Getting to Quebec Ctiy is easy and affordable these days--this was not always the case. Here's a short list of the lowest airfares to Quebec City available for travel mid-August:

Given that most flights from the US to Quebec City have to pass through the bigger metropolis of Montreal, on occasion it can be worth your while to price round-trip tickets from your home airport, and then by a ticket on a flight offered by one of Canada's low-cost carriers. For example, Tango, Air Canada's no-frills little sister, has each-way fares as low as US $44 between Montreal and Quebec City. Air Canada itself has 16 flights per day from Montreal to Quebec City, and there are two nonstop flights between Detroit and Quebec City too. (Remember to convert your prices into US dollars when searching for flights on Canadian airlines.)

JetsGo, one of Canada's newest cheap seat flyers, has yet to add Quebec City to its list of international destinations. It does fly between New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and Ft. Myers and Montreal however, with one-way tickets as low as $99.

Border crossing by rail

Another way to go is by train. If you've got the time and enjoy watching the wooded scenery and the world go by, this option may be more your speed. Until Oct. 2, VIA Rail Canada is selling discounted tickets on Saturday travel in the Quebec-Windsor corridor: Windsor (Detroit) - Toronto - Montreal - Quebec City. Economy class fares normally priced between $14 and $70 are reduced by 50 percent. This offer is not limited to students and seniors--everyone can take advantage of the offer. And parents can also take 50 percent regular kid fares. Four trains a day run between Montreal and Quebec City, and the ride lasts about three hours. Fares between the two cities average $25, but with the VIA Rail's sale, you're looking at spending just $12 each way.

Unfortunately, train fares between US cities and Quebec are not so cheap. For example, Amtrak charges $65 each way between New York City and Montreal, where travelers can connect with VIA Rail trains, and $140 round-trip. Expect even more from other cities.