Montreal

About Montreal

Montreal is the closest most Americans will get to a European city break without crossing an ocean — cobblestoned Old Montreal, French on the street signs, and a bistro culture that takes its terrasses seriously the moment the snow melts. It's also a strong-value hotel market for U.S. travelers, and the exchange rate frequently does half the work before member pricing does the rest. The big public booking sites show one set of prices; members see rates that aren't displayed on the open web, and in festival season that difference is worth checking every time.

The city's calendar matters more than most. From the Jazz Festival in late June through Osheaga and the Grand Prix weekend, summer events can swallow downtown inventory whole. May, September, and October are the sweet spots: terrasse weather, Mount Royal in bloom or in color, and rates that have come back to earth. Old Montreal is where first-timers should stay — boutique hotels in 18th-century stone buildings, the Notre-Dame Basilica, and the Old Port all within a few blocks. The Plateau and Mile End are where the city actually lives: bagel ovens, third-wave coffee, and the murals along Saint-Laurent.

Our Travel Editor's Montreal advice: book Old Montreal for the trip's atmosphere, but spend at least one full day north of Sherbrooke — walk the Plateau, settle the St-Viateur versus Fairmount bagel question yourself, and ride a BIXI bike through the Mile End side streets. And check the festival calendar before you pick your dates; the same room can be a bargain one week and a splurge the next.

— Our Travel Editor