Montreal - 2 weeks too much?

3swordsred · 28-07-2008, 3:34 PM

Afternoon,

I am looking for a bit of advice.

The missus has her heart set on going to Montreal this year for 2 weeks. Now for the last few years we have been to Florida and we both enjoy the theme parks/weather etc and there is obviously there is tons of stuff to do.

My concern is that spending 2 weeks in one city may get a bit boring. I know there is 1 theme park and we can go to Niagra falls but other than that I cant find too much other than eating and drinking

.

If anyone has been could you let me know if 2 weeks is too much or will there always be plenty to do?

I know this sounds a bit lame and it will probably be amazing but we have saved up for a year for this and really dont want to be bored or feel like I have wasted my money

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Cheers

Matt

NewMan · 28-07-2008, 3:47 PM

I've no direct experience of Montreal, but I've been to Toronto, and trust me, if you think you might head down that way to see Niagara Falls, there's enough in Toronto to last a lifetime!

Plus, do you really want to go for just a week, spend a day or so acclimatising, then find you're already halfway through your holiday?

3swordsred · 28-07-2008, 3:48 PM

Hi Newman

I am looking for 2 weeks overall but unsure as to spend the entire time in Montreal and surrounding area's

Cheers

Matt

*Wild Weasel* · 28-07-2008, 3:51 PM

Montreal is about 500 miles from Niagara Falls. It would be a day trip from Toronto, but not Montreal. I'd hire a car and go and explore into Quebec itself; It's really beautiful, especially if you go from September onwards when the Maple trees are starting to turn. Ottawa and Quebec city aren't too far away and are well worth a visit.

NewMan · 28-07-2008, 3:53 PM

Well, I don't have any experience of Montreal, but perhaps this will help until someone more knowledgeable turns up.

Link

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

Montreal is about 500 miles from Niagara Falls.

I thought that, but figured he was planning to travel to a few different bits of Eastern Canada...

SeanT · 28-07-2008, 4:35 PM

Parents just came back from canada and loved it - but they travelled across the country rather than staying in one place.

kBm · 28-07-2008, 6:05 PM

Had five weeks in Canada in 2006, Started at Toronto, hired a car headed down to Niagara, drove up to Ottawa, spent time in Montreal. Stopped off a few places on the way for over night stays and 1/2 days.

Montreal is really nice, the old town is great - full of character. Spent two nights there, did the aqua boat city tour, hired bikes around the city, the canals and F1 circuit (Fantastic), I remember being knackered walking up from the old city back to the hotel - big hill (and we were too tight for a taxi

)

Spent around 2 weeks on that side of Canada. You can explore alot from Montreal, Ottawa was only 1/2 day driving, then there is Quebec etc.

My advice; spend 2 weeks on the other side. Start in Jasper or Edmonton travel down through the Rockies, Banff, Calgary, then work you way (slowly) to Vancouver. Amazing stuff!

HTH

3swordsred · 28-07-2008, 6:29 PM

KBM - did you feel like you could spend more time in Montreal or was a few days enough?

Only problem is that I would quite like a holiday where I dont have to drive + the cost of hiring a car as well!!!

Anyone else have any Montreal experience's to share?

SeanT · 28-07-2008, 7:19 PM

Folks took a train journey (some touristy type one) and didn't drive anywhere. Also did Vancouver -> Montreal via Niagara iirc.

kBm · 28-07-2008, 7:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3swordsred

KBM - did you feel like you could spend more time in Montreal or was a few days enough?

Yes, we didn't do everything. Could of done more.

Keiron · 06-03-2009, 1:38 PM

We fancy Canada this year (August), me, the missus and 2 girls 9 and 12.

Want a mix of things: big open spaces/sky/mountains, wildlife and beautiful clean cities. Open to whether we drive (poss even a motorhome) or get driven about! We live on the doorstep of Manchester airport so want to fly from there.

It's a bit overwhelming knowing where to start - there's almost too much information on the internet (time was you'd have just gone and got the Canada brochure from your local agent!)

Can anyone advise how to start researching, or even suggest a rough itinerary? Any help would be much appreciated.

WHUFC · 06-03-2009, 4:38 PM

AT OP. I lived in Montreal City for just under 3 years and know the city very very well. To spend 2 weeks there is too much maybe a long weekend 3 4 days and you would have covered all off it.

Covering Quebec is a little tedious to be honest, its flat and mile after mile after mile of the same terrain gets a little boring imo.

Maybe spread it out and go on fly holiday then you can cover not just Quebec & Quebec City etc but more Niagra falls (takes about an hour to go ohh big waterfall next? lol

Canada's a beautiful place to visit and live, don tlimit yourself to a small city.

..

kBm · 06-03-2009, 6:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keiron

We fancy Canada this year (August), me, the missus and 2 girls 9 and 12.

Want a mix of things: big open spaces/sky/mountains, wildlife and beautiful clean cities. Open to whether we drive (poss even a motorhome) or get driven about! We live on the doorstep of Manchester airport so want to fly from there.

It's a bit overwhelming knowing where to start - there's almost too much information on the internet (time was you'd have just gone and got the Canada brochure from your local agent!)

Can anyone advise how to start researching, or even suggest a rough itinerary? Any help would be much appreciated.

How about_:
Fly to Vancouver (city & beach, loads to do), overnight train to Jasper (an experience if anything!), drive through Rockies (you could spend weeks here) back to Vancouver.

You may even spot a bear!

Or:
Fly to Toronto, drive to Niagara falls, drive up to Ottowa, then Montreal.

Then there is the Eastern side - Halifax, Nova Scotia etc. Not been there, so i can't offer any advice apart from it looks great!

y2k · 06-03-2009, 7:07 PM

I don't think 2 weeks is to much, I have been on holiday there twice for 3 months each time (Toronto, Deux Montagnes) and had a good time and traveled around a bit, plenty to see and do in Canada, Deux Montagnes is about 30mins from Montreal by car iirc and we drove from there to Boston for a few days, think its about a 5 hour drive though.

WHUFC · 06-03-2009, 7:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by y2k

I don't think 2 weeks is to much.

The OP was asking if 2 months in 'just' Montreal was too much mate.

Canada itself you can spend years and you will never appreciate the beauty of the country or the people.

I just wish immigration was easier !

@ KBM that sounds a really good idea.
..

y2k · 06-03-2009, 7:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDB2008

I just wish immigration was easier !

If your skilled at something thats in demand in demand in any part of Canada then immigration should be easy as long as you don't have a criminal record, I immigrated to just outside Moncton in 2007 and hated it, it was in the middle of nowhere and it was snowing (early June).

Sorry thought the OP didn't mind a bit of driving, missed out post 8

WHUFC · 06-03-2009, 7:57 PM

Without taking it too far offtopic.

When i lived in Montreal the immigration was a nightmare even as a skilled entry applicant. I had to immigrate into Canada and then into Quebec and at the time 2001 it was hard. Getting a job was difficult because they expected your first language to be French; and not Parisian French but Quebec French; which was as slang as Yorkshire lol

My brother lives in Whistler but he married a Canadian, never looked back..

Keiron · 06-03-2009, 9:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kBm

How about_:
Fly to Vancouver (city & beach, loads to do), overnight train to Jasper (an experience if anything!), drive through Rockies (you could spend weeks here) back to Vancouver.

Sounds fabulous...but...flights alone for 4 of us are about £3.5k !

y2k · 06-03-2009, 9:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keiron

Sounds fabulous...but...flights alone for 4 of us are about £3.5k !

Try westjet they should work out quite cheap.

Just checked, mabey not

Keiron · 06-03-2009, 9:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by y2k

Try westjet they should work out quite cheap.

They don't appear to fly from Manchester.

y2k · 06-03-2009, 9:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keiron

They don't appear to fly from Manchester.

I was talking about for traveling when in Canada, flyglobespan were the cheapest I found from the UK.

Keiron · 06-03-2009, 9:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by y2k

flyglobespan were the cheapest I found from the UK.

About £2.7k direct from Manchester to Vancouver. Thanks. Much better..albeit still the price of a decent second car!

Edit. Not direct, via Calgary. Is there an easy way to establish exactly where I can fly direct to from Manchester?

WHUFC · 07-03-2009, 8:32 AM

DialAFlight™ | Compare cheap flights and business flights. Prices from £72 plus tax was where i always went for flights to Montreal from Manchester.

y2k · 07-03-2009, 7:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keiron

Edit. Not direct, via Calgary. Is there an easy way to establish exactly where I can fly direct to from Manchester?

Thought them flights were expensive because me and the GF got return flights to Toronto from Belfast for £239 each including all the taxes etc when we went with flyglobespan.

Keiron · 08-03-2009, 8:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by y2k

Thought them flights were expensive because me and the GF got return flights to Toronto from Belfast for £239 each including all the taxes etc when we went with flyglobespan.

Taxes alone are £190 each so that really was a bargain!