<p>We’ll be in NYC next month and want to take a side trip to Montreal and Quebec. We’ll have about six days, including transport from and back to New York.</p>
<p>My most pressing issue is how to get to Canada and back to NYC. I assume driving would be a giant hassle, and I understand that public transportation is good in both cities. I’m thinking the train between Montreal and Quebec would be nice.</p>
<p>How about getting from NYC to Montreal? I see there is an Amtrak line that takes around 10 hours. Is it pretty? Relaxing? Or should I just fly? Flights into Montreal are around $500 RT. Pretty pricey. On the other hand we could fly Jetblue from JFK to Burlington, VT for $130 RT, but then I’ve got to hop on a bus or ???</p>
<p>I would spend the extra money and fly into Montreal. Burlington is a couple of hours from Montreal, and if you have to get from airport to bus station (I don’t know if they’re close, or in the same building, or what) plus spend some time waiting for your connection, it seems like more hassle than it’s worth. Burlington is very pretty, but if you’re not planning to spend any time there, I’d skip it and go straight through. What would it cost you for the bus from Burlington to Montreal?</p>
<p>Public transportation in Quebec city is not as good as in Montreal, but it’s a very walkable city.</p>
<p>The train seems like a reasonable option, but I’ve never taken it. I’m about a 5-hour drive from both NYC and Montreal, and just a little more to Quebec, so we just drive.</p>
<p>OK, amendment. I’m thinking in terms of time spent traveling and how that’s going to cut into your actual vacation time. But, if money is really tight and is an issue, I’d fly into Burlington and take the bus to Montreal. The bus is less than $100, so you could do the whole round trip for less than $250, which is half the price of flying. So I guess you have to weigh out which you have more of - money or time?</p>
<p>I took the train from NYC to Montreal a couple months ago. It was very comfortable despite the long ride and not that painful because I was with friends. The tickets cost ~$64. I think taking the train is a pretty good deal if you have plenty of time. Also, the train station is right by the metro (although I recall taking a rather circuitous route), while I was told the airport has less convenient transportation. (I don’t think the metro goes to the airport.). We were originally thinking of flying, but we didn’t buy the tickets early enough. I found ~$130 tickets (AirCanada) two months beforehand but didn’t get them soon enough. The price rose to $200+ when my friends and I finally got our act together.</p>
<p>There is also a bus that goes from NYC to Montreal that leaves a couple times a day. It’s something like an 8-hour ride, which is shorter than the train ride, but considerably less comfortable.</p>
<p>Overall, the cost of transportation was around $100 (train from NYC to Montreal, bus from Montreal to Boston).</p>
<p>S goes to McGill and his preference in order is driving, flying, bus, train. One of our favorite restaurants is Entrecote. Old Montreal is a must-see. I’ll ask s and H for more ie, hotels, restaurants, pubs, etc if you like. I can never keep them all in my head.</p>
<p>I agree Old Montreal is a must see.
Cobblestone streets, Place Jacques Cartier, Notre Dame Cathedral, Bonsecours Market, waterfront, great cafes and restaurants.
Stay downtown, not near the airport. Hotel de la Montagne is a boutique hotel in trendy central area, but pricey.
Montreal is a walking city, very centralized, so any hotel downtown will be fine.
Must walk up to Parc Mont Royal ("the mountain), on top you will find a man made lake and a great lookout area over the city.
Take a caleche, either in Old Montreal or on the mountain though it’s a bit touristy (they have these in Quebec City as well)
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. McGill. Take the metro.
Shop on St Catherine Street.
Cafe terrrasses on Mountain and Crescent streets, or St Denis further east which is more French in flavour.</p>
<p>Quebec City: the old fort, Chateau Frontenac (hotel, if you are not staying, visit it), city center.</p>
<p>Oh if you have time, Ile St Helene, and the Biodome in Montreal.
If you’re there mid July, the “Just for Laughs” comedy festival is on.
Too bad you’re not there now, Jazz Festival is one of the best worldwide.</p>
<p>I would suggest driving. If you want to see both Montreal and Quebec, driving makes the most sense. The time involved in flying, with security and the necessity of arriving at the airport so far in advance, plus the time involved in getting to and from the airports, is probably going to make it a longer trip overall. NYC to Montreal is about six hours of driving. Montreal to Quebec is about 2 1/2 hours of driving. I would spend more time in Quebec than in Montreal, but that’s just me. Have fun!</p>
<p>I’ve assumed that a car would be more of a liability than an asset once I was in the cities, so I’ve never given driving much thought. But I see your point; being captive to airline schedules, airport delays, etc. really puts a damper on one’s day.</p>
<p>Things to ponder…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone and please keep the ideas coming.</p>
<p>When I travelled to Montreal last summer I actually stayed in one of McGill University’s dorms. They rent out rooms for the summer, less expensive than staying in a hotel, and considering it’s located downtown, getting around is fairly easy. This probably isn’t the type of accommodation you’re looking for though (although one of the housing options are apartment-style suites), but I thought I’d just throw that out there in case anyone else travelling in the area is looking for suggestions.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend driving. The drive from Manhattan will be about 8 hours (assuming your border crossing doesn’t slow things down too much). Once you’re out of NYC, the drive is literally a straight shot due north. The train takes about 10.5 hours from Manhattan. The route is scenic, but it is slow, and can encounter delays, especially at the border.</p>
<p>There are soooo many wonderful hotels in Montreal! A couple of personal faves, in the Old City: XIX Siecle and Auberge Bonaparte (which also has a marvelous restaurant). Auberge LaFontaine is a little more off the beaten path, more in the Francophone part of the city, and lovely. A great small bistro for lunch or dinner in the Old City, very French, and reasonable, is La Gargote. An absolutely fabulous exhibition on Yves St. Laurent is currently on view at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, definitely worth seeing even if you’re not a fashionista. For a change of pace, go down to Atwater Market, a huge farmers market near the Lachine Canal, all sorts of produce, flowers, cheeses, bakeries, meat and fish and gourmet and wine shops. Pick up the supplies for a picnic and head toward Parc Mont-Royal and a great panoramic view of the city. You can navigate the city very easily using the Montral metro. Have fun!</p>
<p>I agree with the good advice of the above posters. It’s about a 6.5 hr driving trip from NYC. Both Montreal & Quebec are wonderful walkable cities. Take a horse & carriage ride to get an overview (sounds corny but really is a great way to catch a bit of everything). Terrific food in little cafes - you’ll feel like you’re in France. Loved the Old City! Hotel Frontenac is definitely worth seeing. Lovely museums & parks in Montreal. Enjoy!</p>
<p>A tip: if you know any French social greetings, use them, even if you can’t carry the conversation on any further. Soon into the chat in English, let them know you are visiting from the USA or another origin, but not Canada. To a Francophone, any Canadian who speaks only English is an inexcusable boor, but they give a pass to U.S. travelers whose French is weak or non-existent.</p>
<p>If you know some French, use what you know and fill in with English words until they perceive you’re trying your best. At that point, they’ll flip the conversation over to English, but will like you better for having made the effort.</p>
<p>There is a very well-priced place, more or less a B&B, right down the way from the Chateau Frontenac, also on the river, same superb view. Some of its rooms have kitchenettes, so that you can save money by not eating out for every meal. I’m blanking on the name…Auberge de la Terrace or something like that? I think that some googling would turn up the name. A real bargain.</p>
Have fun!</p>