I'm planning a trip to Montreal with my girlfriend for her birthday in late July. Getting in Thursday and leaving Monday.
Any advice on hotels? My first instinct was the Ritz or the W but she wants something "unique to Montreal" which I assume would be found in the older part of town. Are there any top quality boutique hotels that folks would recommend?
Thanks in advance.
I would not stay at Hotel 10 with your girlfriend. It is a bachelor party fortress during the summer. I had mine there last August.
Hit up Ripples on St. Laurent for some of the best ice cream you'll ever taste.
Au Pied de Cochon - "canard en conserve"
Might as well not even go to Montreal if you don't eat there.
Or, if you're going to speak French with bad pluralization, some Quebecois is going to beat you silly.
Link - ( New Window )
It is a disaster and only going to get worse. The our annual "construction holiday" where it all shuts down is the last week of July and the first week of August which is going to make it even worse.
Throw in the fact that at least 1/3 of the parking downtown has been removed with our looney mayor wanting to make the city as car free as possible.
They are also making wholesale changes to old Montreal for our 375th anniversary next year which is just adding to the nightmare. People that live here avoid the downtown like the plaque.
Not is rain on your parade. Just want you to know that it is in serious disarray and the immediate future is not so bright.
Quebec city might be a much better option for you.
Make sure you have the roadwork web address on your phone.
It will at very least give you a heads up where to avoid.
Quebec511 - ( New Window )
Scott, thanks a lot for that heads up. I was aware of the construction holiday but had no idea it would have so great an impact. If we are going to be mostly walking / taking the metro around (we're not planning to rent a car), will the construction still be a real bummer? This article makes me think yes but not sure if it's exaggerating.
http://montreal.eater.com/2016/6/10/11903884/hachoir-terrasse-patio-construction-hell
Scott, thanks a lot for that heads up. I was aware of the construction holiday but had no idea it would have so great an impact. If we are going to be mostly walking / taking the metro around (we're not planning to rent a car), will the construction still be a real bummer? This article makes me think yes but not sure if it's exaggerating.
http://montreal.eater.com/2016/6/10/11903884/hachoir-terrasse-patio-construction-hell
That is St-Denis street. The places there are really taking it on the chin.
Last two years it was St-Laurent being torn up and now it is St-Denis' turn. Like I said it is a real mess. Your life will be easier with the metro and walking but honestly it is still bad.
A few places you may want to check out while you are here.
Moishes- great food.
Bio-Dome.
Old Port (great both day and night)
Cresent Street (bars, restaurants)
Queue de Cheval (fairly expensive but good)
Head to Mount Royal lookout one evening, and the top of the mountain (beaver lake) one day.
International firework competition is in town in all of july.
There is a whole lot more too.
Given you seem to be the resident expert, would you agree that Nelligan is the nicest of the "Old Montreal" hotel options? Thanks again.
Both are similar in pricing. While I have not stayed in either, my friends who have come to town for F1 have stayed in both and like them equally.