I love my city, but even my hometown pride couldn't make me say that Montréal is the place to be in February. It's cold and slushy with not much going on because most of us are down south warming our frozen buns. I could never inflict such torture on my fellow FT'ers. Spring is lovely, summer even better but September is my personal favourite. Montréal does go festival crazy in the summertime, though, and you can partake in anything from jazz or comedey to hot air ballooning, film, gourmet food or my wife's favourite, the international fireworks competition. Of course, the more popular the festival, the higher the hotel occupancy rate. February, in that respect at least, would pose no problem.
September/October offers good hotel rates, autumn foliage, moderate temperatures with plenty of sunshine and more elbow room at your favourite watering hole.
Don't forget that current exchange rates mean that your US$ saves you at least 33% on all your purchases. Ex. Ritz Hotel at $250 CAD = $167 USD, Centre Sheraton at $189 CAD = $126 USD, Wyndham at $109 CAD = $73 USD, 2 l. bottle of PEPSI at $0.99 CAD = $0.67 USD
And if you save all your receipts of $50 CAD or more, totalling at least $200 CAD, you'll be able to get back all our GST/PST (value added) taxes...including your hotel stay. What a deal! So what are you waiting for?