SZ

Just how bad is the neighborhood around Rue St. Catherine Ouest and Rue St. Laurent in Montreal? I'd booked a hotel room there, but after doing a web search on the place, it seems to be in a really sleazy area. True? <BR><BR>I live in NYC so I'm not terribly afraid of sleaze -- I just don't want to spend my vacation in a red-light district.

zootsi

I assume you are talking about the area near the intersection of St. Catherine and St. Laurent. This is a somewhat seedy area, with a few strip clubs and sex shops nearby, and seems to be a hangout for the spike hair & black leather crowd. I wouldn't really consider it dangerous, however. The good part is you are a short walk from some very nice areas up St. Denis. Also, St. Laurent is actually a very interesing street to walk up - lots of ethnic neighborhoods. If I were you I would look for a hotel up the hill, away from St. Catherine, closer to Sherbrooke, where the neighborhood is quite pleasant. There are lots of nice, small hotels on Sherbrooke East.

SZ

Thanks, Zootsi. I've already wimped out and switched to the Auberge Bonaparte in Vieux Montreal. But I will check out St. Laurent -- sounds like a cool street.

xxx

Ste Catherine West in general is an excellent neighborhood but when you venture eastward, towards St. Laurent, it may get a bit seedy. Don't get me wrong though, St. Laurent is a good street to hang around on or to shop.

Tom

I think you would find this area pretty timid & not too threatening if you've spent any time on St. Mark's Place in NYC. Not that the East Village is threatening, it's just a bit scruffy. When we spend week-ends in Montreal all of our time is spent just north of this area along St. Denis & St. Laurent. Enjoy your trip. Chex out Bazou for dinner (bring your own wine though!)

Chris Nash

There is no need to worrie, especially comparing this neighborhood to any "bad" part of New York. Like previous replies it is some what scuzzy, but it adds some charm to the jewels that you find along this strip. The only time to be at all worried is at 3:30 in the morning when the bars let out. I lived right in this neighborhood and never had a problem, actually the only problem I had was on cresent st. which is considered the appropriate street for tourists. St- laurent and St-Catherine is just and artsie corner, if it's not to your liking then I reccomend going a few streets east to St- Denis, definatley safer and apropriate for tourists. I reccomend travelling to montreal in July as our Jazz fest is on, with concerts on the streets and some more popular artists having soncerts at local venues/ bars. Montreal is a great city for tourists in the summer.

NYgirl

You'll love the Auberge Bonapart! And do try to have dinner in the restaurant one night.<BR>I got a pair of the coolest glasses in one of the eyeglass shops right around the corner from there.When I had my prescription put in back here at home, the optician told me that they can't even get these glasses in the US yet..just in case you are in the market for cool glasses