Thank you all for your helpful responses. Comments about the winter brought me back to earth. We live in Texas and bone-chilling cold is not a condition that automatically comes to mind. So let me change the parameters a bit.Suppose we wanted to stay in the central part of the city. Does anyone know of smaller hotels with a decidedly French flavor, close to shopping and restaurants. I note the suggestion of the Germain and the Omni. I am sure these will do very well, but they are on the large side. It would be nice to find something smaller with character and ambiance. Again, thank you.

I live in Toronto, but am currently commuting to Montreal 4 days a week. It's been unseasonably warm there - yesterday it rained. There's been no snow so far at all. The city looks lovely - decorated for Christmas, lots of lights, etc. Someone was bemoaning the lack of snow, but I'm not complaining! We typically don't get as much snow or the cold weather in Toronto (last year was an exception). <BR><BR>Having said that, I don't know what it'll be like in January. Can't really help you on hotels. Since I'm there on business, I'm staying in hotels convenient to my office in downtown Montreal. For me, that's the Queen Elizabeth, which isn't a small personal style of hotel. However, it's connected to the underground and I appreciate that. <BR><BR>I'm sure someone can give you good advice on hotels in Montreal. Good luck!

Again, I would strongly recommend the are around the Sherbrook metro stop, which is a very nice blend of victorian French townhoses, and lots of restaurants, cafes, shops,etc. On Cherrier street there is a wonderful b&b,unfortunately, I can't remember it's French name but it does have a web site. It is about 500' from one of the best French Bistros in Montreal (Cafe Cherrier), and about 1000' from the Sherbrook Metro.<BR>There are many small French style hotels in this area also, along Sherbrook East. The Argoat is one that looks very nice. I would advise you to get one of the free guide books that the city puts out. There are tons of hotels, museums, restaurants, and other attractions described, along with great maps. <BR>For a good area for restaurants, try Duluth street off St. Denis - lots of ethnic byob places, mostly frequented by locals. Realize that Montreal is slightly more French on the Eastern side of St. Laurent, which is the dividing line between east and west. I wouldn't advise staying directly on St. Catherine St. east, however, as this is a somewhat funky(but safe) neighborhood.<BR>Dress warmly, and you'll have a great time!

L'Hotel de la Montagne. I am from Montreal originally, and my husband is from San Antonio, we both like this hotel.<BR>A.M.

There are some very nice Boutique style hotels in Old Montreal which you could find on a website if you look up Old Montreal. Some are very nice but some are on the old side. Good Luck

If you want to stay in Old Montreal, try Auberge du Vieux-Port. I am sure you will like it. But if you like something a bit more modern and fancy, try their sister hotel, the Place d'Armes. But the first one is much more romantic.