soogies

We are a couple, mid-50s, looking to escape the heat for about a month and head to Montreal. Since we have a month, not all of it has to be sightseeing, rushing around, etc. We'd like a neighborhood with convenint access to public transit, food stores or markets, maybe some simple restaurants, not too busy. We figure we'll be able to use metro to get around when we sightsee and want to come home (rental apt) and relax.

I have two books on Montreal and have read some here on Fodors but, honestly, my eyes are impaired and I just canot spend the necessary time on weeding out which neighborhoods would fit us. If you would be so kind, can you suggest 2-3 areas that might suit us? That way, I could use my eye power a little more efficiently and explore these areas in more detal.

Thanks so much

sb1020

Hi soogie

I live in Montreal and also am in my mid 50.s
I would recommend the downtown area, and the Plateau area
Lots of fun near metros and our gorgeous mountain-both of my very hip sons live in the plateau-and it meets all of your requirements
If you like you can e-mail me privately and we can perhaps arrange to talk-it would be my pleasure

also from Montreal there are some nice day trips

We are now Grand prix Week-end and beerfestival and fringe festival and heading into our Jazz festival and then the Just for Laughs Festival

August brings the Montreal International film festival towards the end of the month

Just for your info, those 2 months could have some very hot weather-it is unpredictable

Sandy

soogies

Thanks Sandy! When you say "Downtown area" - is it actually called that in guide books? Old Montreal looks interesting to me as does the Plateau area.

I do understand about the weather unpredictability. However, we live in Texas - at least 42 days last year with temps/heat index over 100 (not to mention the months of 90 and above). We can handle a few days of 90s or greater, but when I looked at the weather history in Montreal it seems like it mostly gets up to mid-80s or less. Is this correct?

Thanks - I will look more closely at Plateau and if you could clarify "downtown" I'd appreciate it.

Vttraveler

I would try to find something in the Plateau or Outremount neighborhoods. Outremount might require you to use buses rather than metro but there is certainly public transit.

You didn't mention whether you speak French? I think either of these neighborhoods would be easier for someone who has at least some basic French. Downtown is probably easier to navigate without any French.

soogies

Thanks Vttraveler - I will check out Outremount. Yes, I speak French and am looking forward to using it again. Have never been to Montreal but it looks very European without the 10-hour flight!

Does anyone know of any websites for vacation rentals for Canada? I am using VRBO, Homelidays and Holidaylettings and would like to know if there is something more specific to CA. thanks

Vttraveler

This is a site that describes the different neighborhoods
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Dis...Neighbourhoods
For Outremont, this Wikepedia article explains the area which used to be a separate city
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outremont,_Quebec

Other parts of the tourism web site are also good for events, attractions, etc. The province of Quebec puts out very good guide books

I don't have any leads on apartment rentals in Montreal--we have always stayed in hotels. I do think you will enjoy spending a month there and that the heat won't be too bad compared to places you are used to. You might also want to go to Quebec City for a few days. We have not taken the train there but it should be an easy trip.

Daniel_Williams

Yes soogies,

The weather in summer correct in Montreal mostly gets up to mid 80s F or less, that is correct. You can even have summer days with highs in the 60s F, be aware. Typically, summer very often has quite lovely temperatures; however, ever so occasionally, one hits a stretch of temperatures in the 90s as Sandy mentioned... hot, humid and sticky.

The areas that I would pick based on what you suggest are: the Plateau (where I live), Mile End and Little Italy near the Jean Talon market. While all sections I mention have pockets of busy-ness, some side streets I think would be adequately tranquil for you. Depending where you are in the Plateau or Mile End, you might have a bit of a jaunt to get to a metro, so look at maps and see proximity to main area metros: Outremont on the blue line, Laurier, Mont-Royal and Sherbrooke on the orange lines; the 80/535 bus which plies up Parc Ave. is very frequent.

What I call "downtown" has the following rough borders as streets... Atwater in the west, Saint Laurent in the east, Rene Levesque in the south and Sherbrooke in the north. I tend to think of downtown as fast-talking, corporate gloss that while very busy with people, a bit lacking in character. However, I do sometimes question myself on that one, as every once in a while, I find myself charmed by a building or an establishment downtown.

Best wishes, Daniel

sb1020

Hi again Soogies

I think of downtown as going further north than Sherbrooke St and consider all of the Mcgill University area that extends as far north as the mountain on Pine Avenue-which is where I lived as (Mcgill Student Ghetto) for many years
The other areas that are still quite central and near Metros and are worth considering would be Westmount- anywhere around Sherbrooke and slightly more west, and near metros and buses-Snowdon and NDG near Monkland Avenue

You might want to try Craigslist also

Sandy

Daniel_Williams

Sandy,

You got me thinking... Even though it's a stone's throw away, I was thinking about the McGill Ghetto (or Milton-Parc) as being separate from downtown (we always said we were going downtown when we went to Ste. Catherine Street when I lived there) when I put Sherbrooke as the northern boundary of downtown. But funny enough, I think of Montreal General Hospital (but not the old Marianopolis building oddly enough although I don't know what neighbourhood I'd put that in) as downtown and much of the McGill downtown campus too as downtown, so my downtown also extends a bit north of Sherbrooke .

Anyhow, to get back the original poster's question, I concur with Sandy, despite being called a "Ghetto", the McGill Ghetto actually is quite lovely with some gorgeous buildings and also would be a good base also for your lengthy stay.

Daniel

soogies

Thanks for all the comments. I am currently reading through the various suggestions. Thanks for pinpointing some neighborhoods for me - it really helps!

soogies

Here are a couple apts I have been considering:

http://www.homelidays.co.uk/montreal...-351622en1.htm

http://www.homelidays.co.uk/montreal...-390460en1.htm

http://www.homelidays.co.uk/montreal...-275205en1.htm



I'd appreciate any comments about location, good and bad. thanks!

soogies

PS - I forgot to ask all you natives what the humidity is really like?? The lower the humidity, the better for my eye problem.

Thanks

Daniel_Williams

Soogies,

Your rentals\ thoughts:

#1. Petite-Patrie Beaubien/Christophe Colomb... the best of the three and I think perfectly fine but not the best, location. Not too far from Jean-Talon Market.

#2. not very central, I'd say not good choice.
#3. You'll be seeing a down-and-out side of Montreal near Frontenac metro; I kind of enjoy that area (Hochelaga) in a way and find it does have a charm but I wouldn't think an out-of-towner would be charmed and might possibly be alarmed. You may need a translator to understand the slang spoken (called "joual") in this poorer largely Quebecois neighborhood.

At its hottest, Montreal can be humid & sticky, although it's not New Orleans nor even New York City. It's often nice however...so, a crap shoot in summer as to whether you'll get one of those icky sticky days.

Daniel

laverendrye

Daniel--I think you mixed up nos 2 and 3. Otherwise, I agree with your comments.

sb1020

Hi Soogies

Try craigslist and www.vrbo.com for more listings

Sandy