Hey guys! I'm taking a trip to Montreal with the gf this weekend. We'd like to leave Toronto late Friday, and arrive early Saturday in time for hotel check-in. We'd stay all day Saturday, check out Sunday morning, and leave the city late Sunday afternoon. At least, that's the plan as of right now, but if any of you have a better idea, shoot! As you can tell, it's structured around saving a bit of money by only spending one night at a hotel. We don't really want a 50-dollar motel room, so we'd like something nice. Speaking of which, how much would that cost? What can i get for 100? 200? Also, what's fun down there? Places to visit? Things to do? Food to eat? And what else should i know / keep in mind?
Nov-09-2005 04:28
Tordan
Anti BS Alliance
Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
If you want it to be romantic then definitely hit old montreal. Have dinner there and stroll through the cobblestone streets. If you like old architecture there are many old churches and other buildings you can have a look at.
btw, you don't need to leave late Friday in time for the 11am check-in time. If you leave Toronto by 6am it should do.
___________________
SHUT UP AND DANCE !!
Nov-09-2005 04:34
zoogla
Guest
Registered: Not Yet
Location:
quote:
Originally posted by Tordan
old montreal
Bang on. Also spend some time on Crescent street where a lot of the nightlife action is (pubs/small clubs). Old Montreal is nice in the day AND the night, but spend part of the day on St. Laurent to enjoy the cafes (if it's sunny). St. Laurent also has clubs but they're more hardcore and so you'd probably be better of checking Crescent out.
You may also want to check out the Montreal Casino late Saturday night (when you're done with all the in-city stuff). Make sure you follow directions to get there carefully from the concierge of your hotel because it's a bit confusing.
Food: the best Italian is Weinstein & Gavino's on Crescent (quite pricey but awesome food). For Lebanese, try out Basha's on St. Catherine St (near the Famous Players cinema--you can't miss it, in a building where there's a Sports Expert). Basha's is good for food plates (assorted stuff) but if you want a chicken shishtaouk sandwich, go to Amir's on Maissoneuve and Guy. The best value in Montreal ($5 for an awesome sandwich).
But my food mecca is Schwartz's for the founding deli of Montreal Smoked Meat. It's on St. Laurent north of Avenue Des Pins, and honestly, this place alone is worth a trip across the Atlantic for one lunch. The best meat you will ever have in sandwich. GUARANTEED. But the gf may not enjoy it! as mine doesn't
Nov-09-2005 05:17
d!abolic
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Oct 2002
Location:
Great, just the kind of stuff i was looking for! Keep it coming, guys! Remember, i have to fill up ALL of Saturday and most of Sunday. I need lotss of stuff to do!
P.S. Tell me more about the casino...
Nov-09-2005 09:17
magikb
Home of Lix and Jennē
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: on the other side
quote:
Originally posted by d!abolic
P.S. Tell me more about the casino...
the casino is beautiful.. and massive (5 levels if I remember correctly) and every time I am in Montreal I always win money if the casion is visited
And Fahad is right.. get really good directions to the casion from your hotel as you can get lost.. I believe it is on the island and I have been lost for a good hour or more on more than one ocassion
___________________
Nov-09-2005 09:25
tatgirl
The Oracle
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Washington DC
The Lord Beri (Berri?) hotel is around $100 - and has been used on several occasions by TA's for weekend trips. Located right off St. Catherines, and near an art museum.
___________________
"When I die, I want to be buried under the dancefloor"- Frankie Madgenta
Nov-09-2005 09:51
Tiesto4Life
I am alive
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: waiting for my flight back home to Ibiza
quote:
Originally posted by magikb
I have been lost for a good hour or more on more than one ocassion
must be stressful just like going to nada's b-day!!
Nov-09-2005 12:23
chinamon
el shit disturbo
Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Markham, ON
whenever i go to montreal i always stay at the novotel. it is one street away from crescent street so its easy to stumble your drunk ass back to the room after you're done your night.
Nov-09-2005 13:37
magikb
Home of Lix and Jennē
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: on the other side
quote:
Originally posted by Tiesto4Life
must be stressful just like going to nada's b-day!!
yeah but even more stressful there cuz most streets are one way and all run parallel to one another.. and try getting lost at midnight and not having corner stores or gas stations on every corner like we do here to ask for directions..
___________________
Nov-09-2005 18:20
MarkT
Automatic Static
Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto
ok, not cheap...but if you're looking to impress or stay somewhere a little more interestingly designed than the average hotel:
Registered: May 2005
Location: Wishes she was in Deutschland. :(
some ideas...
ok so....
wikkid casino.
ummm i dunno where you wanna stay, but there's quite a few places on Renee Levesque (which is very close to rue sainte catherine...the main street IMO), so that might be a good idea.
umm check out old montreal for sure....if you wanna be all romantic, go on a horse-drawn carriage there with her.
there's some nice shops and museums you can check out..
check out the underground city...you could spend forEVER there! it's got soooooo many stores and malls all connected....very noice :P
ooh...how about going up mont royal??? take the metro...and get off at mont-royal. walk outta the station and turn left and keep walking(if i'm remembering this correctly)or i think you can take the bus if you're lazy ....theres nice trails and stuff...i think i tried taking a shortcut once and got off-trail somehow so it was a pretty difficult climb lol...but yeah, once you get to the top, theres a really nice view of montreal. it's definitely worth it.
and omg, like Fahad said, go to Schwartz's and get a smoked meat sandwich...it's the montreal thing to do :P
I hope that some of this info was helpful to you! have fun!!