Montreal, Quebec - Any suggestions?

[MHSweb79]

My friend wants to head to Montreal and we are having a disagreement over which hotel to pick. I'd like to stay downtown and she'd like to stay 20 miles away at the Quality Inn Pointe Claire at the airport to save $$.

Does anyone here know of some good places to stay that are convenient to downtown (the art museum, specifically) but won't break the bank?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Stay downtown! Did your friend figure out your transportation costs from the airport to downtown every day?

I suggest you check out tripadvisor.com for hotel and attractions information. Last time I was in Montreal, I stayed at the Springhill Suites in the old section of town.

 

[fallschurch]

Stay downtown, the cab fare will add up. If you factor in that expense (not to mention transportation time) you will be better off.

I like the Marriott Chateau Champlain. It is not in the old city but the hotel is connected to the Metro. It made getting everywhere very easy. It is about 4 streets over from the main shopping street as well.

I would have like to stay in the old city but we were unable to get any deals.

Have fun in Montreal!

 

[xipetotec]

I live in Dollard-des-Ormeaux ( right next to Pointe-Claire ).

If you want a 20-30 minute drive everytime you want to go *anywhere* then stay in Pointe-Claire. It's the suburbs outside of the city.

i.e. Stay Downtown!

 

[MHSweb79]

She is telling me there's a metro or commuter train nearby (2 miles away) and it's just a 20 minute ride into the city. This seems like a bad idea to me (where does it take you? do you have to transfer? and how the heck are we supposed to get to/ from the station from the hotel? How much is the fare?)

She is a preferred member of this hotel and can get us a small suite for $266 total for 2 nights. So this is what I'm competing with. It's hard because she is definitely on a tighter budget than I am but I don't want to waste 2-3 hours a day on the metro just to save 20 or 30 bucks either.

Any other ideas on how I can talk her out of this?

 

[xipetotec]

She is telling me there's a metro or commuter train nearby (2 miles away) and it's just a 20 minute ride into the city. This seems like a bad idea to me (where does it take you? do you have to transfer? and how the heck are we supposed to get to/ from the station from the hotel? How much is the fare?)

She is a preferred member of this hotel and can get us a small suite for $266 total for 2 nights. So this is what I'm competing with. It's hard because she is definitely on a tighter budget than I am but I don't want to waste 2-3 hours a day on the metro just to save 20 or 30 bucks either.

Any other ideas on how I can talk her out of this?

Sure there's a commuter train... but does she want to be boarding this there and back every morning and night of your vacation? There's definitely NO metro. The closest Metro is Cote-Vertu metro in St-Laurent, it's a 15 minute drive from Pointe-Claire, PLUS whatever amount of time on the Metro it takes to get wherever you are going. ( anywhere from 15-45 minutes depending ).

266$ ? Is there no cheaper hotel in Montreal ? Do you really need a suite? I'm sure you can get a decent hotel room right in the heart of Montreal for cheaper than that. Then you can hop and skip to anywhere.

 

[Gigi22]

Well, if you are at the airport, there is a set taxi rate to get downtown. It gives you a bit of a break, but still not cheap. If memory serves it was around $30-$40 one way a few years ago.

Have you checked Travelocity, Expedia or Trip Advisor for other hotels closer to downtown?

 

[MHSweb79]

We do need a suite, which is why it's so tough to find something in her budget in downtown Montreal. We're only going for a weekend, not a whole week.

I think sometimes she gets so fixated on costs she doesn't factor in time or convenience. I don't think it's a bargain to wait for 3 shuttles, two transfers and a bus ride just to save $20!


Edited to add: She just called the hotel and they told her what she was planning to do to get into the city would take close to 90 minutes each way. So she's gone off that idea. But I still need to find a place we can both agree on!

 

[xipetotec]

We do need a suite, which is why it's so tough to find something in her budget in downtown Montreal. We're only going for a weekend, not a whole week.

I think sometimes she gets so fixated on costs she doesn't factor in time or convenience. I don't think it's a bargain to wait for 3 shuttles, two transfers and a bus ride just to save $20!

I would tend to agree with you. As a resident of the "West Island", I would much rather live closer to downtown myself. blah.

 

[ashley23]

Hotel Le St. James is best for location. But I only stay at Hotel Nelligan because of their bath tub. Amazing things happen in that bath tub.

 

[MHSweb79]

Well, we're all set to stay in downtown Montreal. Thanks for your help- once she found out it was nearly 90 minutes each way into the city she realized it was not worth it.

NOW - do any of you have favorite places to eat? Nothing too pricey, of course!

 

[xipetotec]

Well, we're all set to stay in downtown Montreal. Thanks for your help- once she found out it was nearly 90 minutes each way into the city she realized it was not worth it.

NOW - do any of you have favorite places to eat? Nothing too pricey, of course!

There's some great delis for Montreal Smoked meat ( reubens, schwartz ). Awesome bagel places for on the go breakfast.

Other than that, if you're downtown, there'll be no shortage of options. We gave a sizeable chinatown if you're into DimSum.

 

[Gigi22]

I recommend Maison Kam Fung for dim sum. Cart services starts around 11 a.m., before that you order from the menu. There's usually a lineup to get in on the weekend; you have to go to the podium to give your name to the host and then wait to be called. If there's only two of you, it shouldn't take very long. Two people can get a wonderful meal for around $20-$25.

 

[Grim Grinning Geek]

I don't know if Beer/Breweries are your thing but Montreal has an amazing beer scene. Check out any of the following:

- Dieu du Ciel
- Brutopia
- Terrasses St-Ambroise
- L’Amère à boire

 

[xipetotec]

I don't know if Beer/Breweries are your thing but Montreal has an amazing beer scene. Check out any of the following:

- Dieu du Ciel
- Brutopia
- Terrasses St-Ambroise
- L’Amère à boire

Actually, add Benelux ( two locations ) and Le Reservoir to these!!

 

[JasmineClermont]

For the restaurant, I know a really good one, it's called Briskets, it serves the best Smoked meat sandwich I've ever eaten in my life, they also have a great variety of poutine and burgers ( kangaroo, boar, beef, deer...). It can cost Under 20 bucks tip and taxes included and is in downtown Montréal. I believe they have a website, so you can checkout the menu online.

If you like beer, I strongly reccommend Les 3 Brasseurs, it is a chain and there is some all over the city, but the interesting thing is that they brew their beers directly in the restaurant, so you'll have some very local beer.

Also, look for St-Ambroise beer in restaurants, these are nicely brewed local beers.

If you have any more questions, just ask, I live in Montréal and know this city so I can help

 

[xipetotec]

For the restaurant, I know a really good one, it's called Briskets, it serves the best Smoked meat sandwich I've ever eaten in my life, they also have a great variety of poutine and burgers ( kangaroo, boar, beef, deer...). It can cost Under 20 bucks tip and taxes included and is in downtown Montréal. I believe they have a website, so you can checkout the menu online.

If you like beer, I strongly reccommend Les 3 Brasseurs, it is a chain and there is some all over the city, but the interesting thing is that they brew their beers directly in the restaurant, so you'll have some very local beer.

Also, look for St-Ambroise beer in restaurants, these are nicely brewed local beers.

If you have any more questions, just ask, I live in Montréal and know this city so I can help

I don't mean to be a jerk, but as a beer snob, all the other brewpubs previously mentioned are better than les 3 brasseurs. Of course there's no accounting for taste. There's such a wealth of great brewpubs in Montreal! Why go to the 'chain' one ?

 

[JasmineClermont]

I don't mean to be a jerk, but as a beer snob, all the other brewpubs previously mentioned are better than les 3 brasseurs. Of course there's no accounting for taste. There's such a wealth of great brewpubs in Montreal! Why go to the 'chain' one ?

Of course, to each their taste, and I totally agree with you that there are a lot of great brewpubs in Montréal, and the list that is provided in this forum (good job Grim Grinning Geek) is very good, but the reason why I put Les 3 Brasseurs in the list is because it is different from the other places because we actually get to see the installations in which the beer is made, and although, you say it is a 'chain', they still have pretty unique beers and are slightly different from one place to the other. I think that it is an interesting place to go and see. Yes it is a chain, but a local one!

I'm curious about tasting new beers and I do appreciate well brewed ones, but I don't consider myself a ''beer snob''. When I drink my pint of St-Ambroise cream Ale and eat my smoked meat sandwich at Briskets I truly know that I encourage local companies that are born here in ''La Belle Province''.

 

[xipetotec]

Of course, to each their taste, and I totally agree with you that there are a lot of great brewpubs in Montréal, and the list that is provided in this forum (good job Grim Grinning Geek) is very good, but the reason why I put Les 3 Brasseurs in the list is because it is different from the other places because we actually get to see the installations in which the beer is made, and although, you say it is a 'chain', they still have pretty unique beers and are slightly different from one place to the other. I think that it is an interesting place to go and see. Yes it is a chain, but a local one!

I'm curious about tasting new beers and I do appreciate well brewed ones, but I don't consider myself a ''beer snob''. When I drink my pint of St-Ambroise cream Ale and eat my smoked meat sandwich at Briskets I truly know that I encourage local companies that are born here in ''La Belle Province''.

Well when it comes to St-Ambroise, I can definitely agree with you!