Montreal <-> Ottawa options
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
Programs: LH M+M
Posts: 960
Montreal <-> Ottawa options
Ok, since LH is "stupid" I booked my flights to Montreal - but actual
destination is Ottawa.
The no-brainer option is booking YUL-YOW with AC on a seperate ticket. But maybe (with time to spare) there might be more touristish options?
I was looking at viarail - which looks a nice product in "Business" itself, but the track is just thru kinds of nowhere-land (gmaps/satellite)?
Car rental and route whatever? I am a bit "car mad", possible to rent a Musclecar?
destination is Ottawa.
The no-brainer option is booking YUL-YOW with AC on a seperate ticket. But maybe (with time to spare) there might be more touristish options?
I was looking at viarail - which looks a nice product in "Business" itself, but the track is just thru kinds of nowhere-land (gmaps/satellite)?
Car rental and route whatever? I am a bit "car mad", possible to rent a Musclecar?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75 / Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 952
Bus, car, train, plane, all work well. I've taken the train and you don't see much. That said, unless you get off the highway or take a long route, there's not much to see driving either. If you want low-cost, a craigslist rideshare can be had for very cheap.
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K MM, BA-S HH-D, MB-G LT Sil, IHG-Plt, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 3,803
Air: Simplest.
Rail: comfortable. Train station is a short shuttle-bus ride from YUL. It will save you 15-20 mins compared to driving.
Car: Relative easy, mostly highway drive from YUL to Ottawa. Check prices as there may be a one-way drop-off charge. Careful about fatigue after coming off a transatlantic flight. The highway is mostly boring and you wouldn't want to fall asleep, or miss the right turn to Ottawa and end up 5 hrs later in Toronto.
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13F
Rail: comfortable. Train station is a short shuttle-bus ride from YUL. It will save you 15-20 mins compared to driving.
Car: Relative easy, mostly highway drive from YUL to Ottawa. Check prices as there may be a one-way drop-off charge. Careful about fatigue after coming off a transatlantic flight. The highway is mostly boring and you wouldn't want to fall asleep, or miss the right turn to Ottawa and end up 5 hrs later in Toronto.
--
13F
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YUL
Programs: AP 50k
Posts: 83
Montreal to Ottawa is super boring. flying takes 30-40 minutes, driving takes 2 hours, train takes around 1.25 hours.
The only touristy thing along the way is Herbs. http://www.herbstravelplaza.ca/index.php/en/home/
The only touristy thing along the way is Herbs. http://www.herbstravelplaza.ca/index.php/en/home/
#5
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YUL
Programs: AP 50k
Posts: 83
Air: Simplest.
Rail: comfortable. Train station is a short shuttle-bus ride from YUL. It will save you 15-20 mins compared to driving.
Car: Relative easy, mostly highway drive from YUL to Ottawa. Check prices as there may be a one-way drop-off charge. Careful about fatigue after coming off a transatlantic flight. The highway is mostly boring and you wouldn't want to fall asleep, or miss the right turn to Ottawa and end up 5 hrs later in Toronto.
--
13F
Rail: comfortable. Train station is a short shuttle-bus ride from YUL. It will save you 15-20 mins compared to driving.
Car: Relative easy, mostly highway drive from YUL to Ottawa. Check prices as there may be a one-way drop-off charge. Careful about fatigue after coming off a transatlantic flight. The highway is mostly boring and you wouldn't want to fall asleep, or miss the right turn to Ottawa and end up 5 hrs later in Toronto.
--
13F
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
The train is quick and easy. It has a stop at Dorval, near the airport, and arrives close to downtown Ottawa. The airport is a lot farther and the cab fare is substantial. There is a transit bus that's actually faster than the cab in Ottawa. The thing to consider is that the train is not affected by weather in Montreal or from wherever you flight is coming from. Scenery from trains is what you think it is - the countryside has terrain that is not the same as other places - if that is interesting.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
Programs: LH M+M
Posts: 960
Flying in in four weeks, so I guess/hope the current floods aren't an issue by then.
Sleepiness after TATL is a valid point; I think it'll be the train after all.
Thanks for the input.
Sleepiness after TATL is a valid point; I think it'll be the train after all.
Thanks for the input.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: ba silver
Posts: 729
The train is really worth it ( airlines sometimes rebook people this way during irops). A 4 minute shuttle ride or healthy 10 minute walk ( I live in the area and walk from the airport to the adjacent commuter rail station sometimes ). Also, if booked in business on Via you will have access to a small lounge that makes the wait easier.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
Programs: LH M+M
Posts: 960
Sounds well connected, but I've to stay overnight. Planned T/D is at 18:40 and last train in the day is 18:50. Could be a biiiiit tight :-)
Better with outbound, train arriving 13:40, plane leaving 17:45.
Better with outbound, train arriving 13:40, plane leaving 17:45.
#10
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: ba silver
Posts: 729
You'll never make the last train. You could also look at Greyhound. They do have some direct buses from the terminal that leave about 50 meters from the customs hall, don't know if it leaves that late. The bus does stop in downtown Ottawa.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
Programs: LH M+M
Posts: 960
I'm fine with a night in Montral - that was the plan anyway, will see "enough" from Ottawa the following days.
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
Last edited by PAX_fips; May 8, 2017 at 9:14 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
I'm fine with a night in Montral - that was the plan anyway, will see "enough" from Ottawa the following days.
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
#13
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Trinidad & Tobago
Posts: 437
I'm fine with a night in Montral - that was the plan anyway, will see "enough" from Ottawa the following days.
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
As far as Ottawa I took a cab from Ottawa airport to the Via Rail station last October, cost was C$35.
Bear in mind that the ViaRail station is on the East of the city, not downtown by any stretch of the imagination, although it does have a bus connection to downtown.
Lastly Canada is celebrating 150 years of 'being Canadian' this year and many large events are planned for the downtown core in Ottawa. That makes hotels full, traffic slow, and crowds large.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
VIA Rail one way only
Outbound = VIA Rail. You could do VIA 1, but why bother? Its the same seat and you are on board 1.5 hours............barely enough time to eat, let alone enjoy the wine! Also, VIA Rail has comp wifi. There is also a comp shuttle to the terminal. Look for the phone outside the station.
Inbound, I agree the cnx. is way too tight. You could do the Greyhound (8:30 pm as I recall). If not, why not stay near the airport? Do you need the IHG stay for status? If not, I recommend the Sheraton Montreal Airport & a free shuttle. Save $$ on cabs and upgrade for lounge access.
Inbound, I agree the cnx. is way too tight. You could do the Greyhound (8:30 pm as I recall). If not, why not stay near the airport? Do you need the IHG stay for status? If not, I recommend the Sheraton Montreal Airport & a free shuttle. Save $$ on cabs and upgrade for lounge access.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,573
I'm fine with a night in Montral - that was the plan anyway, will see "enough" from Ottawa the following days.
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so
Leads to: which Hotel. Would "prefer" anything along IHG; but if there's some must-see, I'd go for that, too (just maybe not above $200 or so).
Edit: seems that should rather go $300 or so