Montreal - Layover
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TPA, FL
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Diamond,Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
Montreal - Layover
I have a 5.5 hour layover in Montreal coming up. I'm an American citizen. Would I have enough time to leave the airport and go downtown and then come back and catch my connecting flight (to BRU)
Thanks,
Paul
Thanks,
Paul
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
What do you want to do downtown? Anything specific and quick?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TPA, FL
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Diamond,Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
#4
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, AC
Posts: 4,220
I think you probably could do that, if you take a cab from the airport. There's a bus-bus-subway connection to downtown, but that's a pain and can take around an hour. I'm not sure how much a cab to/from the airport would cost, but it's not likely to be terribly cheap - Dorval is a fair hike from the city center.
If you're in Old Montreal you could also get lunch in Chinatown if you're so inclined. The neighborhoods are very close together, and although small Chinatown has a bunch of tasty places to eat. There's a place called Hong Kong that I quite like - massive amounts of food and reasonable prices.
If you're in Old Montreal you could also get lunch in Chinatown if you're so inclined. The neighborhoods are very close together, and although small Chinatown has a bunch of tasty places to eat. There's a place called Hong Kong that I quite like - massive amounts of food and reasonable prices.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TPA, FL
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Diamond,Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
I think you probably could do that, if you take a cab from the airport. There's a bus-bus-subway connection to downtown, but that's a pain and can take around an hour. I'm not sure how much a cab to/from the airport would cost, but it's not likely to be terribly cheap - Dorval is a fair hike from the city center.
If you're in Old Montreal you could also get lunch in Chinatown if you're so inclined. The neighborhoods are very close together, and although small Chinatown has a bunch of tasty places to eat. There's a place called Hong Kong that I quite like - massive amounts of food and reasonable prices.
If you're in Old Montreal you could also get lunch in Chinatown if you're so inclined. The neighborhoods are very close together, and although small Chinatown has a bunch of tasty places to eat. There's a place called Hong Kong that I quite like - massive amounts of food and reasonable prices.
As a side question, would you suggest getting Canadian $ or can I use US?
#6
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, AC
Posts: 4,220
Seriously, while some larger or more tourist-oriented merchants will take USD, they'll generally give you an awful exchange rate. For small businesses like a restaurant or a regular old store, taking USD will be a huge inconvenience for them, as they'll have to make a special trip to the bank to change the currency, and the bank will in turn give them a bad exchange rate.
Also, some Americans give everybody a bad name by showing up in Canada and just assuming they're in another state, so everyone will take their money. Not so much. I was once on a public bus in Montreal where an American guy (wearing a floppy safari hat, too, for added comic effect) got on and tried to pay in USD - not with coins, mind you, but actual bills, which Canadian buses do not take - and in English. The driver gave him the look of death and basically told him, in French, to get some useful money. The American kept resisting, in English, and got the same reply, in French, and this went on for a good couple of minutes as the rest of us sat there, delayed. I so wanted to get up and yell at him.
Last edited by M60_to_LGA; Mar 13, 2012 at 2:39 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TPA, FL
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Diamond,Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
Oh god, don't be that guy - pull some CAD out of an ATM and save everybody the hassle
Seriously, while some larger or more tourist-oriented merchants will take USD, they'll generally give you an awful exchange rate. For small businesses like a restaurant or a regular old store, taking USD will be a huge inconvenience for them, as they'll have to make a special trip to the bank to change the currency, and the bank will in turn give them a bad exchange rate.
Also, some Americans give everybody a bad name by showing up in Canada and just assuming they're in another state, so everyone will take their money. Not so much. I was once on a public bus in Montreal where an American guy (wearing a floppy safari hat, too, for added comic effect) got on and tried to pay in USD - not with coins, mind you, but actual bills, which Canadian buses do not take - and in English. The driver gave him the look of death and basically told him, in French, to get some useful money. The American kept resisting, in English, and got the same reply, in French, and this went on for a good couple of minutes as the rest of us sat there, delayed. I so wanted to get up and yell at him.
Seriously, while some larger or more tourist-oriented merchants will take USD, they'll generally give you an awful exchange rate. For small businesses like a restaurant or a regular old store, taking USD will be a huge inconvenience for them, as they'll have to make a special trip to the bank to change the currency, and the bank will in turn give them a bad exchange rate.
Also, some Americans give everybody a bad name by showing up in Canada and just assuming they're in another state, so everyone will take their money. Not so much. I was once on a public bus in Montreal where an American guy (wearing a floppy safari hat, too, for added comic effect) got on and tried to pay in USD - not with coins, mind you, but actual bills, which Canadian buses do not take - and in English. The driver gave him the look of death and basically told him, in French, to get some useful money. The American kept resisting, in English, and got the same reply, in French, and this went on for a good couple of minutes as the rest of us sat there, delayed. I so wanted to get up and yell at him.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
I can add a second option as to getting downtown. You could use the 747 Express bus (discussed in this thread)
For $8 (good for 24 hours, so that's all you'll pay) you'll take exactly the same route that the cab would take to get you into the downtown core. You can hop onto the Metro at the first stop to get near the Basilica, or continue on with the bus to get dropped off at the northern gate of Chinatown (St. Laurent and Rene-Levesque) if you want to eat first.
Here's a link to the 747 routemap: 747 Planibus.
Please DO HOWEVER be cognizant of the fact that the security lines as well as traffic to the airport can be, well, unpredictable. I would not hesitate doing what you intend to do on a weekend, but a weekday may get a little interesting if you hit rushour on the way back from downtown.
Hope this helps.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TPA, FL
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Diamond,Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
Sorry for not being around since you answered my question. You`ve made a good choice in choosing the Basilica.
I can add a second option as to getting downtown. You could use the 747 Express bus (discussed in this thread)
For $8 (good for 24 hours, so that's all you'll pay) you'll take exactly the same route that the cab would take to get you into the downtown core. You can hop onto the Metro at the first stop to get near the Basilica, or continue on with the bus to get dropped off at the northern gate of Chinatown (St. Laurent and Rene-Levesque) if you want to eat first.
Here's a link to the 747 routemap: 747 Planibus.
Please DO HOWEVER be cognizant of the fact that the security lines as well as traffic to the airport can be, well, unpredictable. I would not hesitate doing what you intend to do on a weekend, but a weekday may get a little interesting if you hit rushour on the way back from downtown.
Hope this helps.
I can add a second option as to getting downtown. You could use the 747 Express bus (discussed in this thread)
For $8 (good for 24 hours, so that's all you'll pay) you'll take exactly the same route that the cab would take to get you into the downtown core. You can hop onto the Metro at the first stop to get near the Basilica, or continue on with the bus to get dropped off at the northern gate of Chinatown (St. Laurent and Rene-Levesque) if you want to eat first.
Here's a link to the 747 routemap: 747 Planibus.
Please DO HOWEVER be cognizant of the fact that the security lines as well as traffic to the airport can be, well, unpredictable. I would not hesitate doing what you intend to do on a weekend, but a weekday may get a little interesting if you hit rushour on the way back from downtown.
Hope this helps.
Thanks again.
Paul
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Depending on your connecting flight times, 5.5 hours doesn;t give you a lot... expect a $45 cab fare + tip from Dorval to the Old Port and depending on traffic, 15-20 mins each way. That gives you 4.5 hours , and it's probably a good idea to be waiting at the gate at least an hour in advance of your flight, so now you're down to 3.5 hours (3 to be safe!) and almost $100 in taxi fare. You can grab a quick lunch and walk around the port for a while though, I suppose.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Also, be aware that on Friday evenings, the highway from downtown out to the airport (which both the buses and the taxis use) is frequently jammed. Leaving the city around 5pm, it frequently takes me an hour to get to the airport (vs. 20min at better times).
#12
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
I know this is an older thread but I'm looking at a similar situation next Friday. A six hour layover in Montreal between 2pm and 8pm. I was thinking that a rental car may be the best way to get quickly and relatively cheaply from the airport to Old Montreal. There are two of us so its only a few dollars more than the bus but a lot cheaper than a cab. Does that sound do-able. Grab a rental car, head to Old Montreal, wander around and have a meal and head back to the airport.
Thanks for you help
Mitch
Thanks for you help
Mitch
#13
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 32
I know this is an older thread but I'm looking at a similar situation next Friday. A six hour layover in Montreal between 2pm and 8pm. I was thinking that a rental car may be the best way to get quickly and relatively cheaply from the airport to Old Montreal. There are two of us so its only a few dollars more than the bus but a lot cheaper than a cab. Does that sound do-able. Grab a rental car, head to Old Montreal, wander around and have a meal and head back to the airport.
Thanks for you help
Mitch
Thanks for you help
Mitch
#14
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
I'd take the bus over the rental.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
Thanks Amy and Airoli
The $$ difference between the car and the bus is only about $10 so that's not a concern. I'm more interested in squeezing every minute in. Obviously the drive time for bus and car is pretty similar but I'm thinking about waiting for the bus, (there and back) and waiting for the metro (there and back). Would that add more delay than picking up a rental car and looking for parking near Old Montreal?
Any recommendations for a good place to eat around Old Montreal? Not too expensive but a decent representation of local fare.
Thanks for your help
Mitch
The $$ difference between the car and the bus is only about $10 so that's not a concern. I'm more interested in squeezing every minute in. Obviously the drive time for bus and car is pretty similar but I'm thinking about waiting for the bus, (there and back) and waiting for the metro (there and back). Would that add more delay than picking up a rental car and looking for parking near Old Montreal?
Any recommendations for a good place to eat around Old Montreal? Not too expensive but a decent representation of local fare.
Thanks for your help
Mitch