Montreal - When best to visit
 

I want to go to Montreal and Quebec this summer. Although we love jazz, I am thinking to avoid the jazz festival with the thought that getting hotel/restaurant reservations might be difficult then. That being said is there any best/worst time to visit June-September?

I would say september is a great time to visit since school has started by then; montrealers are busier and not doing the tourist activities; weather is still summery, festivals are over.

There are people on the streets so the city is lively but vacation time is over for most workers.

There are lots of festivals all summer in Montreal, but aside from the jazz festival, when hotels are at their most expensive (though don't rule out going then--it's a great, great experience to walk around the festival areas, packed with people, and enjoy super live music), there's the film festival from the end of August for about 10 days (I think--you should check the dates), when hotel rates are also high. Just make sure you go: both cities are vibrant, full of activities, and people really make the most of their short warm season.

lois, good point about the film festival; although it's not held on the streets so it's less chaotic....

I find hotel prices pretty reasonable in mtl compared to other big cities but september is probably not considered low season...

You should be aware that the Grand Prix Formula 1 race will be held on June 10-12 this year, and that hotel availability will be at a minimum. Not the best time to visit, unless you are a fan.

The Grand Prix week in June is the toughest time to find a room, the Jazz fest is not quite as bad, and as someone else mentioned, it IS a lot of fun. Montreal has some kind of festival nearly every week - fireworks competition, African festival, Just for Laughs Festival, etc,etc. Don't let these things stop you. Montreal is a huge city, and if you get away from the immediate downtown area even during Jazz Fest, there is minimal impact on the restaurants and small hotels. The best time to go? Anytime it's warm enough to enjoy the outdoor cafe scene, which would be from late June to early September.