Colleen

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Montreal on July 25. We will be staying 7 days. First, is there enough to keep us busy for 7 days. Second, what area of Montreal would be advisable for hotel accomodations? We want to do most of the "touristy" things. We want to stay in a moderately priced hotel.<BR><BR>Thank you for your help.

Toronto

Hi,you can find everthing you need to know at www.tourisme-montreal.org click on accomodations. Seven days is just about right for Montreal. It's an exciting city.

Louis

Since you'll be in Montreal for 7 days, maje sure to visit the different neighborhoods such as the Plateau, Outremont or Notre-Dame-de-Gr&acirc;ce. You might also consider a day trip to any of the following areas:<BR><BR>- Mt. Tremblant<BR>- Richelieu River valley: Route 133 between Chambly and Sorel.<BR>- Eastern Townships: Knowlton, Magog, North Hatley.<BR>

jode

I personally think 7 days is a bit long for Montreal itself - we just came back from 3 days in Montreal and 4 days in Quebec City and it was perfect. Don't miss the botanical gardens in Montreal - they are beautiful. We also toured the Insectarium on our last visit there - would not have been my first choice but we had two teenagers with is and I must admit it was very interesting and I'm glad we did - we also went to some exhibits at the biodome. Old Port is great - just walk around and people watch - St. Paul Street is lovely to walk down - lots of shops and restaurant - we ate at Old Port Restaurant 39 St. Paul Street (I think) and the food and service were excellent. We were on our way to Mont Tremblant but due to a late start on our part and heavy traffic we barely got to the outskirts of the area when we had to turn back - but from what we did see it is definitely worth a day trip there. We stayed at the Holiday Inn at 420 Shurbrooke - great central location - able to walk to a lot of sites. Be sure to visit Notre Dame Cathedral - breathtaking - and a ride to Mount Royal is a great way to get a bird's eye view of the city. Don't miss the underground shopping area - large variety of stores and eating areas in a convenient spot.

alee

Hi, we were there for the second time over the 4th weekend. I think 7 days is a little too much as well. We were there for 4 nights and thought it was a little much, and we LOVE Montreal. After you have spent about 2-3 days sightseeing, you are about done. However, you could spend a month eating there. The food is wonderful.<BR><BR>We stayed at a new hotel called the St. Paul Hotel. I wouldn't recommend it. But the Place d'Armes hotel was recommended to us. It's in the old port. You can walk around there for a little while, but it is incredibly touristy and Americanized. The shops don't sell anything worth buying, in my opinion, unless you go to Le Chariot on Jacques-Cartier and buy some Inuit sculpture, but that can get expensive.<BR><BR>Another nice hotel is the Chateau Versailles in the Old Port. <BR><BR>I think the previous poster was right to split it up and go up to Qubec City. It is a nice drive and a beautiful place.<BR><BR>As far as sigthseeing in Montreal. I loved the markets, Marche Atwater and Marche Jean-Talon. Marche Atwater is open 7 days from 8am until 7pm I think and the fruit, cheese, bread and meat selections are wonderful. Driving up Mont Royal is nice and so is St. Joseph's Oratory. The Plateau is good fun and the best option for the best dining and no tourists (unlike old port). Don't worry, everyone speaks English, too. (which is great!) Good shopping in the Plateau too. La Ronde is fun if you want to feel like a kid again, and the casino is nice if you like to gamble. the botanical gardens is probably the best attraction in the city. <BR><BR>The best restaurants are Toque! (make reservation early), L'Express, a classic Montreal bistro, a new restaurant called Area (the food was fantastic--even for fusion, again make reservations), Chorus, and Schwartz's for the best corned beef sandwich I've ever had in my life (coming from New York ths is quite a complement).<BR><BR>Hope this all helps.<BR><BR><BR>

Tom

Beware - the Place d'Armes hotel is surrounded by busy streets on all sides and is EXTREMELY noisy at all hours. Auberge du Vieux-Port, a sister property is better situated and much nicer. There's also a fantastic restaurant (Les Ramparts) in the hotel.

zazou

There is also a new hotel in the Auberge du <BR>Vieux Port family: Le Nelligan on St-Paul (corner St-Sulpice). Just opened last week. Looks very nice. (www.hotelnelligan.com)

HOWARD

Alee-<BR>Did you say you stayed at the St. Paul Hotel and WOULDN'T reccommend it? Why?<BR>We're due to stay there next week and I thought that everything I read about it was positive.

Alee

Hi Howard-<BR><BR>No, I would not recommend it. The rooms are not at all as nice as the photos on the website ( a very well designed site that lured me in) and we were staying in a suite. THe bed was so uncomfortable that after the first night we looked for another hotel. (We found the Hotel Le-St. James and really wanted to stay but they were booked) The Hotel Nelligan looked really nice as well but it is in the center of the Old Port and we didn't want that.<BR><BR>Also, currently there is a very loud generator outside of the hotel. Apparently, the energy department of Quebec has cut off the power to certain blocks for a large project it is doing. The generator is so loud you can hear it for three blocks upon approaching the hotel. Thus, you can hear it through the thick windows from any side of the hotel. The hotel also had a general power failure that lasted for three hours one night. The a/c and all the lights went out. This also reset all the hotel keys. The staff reacted in a very blase manner as if it were an everyday occurence. Which, according to one rather unhelpful hotel clerk, it is. I know this is not the hotel's fault, but they did not handle the situation very well. ANd believe it or not, this did not bother us as much. <BR><BR>The real problem is the service. They are not rude, just poorly trained, inefficient and ineffective. You get the feeling they are trying knid of hard, but not quite getting it done.<BR><BR>Also, the housekeeping staff routinely left trash in our wastebasket and a mess in the bathroom. The only thing they we told to do apparently was make the bed.<BR><BR>It is in a good location though.

HOWARD

Hi Alee-<BR> Thanks for the heads-up. Now comes the tricky part, how to find another comparable property @ this late date.<BR> You mention the Hotel Le-StJames. Do you have a web site or a phone #? I fear that most of the better hotels will be booked.<BR>Back to the drawing board.

wendy

I am staying at the Hotel Le Germain the week after you. Reviews seem excellent. Location seems fine also. Check it out.

Judi

Howard, you may want to try the Hotel Nelligan. Because it is new anf is not in any guidebooks it may have a room available. It is a boutique hotel in Old Montreal and is connected to two other popular hotels. We are staying there in August. I will write a review when I get back from Montreal.

Howard

Hi Judi-<BR>Thanks for your input. Now I've got two reservations,Hotel Nelligan and Hotel LeStJames. Both appear to be new, boutique hotels.<BR>I'm wondering about Alee's comment about the location of Hotel Nelligan. Is it any better or worse than LeStJames?

Judi

Howard, this will be our first trip to Montreal so I have no first hand knowledge. I didn't see a negative comment about the Hotel Nelligan on alee's post. <BR><BR>I was set on staying in Old Montreal and was happy to find a room available and at a reasonable price. <BR><BR>We have made reservations at Toque! and Bonaparte.<BR><BR>Enjoy your stay!

Colleen

Thank you all for your information. You have been so helpful. Is the Comfort Inn and Suites a nice hotel and is Lincoln Street a nice area?<BR><BR>We look forward to our trip.

Emmie

Has anyone heard anything of Hotel Gault?

marnie

Hotel Le Germain is great. I just stayed there for the 2nd time. Service is amazing, and the rooms are great.

travelman

<BR> To Colleen.<BR> Truly , 7 days in Montreal is way<BR> too looooong .2 nights/3days ,thats coming and going will be more than enough.Try Auberge Napoleon in the old<BR>Montreal.Superb breakfast,nice rooms.<BR>Please consider Ottowa for the rest of your time,touristy but cool and cleen<BR>with less beggars.Have a cold beer in<BR>Hotel Terrase{sp?)<BR> Good luck. T

kc

travelman-could you have meant Auberge Bonaparte ? Napolean is close I think:0)<BR>

Travelman

<BR> TO KC.<BR> The heat got to me.<BR> You are absolutely right.<BR> Auberge Bonaparte it is.<BR> Good catch.<BR> T<BR>