation involves equal parts spa jets and lakeside sunsets, add it to your itinerary.
Rooms start at around CA$161 a night.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
My stay at La Cache du Lac Champlain was paid for as part of a press trip to Southern Quebec, but the views expressed are my own.
