Scott

My wife and I are planning a week in Montreal in late September. What should we plan on seeing? What's a good, moderate non-chain hotel/B&B to consider? What's the weather likely to be? Do we need to brush up on high-school French?

Paul Rabe

What to see: Mont Royale; area around Nelson Square (yes,the English placed a monument to Admiral Nelson in the heart of Montreal); Botanical Gardens; the large churches; shopping. Take a trip to Quebec City and/or to Ottawa.

The entire province of Quebec is about to break off from Canada over French language and culture. You'll DEFINITELY get a warmer welcome if you at least TRY to use French!

Julie

My fiancee and I stayed there all summer, and he doesn't speak a word of French. He swore it didn't matter and he says Montreal is his favorite city in the world, we both travel a lot, and MOntreal is the most bilingual city I've ever seen, they are not like the French in Paris, and everyone takes pride in speaking english to you, it doesn't matter what language you are, it's more important to go to the free music festivals and have a good time! That's what Montrealers love to do!

Go to the botanical gardens, La ronde, the parks are beautiful, Beaver Lake, Any park on the map is worth it, It can down to 60's even in summer, pack a sweater! People always get caught! Umbrella is good too, and hat. Vancouver is too rainy and cold, Montreal has perfect weather, french culture incredibly cheap, great restaurants, and check out CyberMonde in the Old Port, Who wants to visit Europe after this?

Julie

My fiancee and I stayed there all summer, and he doesn't speak a word of French. He swore it didn't matter and he says Montreal is his favorite city in the world, we both travel a lot, and MOntreal is the most bilingual city I've ever seen, they are not like the French in Paris, and everyone takes pride in speaking english to you, it doesn't matter what language you are, it's more important to go to the free music festivals and have a good time! That's what Montrealers love to do!

Go to the botanical gardens, La ronde, the parks are beautiful, Beaver Lake, Any park on the map is worth it, It can down to 60's even in summer, pack a sweater! People always get caught! Umbrella is good too, and hat. Vancouver is too rainy and cold, Montreal has perfect weather, french culture incredibly cheap, great restaurants, and check out CyberMonde in the Old Port, Who wants to visit Europe after this?

Monty

I am a US citizen that worked and lived in Montreal for a few months. Fortunately I was there during the summer and early fall so the weather was great. My opinion is that Montreal is one of the greatest cities in the world. I do not speak French at all. I speak English and Spanish. This was no barrier at all. The people were wonderful and I felt very much at home. The key is your attitude. Just be pleasant and smile a lot and you will get along fine. It doesn't matter what language you speak. I had waiteresses sit with me and through her drawing pictures and sign language we were able to communicate. I worked out in the countryside about 30 miles down river where nobody spoke English. To summ it all up, I also worked and lived in Toronto. I felt much more at home in Montreal than in Toronto. I also found many Spanish speaking people in Montreal including a person from my wife's hometown in Mexico.

One other thing that has not been mentioned. Make sure that you ride on the Metro. It is the best subway system that I have seen. It is very clean and safe. All of the downtown stations are in shopping centers. In the winter you can go shopping without having to walk outside.

Heather

In the "must-see" attraction category, I'd like to add L'oratoire St. Joseph (St. Joseph's Oratory), a massive and breathtaking church with awesome views of the city.

Domenic

Hi, Scott. Things to see: Old Montreal, the Casino, Mount Royal, the metro, underground city (lots of shopping), Molson Centre (the hockey arena downtown - the Canadiens may be playing an exhibition game when you're there), St-Denis Street (for cool shopping), St-Laurent Street (for great restaurants), Crescent Street (for bar-hopping). Weather will be fine. About 70F during day, 50F at night. Good hotel - Auberge du Vieux Port, a nice place in the heart of Old Montreal. And if you know some french, great. If not, everyone speaks English in Montreal. Email me if you want more.

anne

We really enjoyed the old Chateau Versailles hotel - a row of elegant townhouses joined together into a hotel. Their more modern Tower Versailles is across the street - but we liked the charm of the older facility. Superb service, and very reasonable rates, esp. with the great exchange rate.

Perry

Ann is the Chateau Versailles centrally located? Is it walking distance to old Montreal, the Biodome, nice cafes?

Geo

You've received some excellent advice. But whatever you do, buy a 3-day Metro pass (good on Metro at all times, also busses.) Montreal's public transportation is so efficient, safe, and clean! And I can't imagine anywhere in Montreal you would want to go where you couldn't use the Metro. The 3-day pass is only $12 Canadian.

Hotels mentioned are fine. But don't sell Holiday Inn Select, 99 av Viger, short. It's at the edge of Chinatown, has nice tacky pagodas on top of the building, across from the Place d'Arms Metro stop, and two blocks from View Montreal. Cost for two in July--high season--was only $80 CDN per night. Staff will tell you anything you need to know about Montreal.

Parikh

They might say French is a must, but if I got by for five days in Paris without it, I know you could get through Montreal without much French. Simple phrases like "Merci" and "Bonjour" might help a little. Also, take bikes if you have them so you can take a nice ride through the parks.