Need Ideas for Montreal Lodging for Six Couples
 

Hi! Usually a US and Caribbean poster, for the first time I need some Canadian help please!

First, who we are: A group of six couples, one couple is 80-something, very spry. The rest are his children and their spouses, 40 and 50-somethings. We are ending a Holland America September cruise (are we lucky or what???) and wish to spend two extra nights in your beautiful city of Montreal. We plan to shop, walk, dine, explore.

I am in charge of accommodations. Once before, the same group went to Alaska and stayed in a B&B there, we just loved this accommodation. We had a living room to congregate in and plan our days, as well as a nice place to "come home to". Breakfast was included, and everyone had their own rooms. This very nice place averaged around $150 US per night - which is our price point. My Philly-roots family (not the B&B type!) LOVED this experience. We are now looking for something similar in Montreal. From reading other posts on Montreal, I'm thinking either Plateau area or Old Montreal. We are not planning on renting a car. Could also be a vacation rental (but it would have to be huge - six bedrooms - saw nothing on VRBO) or two adjacent condos, but I figure the older areas of the city may not have condos or big homes for rent, especially for only two nights (we could do three). Any thoughts?

A sincere thank you in advance!

We've enjoyed the Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins.

http://www.bonsmatins.com/v1/an/visi...dbreakfast.htm

gemelli, this bb seems like a real gem; it does seem pretty close to the highway though and how was it for walking at night?

Thanks very much for the referral, gemelli! With more research, I'm thinking "Vieux Montreal" is the best location, over the Plateau area or downtown. How far is Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins?

Found a great website for Old Montreal, with good maps and all kinds of listings:
http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/

*Also starting to realize my high school French will definitely come in handy!:)*

I suggest that you look into the Auberge Les Passants du Sans Soucy, a fine B&B in the heart of Vieux Montréal.

laverendrye, that is a wonderful suggestion. Only 9 units, and only a teeny bit above our budget. But "the best breakfast in Montreal"...I am going to contact them!

Thanks very much!

joan! Is that you? :D
My 2 cents worth..If you are staying in Montreal for 2 nights, you want to be close to the main part of town. In my opinion, Old Montreal is charming and lovely and worth visiting, but you will have to take a taxi or get the Metro to go to other parts of town and the streets are cobblestone ( even spry 80 yr olds can trip, if 40-somethings can trip!) and it can be kinda deserted feeling later at night.
There are B&Bs in the Plateau area but I don't know of any that are big enough and not sort of budget..I doubt you will be able to find something like a house for that short amount of time..
So I am thinking a nice hotel in town, with some sort of deal for a larger group..The closer you are to rue Sherbrooke, the easier it is to go to the Park/Mt Royal, the Fine Arts Museum, St Denis and the Plateau area, fun funky shops and great food , St Catherine St and the shops and all those side streets ( rue Peel) for great food ..
My suggestions are:
Omni Hotel
Sofitel
Vogue
Le Germain ( not a bargain but with a large group, maybe a deal can be made?)

Then if you decide to stay in Old Town anyway-try the Auberge Bonaparte or San Souci..you would probably take most of the hotel :)

I see that laverendrye mentioned the San Souci so I second that ! lol

Hi Scarlett! Yep, that's moi!
Thanks very much for your thoughts. Well, the Sans Soucy only has vacancy for four rooms, and we need six, so that's out.

You have me undecided between "plateau" and Vieux Montreal now...hmmm...I could possibly get the Omni via Priceline, but we really would prefer a small place with breakfast included. The Bonaparte looks good as well. And I definitely do not want Dad tripping up those cobblestones, trying to get up the hills.

I will keep researching. Thanks again.

The Omni is really very nice, but not that charming..but a great location!
You could take a whole floor lol.

Some of the newer hotels in Vieux Montreal are pretty pricey, I have Gourmet mags Montreal issue, it names the nicest ones, if you have that magazine, check it out and at least you can get some ideas of where to eat :)

The walk from Bonaparte to the Place d'Armes metro is easily done, and coblestone should not be a problem... You could also look into Auberge de la Fontaine : http://www.aubergedelafontaine.com/s...dex.cfm?flip=1

Just made reservations for six rooms at the Bonaparte today! Thanks to all. I can't wait. I went a little above budget with taxes, but I'm hoping the fabulous-sounding breakfast and boutique feel will more than make up for it to my food loving siblings! I'm glad we're not going to be staying at a chain - we want that Montreal feel.

I'll be back with more questions!

We stayed at Auberge Bonaparte in October and liked it very much. It was easy to get around from there, and, yes, the breakfast is great! Enjoy.

I got the greatest pair of eyeglass frames very near the Bonapart! We had a lovely dinner at the Bonapart one November when the fire in the lobby fireplace was quite welcome while we waited for our table and for the taxi.
I think your VAT returns will help with the hotel taxes, no? I cannot remember now, Canada and Europe customs are melding together in my poor feeble memory lol...

I think you made an excellent choice; St. Paul street is easy to navigate and you'll have shops and restaurants within steps of your hotel; when are you coming ?
I can't find dates within your postings.

I am feeling very good about my choice!

VAT return???? Yikes, more research (I always thought that was a whole lot of paperwork for maybe ten bucks refund?)

Thanks!

All about VAT
http://traveltax.msu.edu/vat/vat.htm

The Yankee remembers that paying cash is easier to get a refund on than a credit card and he is pretty sure the hotel comes off .. we always drove up so our stop at the Border involved handing in our receipts and getting a few dollars back..in your case, (even though I do shop a bit) you will have a nice big payback coming (if the hotel is part of it)..I hope this site above is helpful..