Banks and exchange American Express, Place Laurier, 2700 boul Laurier, Ste-Foy; Banque Royale, 700 Place d'Youville and 140 Grande-AllA©e est. Caisse Populaire Desjardins du Vieux-QuA©bec, 19 rue des Jardins (summer daily 9am-6pm; winter Mon, Tues & Fri 9.30am-3pm, Wed & Thurs 9.30am-6pm) has exchange facilities and a cashpoint (ATM) in Vieux-QuA©bec; as does Banque Nationale, 1199 rue St-Jean (summer: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat & Sun 9.30am-8pm; winter: Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm).

Bike rental VA©lo Passe-Sport Plein Air, 22 CA?te du Palais is conveniently situated, but Cyclo Services, 84 rue Dalhousie in the Vieux-Port, is cheaper, rents rollerblades and is close to the start of the bike trail. Information on cycle trails from Promo-VA©lo (tel 522-0087).

Bookshops English books can be purchased at Librairie Smith, Place Laurier, 2700 boul Laurier in Ste-Foy; La Maison Anglaise, Place de la CitA©, 2600 boul Laurier in Ste-Foy; and there's a small selection at Pantoute, 1100 rue St-Jean. For travel books, there's a small shop inside the tourist office at Place d'Armes.

Bus enquiries Long-distance: bus terminal, 320 rue Abraham-Martin (tel 525-3000). Local: STCUQ (tel 627-2511). Ski shuttle: Hiver Express (tel 525-5191; winter only).

Car parks HA?tel-de-Ville, rue Pierre-Olivier Chauveau (near HA?tel-de-Ville), rue Haldimand (near Jardin des Gouverneurs), ave Wilfrid-Laurier near the tourist office outside Porte St-Louis, Place D'Youville (off Dufferin), rue Dalhousie, Vieux-Port. Long-term parking: opposite bus terminal.

Car rental Avis, HA?tel Hilton , 900 boul RenA©-LA©vesque est (tel 523-1075) and at the airport (tel 872-2861); Budget, 380 rue Wilfred-Hamel (tel 687-4220), 29 CA?te du Palais (tel 692-3660) and at the airport (tel 872-9885); Discount, 12 rue Ste-Anne (tel 692-1244); Hertz, airport (tel 871-1571), 44 CA?te du Palais (tel 694-1224), and 580 Grande-AllA©e est (tel 647-4949); Thrifty, ChA?teau Frontenac (tel 877-2870) and near the airport, 6210 boul Wilfred-Hamel (same phone).

Consulate US, 2 Place Terrasse-Dufferin (tel 692-2095).

Dentists For dental emergencies, ring 653-5412 (Mon-Wed 8am-8pm, Thurs 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-4pm) or tel 656-6060 at the weekend.

Gay and lesbian information Gai A?coute and Gay Line (tel 1-888/505-1010).

Hospitals HA?tel-Dieu Hospital, 11 CA?te du Palais (tel 691-5042); Jeffrey Hale Hospital, 1250 chemin Ste-Foy (tel 683-4471, ext 0).

Ice hockey The Rafales, who are not in the NHL, play at 350 boul Wilfred-Hamel (tickets tel 691-7211 or 1-800/900-SHOW; season is mid-Sept to April).

Laundry Lavoir la LavandiA?re, 625 rue St-Jean; Lavoir Ste-Ursule, 17B ave Ste-Ursule (Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-6pm).

Left luggage Both the train and bus stations have $2 luggage lockers.

Medical advice 24hr medical service (tel 648-2626).

Pharmacy 24hr service: Pharmacie Brunet, Les Galeries Charlesbourg, 4250 ave 1A?re, in the northwesterly suburb of Charlesbourg.

Post office 300 rue St-Paul (Mon-Fri 8am-5.45pm); also 5 rue du Fort (same hours).

Rape crisis line Viol Secours (tel 522-2120).

Ridesharing Allo-Stop, 665 rue St-Jean (tel 522-0056, www.allostop.com ).

Road conditions For 24hr information, call 648-7766 (Nov to mid-April).

Taxis Taxi Coop (tel 525-5191); Taxi QuA©bec (tel 525-8123).

Train enquiries VIA Rail (tel 692-3940 or 1-800/361-5390); Gare du Palais, 450 rue de la Gare-du-Palais; Gare de Ste-Foy, 3255 chemin de la Gare.

Weather information For 24hr bulletins (tel 648-7766).