Vacation in Montreal?

[SmootSmack]

So my wife and I are thinking of taking a vacation to Montreal this summer. I haven't been since I was 6 years old, so does anyone have any thoughts on the city?

Nice place? Things to do?

(hopefully CrazyCanuck sees this thread)

[jsarno]

really not a fan of Montreal, I think the people are rude there. Love the other areas of Canada including Quebec...Canada has a lot of rich history and is a fun place to visit though, just try not to let too many people know you are american. ha.
That being said, not all of them are bad, and it's been a little over a decade since I went...the places I do remember being good was this little hotel / restaurant called (hopefully I'll spell it right) La Mason Pierre Du Calvet. Great architecture, and underrated food IMO. Can be very romantic. We went cause Ben Franklin went there, and we liked it. Of course, you got to go to Notre Dame Basilica, and the botanical gardens are nice. The museum of fine arts was nice too. The town itself is beautiful, I'm just not fond of the people. Maybe things have changed over the past decade.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by jsarno

really not a fan of Montreal, I think the people are rude there. Love the other areas of Canada including Quebec...Canada has a lot of rich history and is a fun place to visit though, just try not to let too many people know you are american. ha.
That being said, not all of them are bad, and it's been a little over a decade since I went...the places I do remember being good was this little hotel / restaurant called (hopefully I'll spell it right) La Mason Pierre Du Calvet. Great architecture, and underrated food IMO. Can be very romantic. We went cause Ben Franklin went there, and we liked it. Of course, you got to go to Notre Dame Basilica, and the botanical gardens are nice. The museum of fine arts was nice too. The town itself is beautiful, I'm just not fond of the people. Maybe things have changed over the past decade.

Isn't the problem mainly with the people is that they are just frozen Frenchmen.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Isn't the problem mainly with the people is that they are just frozen Frenchmen.

Absolutely. They embrace their french culture, and the french aren't too fond of us.
Being a Bruins fan doesn't help either. LOL. (in all fairness I did not mention my Bruins affiliation when I was there last, but man I had a lot of trouble when I went to a Candiens / Bruins game with my Joe Juneau jersey on! haha.)

[tryfuhl]

Yeah, AVOID THE FRENCH CANADIANS.

[SmootSmack]

I've been to Toronto a few times and I like it a lot. Been to Vancouver, and loved it! Been to Edmonton and...eh. Have heard mixed things about Montreal. It's just one option on the table

[tryfuhl]

Montreal does seem like a cool place to visit though, I'll give you that.

Everyone I know that's been to vancouver/victoria has loved it though, sounds like you did as well.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I've been to Toronto a few times and I like it a lot. Been to Vancouver, and loved it! Been to Edmonton and...eh. Have heard mixed things about Montreal. It's just one option on the table

Been to Toronto and Vancouver as well, and liked both. Montreal is certainly a different breed, but people can certainly enjoy themselves visiting there.

[724Skinsfan]

Be sure to check out an Expos game...

[over the mountain]

ive been to montreal a few times, last time i was there was probably 8 years ago. went with some friends (who are from france, speak french etc) so i did have a translator. wlaked around the streets drinking these huge canned beers called les boss. smoking, drinking getting crazy. they like to party. alot of street kids, i mean mobs of them in groups of 20 to 50 just walking around bumming change. ended up having a bunch of people in our hotel room partying, they tried to crash/fake sleep when the sun was coming up and me and my friend had to kick them out.

real romantic city during the summer when all the street cafes open their outisde street seating areas.

now that i think about it, i def wouldnt go unless i brought a french speaking person with me. took us about 10 mins to get pulled over in my friends old hoopdie brougham caddy with the system thumping. good times. i won a beer pitcher chuggin contest, felt like i had to represent america by doing what we do best; chugging obscene amounts of alcohol induced by crowd/peer pressure. guy raised my hand in triumph, i went outside and puked. great times.

go skins!!

[fbirks]

My wife and I went for a long weekend in May and had a great time. In the city you don't need French. If you start in French a little they will switch to English when they realize you suck at it. The subway is very easy to navigate. The botanic gardens (free on
Sunday) are world class. Les 3 Brasseurs (3 locations) is a decent micro brew with good food. We stayed at the Omni (former 4 seasons), great pool, $ 99 a night. The canadian dollar is about 82cents. Lots of great food - like going to Europe. If you can afford it the Hotel Nelligan is the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in.