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Airports | Climate | Currency | Getting Around | Holidays | Language | Passports & Visa | References | Things to See | Time Zones | Tipping
If you've never been to this sexy paradise, you owe yourself a visit. It's hot year 'round. Don't worry if you don't speak French (though it's clearly an asset), because the latest report says for the first time, over half the Francophones here speak English, and their numbers are on the rise. That's a welcoming thought. Another welcoming thought? Over half of Canadians recently surveyed want the federal government to decriminalize possession of marijuana; support for relaxed laws is not confined to the young. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. This place espouses attitudes you may want to think about.
Gay visitors will be astounded by the richness of the scene, where international bad boys show up every couple of months for Bad Boys Club Montreal (BBCM) fund-raising circuit parties. Other folks are already.
Montreal is in the Eastern time zone of North America, 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time during the summer (Eastern Daylight, EDT) and 4 hours during the winter (Eastern Standard, EST). Daylight Savings Time is observed from the last Sunday in April till the last Sunday in October. In French, it is usual to see times quoted in 24-hour format, e.g. 20h20 is the same as 8:30 p.m. Keep this in mind for the times of events and for parking restrictions noted on official signs.
New Requirements for Travelers within North America and the Carribean as of December 10, 2006
Montreal's climate varies a lot over the year. The city is known for its cold winters, but its summers are hot and generally sunny, with occasional muggy days. Average temperatures vary from 10-25F (-13C-5C) in January to 65-80F (18C-27C) in July.
Montreal is served by two commercial airports. Dorval International (YUL) 14 miles west of downtown, serves most domestic, U.S. and overseas flights.
Taxicabs serve both airports and are required by law to charge a flat rate for the trip plus posted rates for luggage handling. The current rate is $25 to Dorval and $56 to Mirabel. There are fees for baggage handling: prices are explicitly posted inside all taxicabs. Shuttle bus service runs from the downtown bus terminal (514-842-2281) with stops at Central Station (trains and the Queen Elizabeth Hotel) and several other downtown hotels before taking the highway to Dorval. Prices are lower than taxis, ranging from $7.25 to $9 for a one-way trip. A two-way ticket is cheaper if you plan on a return trip within a period of several months.
Since November 1st, 1997, all passengers leaving from Montréal-Dorval Airport must obtain an Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) ticket. The fee is CDN$15 at Montréal-Dorval Airport and CDN$15 at Montréal-Mirabel Airport.
The Quebecois are proud of their French heritage and will speak fluent French. Most of them know enough English to get by. In all the tourist destinations you will always find someone that will speak the Queen?s language.
Canadian Dollar. U. S dollars are accepted but exchanged on a one to one basis (at printing you could get 1.16 Canadian Dollars per U. S. Dollar.) Forget traveler's checks, cash, or personal checks. All you really need is a valid ATM and credit card. Charge as much as you can, thus ensuring the best exchange rate at all times and only take out cash from an ATM machine as needed. Avoid exchanging back to US currency by paying your hotel bill with excess cash and charging the rest. Keep enough cash to get you to the airport. Airport Limo offers service to and from the Airport at $47.50 Canadian, about the same as Taxi fare, but much more comfortable, and can be reached and booked at 888-242-LIMO. There is no connection to the airport by Metro. You will need a $10CAD/per person to depart from Dorval airport.
A tip of 15% is customarily left for waiters and waitresses at the table, calculated on the pretax total of your bill. It will not be calculated for you, and you are free to leave more or less than this if circumstances warrant. In bars, the tip is handed over immediately as you pay for each drink or round. Taxi drivers also normally get a tip of 15%.
There are two essential things that the 10% must get. All major car rental agencies are represented in Montreal. Visitors in Quebec may drive a car for a maximum of six consecutive months without having a Quebec's valid driver's permit. Unless you are going skiing into the Laurentian Mountains, you will be better off without the car. Parking is very tedious and Montreal has a great public transportation system. Upon arriving in Montreal get to any Metro station and buy a Carte Turistique STCUM (valid from one to three days.) You can also buy 6 single tickets at a reduced price, and CAMHebdo passes valid from Sunday through Saturday. The Metro is the only way to ride. For the rest you should walk, which will help you digest their rich food.
Montreal is divided into neighborhoods each with its own local flare: Downtown, Vieux Montreal, The Village, Mont Royal, Waterfront and Islands, and the Olympic Park and Botanical Gardens. I suggest you buy a guide such as Fodor's Montreal City Pack. It's the only way to find your way around and will have suggestions of interesting walks.
The Montreal scene is as varied as any major US city. Most of the activity is in the Village or Rue St. Catherine East between Berri and Papineau Streets. Montreal boasts more than one hundred gay establishments, concentrated mostly in the Village. While the city has a relatively small number of discos, it boasts a wide variety of bars, from pubs to hard-core leather clubs and enticing nude dancers bars. You're sure to find something to please you, no matter what your taste is. Most bars close at 3:00 AM, but some after hours bars are open from 2:00 AM till 10:00 AM. Special gay party's are regularly given in nonspecifically gay environment.
Within Montreal and much of Quebec you will find a special spirit of openness and tolerance between the general public and Montreal's gay community. Here, more than anywhere else, gay men and women of all ages, from all backgrounds, can walk together in safe comfortable surroundings. On June 10, 1999 the Quebec provincial government adopted Bill 32 which gives same sex partners the same rights and obligations as heterosexual partners.
A great place to lounge is the gay friendly The Jello, (151 Ontario Street, East, Montreal. Tel: 514-285-2621). The appealing retro chic of the famed Montreal martini house is at best on Tuesdays when jazz and a choice of 50 martinis are on the menu. The gay flavor of the bar varies, but the ambiance is relaxed and friendly. Martinis go for $10 CAD. Admission is $3 - $9 CAD.
We recommend you use the Gay Canada website to stay up to date with the gay scene in Mntreal
Arrive in the early afternoon. Clear Canadian immigration and customs and check in to your hotel. Go to the Berri-UQAM station and buy a ticket touristique for three days pass at the Metro. It can be interchanged with the bus system. Drop your bags at your hotel and then:
Get your bearings I would suggest taking the Metro to the Village (Berri -UQAM station) and walking East to familiarize yourself with the area. Dinner at an outdoor café in the Village. You might want to try the Bourbon complex and get it out of the way. Drinks at Pub Unity and dance the night away at La Track.
Vieux-Montreal. Start early at Basilique de Notre Dame before the tour buses disturb the morning peace. Walk along Notre Dame Street to Place Jacques - Cartier. To admire City Hall and the Vieux-Port de Montreal. Visit the 18th century Chateau Ramezay then continue Lieu historique national Sir George Etienne-Cartier. Backtrack to Rue Bonsecours and head towards the waterfront the Chapele Notre Dame de Bonsecours, and on to Marche Bonsecours, the market building with its distinctive Dome. Lunch at a sidewalk café at Place Jacques-Cartier (Jardin Nelson?) Then take the metro to Peel and spend the afternoon at the Musee des Beaux Arts on Sherbrooke West. Make sure you have reservations to the trendy restaurant Area in the Village and spend your night out there until closing.
Take the Metro to Quais Jacques - Cartier and then catch the ferry to Ile St. Helene. Visit the Old Fort and then enjoy the Biosphere with the great view of the city from the observation deck. Enjoy its exhibitions of the environment. Take the Metro Pie IX station and visit the Olympic Park. Lunch at the Biodome and then ride to the top of the Olympic Tower. Ride the metro to your hotel and change to get ready for dinner and the night out at The Village.
Start the day at Mount Royal (Metro Mont Royal) and then visit the Oratoire St. Joseph (Metro Cote Des Neiges). Then back to your hotel and check out to go to the airport. Give yourself plenty of times since not only will you be leaving the Canadian country, but you will also deal with American Immigrations and customs before you get to your flight. You will need $10CAD/person for departure tax (another line).
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