Jump to content

Montreal/Taboo hotel recommendations?


fedssocr1
This topic is 7371 days old and is no longer open for new replies.  Replies are automatically disabled after two years of inactivity.  Please create a new topic instead of posting here.  

Recommended Posts

>Thanks so far guys. Appreciate the help..Other than the Guv,

>can someone list a few nearby hotels that I might try?

 

First let me also say that KarlG's extensive post is very good and very accurate.

 

The Gouverneurs is the only large "major" hotel near the Village. (There are none actually in the Village.) Several alternative hotels have already been mentioned in this thread, but you will want to take the metro or a taxi from them. As for other alternatives, since you ask, there are several B&Bs and also some small hotels in or near the Village, even closer to the action than the Gouverneurs.

 

I have not stayed in any of these places or seen them inside, so I cannot tell you for sure what they are like. But in general, B&Bs can be very variable in quality and amenities, depending on the owners. Good ones can be very good.

 

The hotels are fairly small and appear from the outside to be of decidedly fewer stars than the Gouverneurs or the others that have been mentioned. That does not mean that they are necessarily bad, but you should probably expect fewer amenities and a less-renovated/upgraded room. Depending on things like how much time you plan to spend there, what you plan to do there, the size of your budget, etc., that may be OK with you.

 

There are several of them on the side streets in the first (or sometimes second) block both north and south of Ste. Catherine, especially the streets near the western end of the Ste. Catherine "strip" (near Campus and Stock). There is also the Hotel Bourbon right on Ste. Catherine in the eastern part of the "strip" (above Le Sandwich; but I have heard mixed things about it), and the Hotel Dorion, which is the upstairs of the building that Taboo is in (talk about convenient location!). Several people have reported on this board that they stayed there (the Dorion) and that, while not fancy, it was OK. (One even advocates staying there. Do a search on "Dorion" and you will probably find the threads.) I also struck up an acquaintance at Taboo for a few days on two different occasions with guys who were staying there and who were satisfied with it. You should probably avoid the Hotel Ste. Catherine, also on Ste. Catherine across from L'Adonis. It opened several months ago, but the only comments about it on this board have been very negative.

 

The advantage of these places is location. They are right there. The Gouverneurs is close, but still several blocks away, and the others are even farther. The disadvantage is amenities and ambience. So if you don't need pampering, you may find the "taxi ride" at 2 or 3 am from Taboo to the Dorion unbeatable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 42
  • Created
  • Last Reply

In my searching I came across another place that looks great called Le Square Phillips Hotel and Suites. They have very nice looking apartments in a historic building that was completely renovated in 2002. All of the Montreal discount hotel sites have it listed, such as http://www.montreal.the-hotels.com/le-square-phillips-hotel.htm#new

 

Rates seem quite reasonable. Apartemnts include full kitchens and look to be quite large. Location is just south of Ste Catherines about 2 blocks from the McGill subway stop. So it's basically in the heart of downtown. Rates seem to range between US$110-200/night. If I hadn't found my apartment in the Village it would have been near the top of my list I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have taken a tour of this property and it is VERY nice with very spacious apartments.

For those of you who are familiar with Montreal it is two short blocks(really more like 1/2 city block)from La Baie department store(montreal outpost of Macy's)I have considered it myself-and if I do a stay longer than 5 nights I might stay here.There is an IGA store two blocks away for stocking the fridge.They have pretty good notices on TripAdvisor.com.The Staff was more than helpful.

The Presidence is a little more convienient to the village, and has some units with nice views-square phillips does not if that is important to you.

Fedescort-where did you settle on?You say you got an apartment?Good for you.Now you must take the orange line to the public market in Little Italy-Marche Jean Talon http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/mellin/arch671/winter2000/tlin/jean-talon.htm You can get wonderful flowers,cheese,breads and goodies for your apartment-and there are some gorgeous men working in the stalls!I could spend all day there(I usually settle for a morning)and if you buy to much to take back on the train cabs are easy to find.It really lets you see the local populace in their own world.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Little Italy is definitely on my list of sites to see.

 

I have reserved the renovated apartment on Montcalm run by the folks at http://www.aubergell.com/en/chambres/index.html as recommended by Twinkloverr. They were very helpful and accommodating. Location appears to be ideal. C$175/night is a little bit pricey, but not much more than the rate quoted by the Gouverneur. I'm looking forward to it.

 

Here's the direct link to the apartment/condo http://www.sirmontcalm.com/visite.shtml

 

Now everyone's going to want to stay there. :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>I have reserved the renovated apartment on Montcalm run by the

>folks at http://www.aubergell.com/en/chambres/index.html as

>recommended by Twinkloverr. They were very helpful and

>accommodating. Location appears to be ideal.

 

Excellent location. It is in the first block up from Ste.C. on Montcalm. Stock is at the corner of Ste.C. and Montcalm, right on your block. Campus is 1.5 blocks W of Montcalm, Adonis is about 7 blocks (short) E, and Taboo is about 2 blocks farther E. Metro Beaudry is 1 block E of Montcalm. What more could one ask?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well... just thought - why not to "spread your horisons", guys? Montreal is kinda more that just a gay village ;) there are lots of restaurants, caffees full of people outside the village as well !!! One of Montreal characters - lots of people "hanging out" on the streets and caffees almost 24 hours a day! so, enjoy your stay!!! You know, one of my friends, who is visiting Montreal on regular base for years enjoyed the "excurcion" downtown we made:) for the first time he took a metro with me and for the first time he was out of the village - we went to downtown "straight" cafee, were sitting at the opened window and watching all the "eye candy" inside the place as well as walking downt St.Catherine. that we took a walk to the village - took about 20 minutes, but was fun!! he even said that he is afraid of his sugar level because of all these eye candies on the street ;) So, maybe really better to stay in downtown hotel and walk to the village ( or take taxi - little expensive, but easy to find)?:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I've posted this info before in other threads but will repeat it again here.

 

I visit Montreal reasonably frequently (half a dozen times per year at least) and never stay in the Gay Village. Why? Because I want to see and experience more of the city than what exists within the confines of the Village.

 

I've stayed at quite a few different hotels but usually end up at one of the Marriotts. If I'm staying just overnight, I might stay at Chateau Champlain; it's a bit pricy but you can often get get bargains on weekend nights, especially in the winter. But if I'm staying for a longer period of time, I often stay at one of the two Residence Inns. I like the extra space, kitchen, etc. as well as the free high-speed Internet connection. And a room is generally available for around $100 Canadian per night, give or take a few bucks.

 

However, neither is near the Village. (The one on Peel is quite a lot closer than the one on Lincoln.) However, I see this as an advantage, not a disadvantage. In the summer, I often walk home to the hotel from the Village, even to Lincoln Street -- an hour-long walk that's extremely pleasant on a cool summer evening. But both are well-served by taxis and the Metro, providing fast, inexpensive access to the Village as often as needed.

 

Montreal has so much more to offer than just the Village: great restaurants for any kind of meal (try Chez Cora sometime for breakfast), shops, street scenes, you name it. I very much enjoy visiting the Village, but also enjoy the time I spend elsewhere in the city.

 

BG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>

>Montreal has so much more to offer than just the Village:

>great restaurants for any kind of meal (try Chez Cora sometime

>for breakfast), shops, street scenes, you name it. I very

>much enjoy visiting the Village, but also enjoy the time I

>spend elsewhere in the city.

>

>BG

 

Hey BG! How are you? Hope to run into you again this year in MOntreal.

 

Your points about the splendor of Montreal outside the village are well taken...

 

but just thought I would remind you though that Chez Cora is IN the Village. In fact, it is the neighbor of your favorite stomping ground (or at least just a block away)! LOL

 

And you are right. It is the best! (not to mention there are always cute boys in there eating)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>Hey BG! How are you? Hope to run into you again this year in

>MOntreal.

>

>Your points about the splendor of Montreal outside the village

>are well taken...

>

>but just thought I would remind you though that Chez Cora is

>IN the Village. In fact, it is the neighbor of your favorite

>stomping ground (or at least just a block away)! LOL

>

>And you are right. It is the best! (not to mention there are

>always cute boys in there eating)

 

Hi Mark,

 

Actually, there are quite a few of them, all good. I usually end up going to the one on Stanley, downtown... breakfast is a time I like to be quiet. :)

 

Take care!

BG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you raise good points. This is my first trip to Montreal, so I figured being in the Village would be fun. And I like being just a short walk from "home" at the end of a late evening out. Believe me, I do plan to see the rest of the city while I am there. The Montreal tourism people put out a lot of great publications which I just got in the mail the other day that will help me plan what I will see and do while there.

 

Here's a question you veterans might be able to answer. I intend to travel by subway to get around when it's too far to walk. I see they have 3 day tourist passes but I will be there for a week. Is there a weekly pass? Do I need a photo or anything for that? I know in London you need a passport size photo to get a weekly transit pass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I buy a carnet -- six tickets (worth $12) for about $8.00 (all prices in C$). I don't find a visitors pass for the Metro a good deal -- I don't take that many rides in one day. I've actually used tickets I purchased in one carnet six months later and found the machines wouldn't take them but the attendants in the ticket booths took them without question. So don't throw any unused tickets at the end of your trip.

 

Also, you don't need a photo. :)

 

BG

 

ps: Here's a bit more info from Rough Guides:

 

Montreal - Transportation

 

The public transport system is one of the city's greatest assets, linking the 65-station Metro to 150 bus routes. The clean, speedy, convenient, reliable and cheap Metro system has four colour-coded lines, the major interconnecting stations being Berri-UQAM (which links the orange, green and yellow lines), Lionel-Groulx (green and orange), Snowdon and Jean-Talon (blue and orange). Coloured signs indicate the direction of each line by showing the name of the terminus; maps of the system can be picked up at stations and information centres.

 

A correspondance, available from machines beyond the turnstiles at the Metro stations, allows you to complete your journey by bus at no extra cost, but you must get one at the beginning of your journey, not as you get off the Metro. The transfer system also works in reverse, from buses to Metro – ask the driver for one as you board. Most buses stop running at 12.30am, shortly before the Metro, though some run all through the night and cover different routes; they have the same fare system as the Metro, but exact change is required.

 

One-way fares are a flat $2, and a book of six tickets – a carnet – costs $8.25. Better suited to visitors, the STCUM tourist pass allows unlimited travel on the Metro and bus routes: it costs $7 a day or $14 for three consecutive days and is available from the information centres, Berri–UQAM Metro station and, from April to October, at all downtown Metro stations.

 

It is rarely necessary to take a taxi, and they're not that expensive if you're in a group; they cost $2.80 plus $1.13 per kilometre and an additional ten to fifteen percent tip is normal. Taxis can be boarded at ranks outside hotels and transport terminals, and by simply flagging them down. They can also be ordered by phone: Taxi Diamond (tel 273-6331) and Taxi Co-op (tel 725-9885) are two reliable services.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

zack222

 

One other suggestion that may fit your requirement of close to the clubs. Hotel Lord Berri is a 10 story hotel, on Berri (down the street from the great music store that has been mentioned) toward Old Montreal. Just on the edge of the village, it is easy walking distance from Campus/Stock and a short subway ride to the other clubs such as Taboo(use the Berri stop, one half block from the hotel. I would rate the hotel about a three star but it is clean, friendly and about $80 a night Canadian. I like it because I can walk back after the metro shuts down at 1:00 a.m. And, I ask for room at the back, Berri can be a busy noisy street.

enjoy my friend, MTl. is the most cosmopolitan city in Canada.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>Enjoy my friend, MTl. is the most cosmopolitan city in

>Canada.

 

I love Montreal and agree it's a cosmopolitan, world-class city. But I'd suggest that Toronto and Vancouver, each in their own way, are also world-class and cosmopolitan cities -- and very worthy of visits.

 

BG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agree that Toronto has is own class. Cannot tell about Vancouver, never been there. But what is special about Montreal - it's this European atmosphere you can hardly find in North America. Don't know about you, guys, but is't important for me.:) As I said, city is "alive" 24 hours a day, crowds of people on the streets, as well as in the caffees ans restaurants, almost always. Toronto is kinda "dead" after 8 pm, not mentioning that you can hardly find a place you can have a nice dinner for a convenient price. People are very friendly and really "enjoying their lives". Lots of different restaurants - arab, greek, italian, french, chinese and more and more and more- where you can have your very tasty dinner and for a small money. Like this small greek tavern - cannot really remember it's name and location, it's rather far and hard to find - we used to have our family dinners. Extremely cheap, huge portions, the best calemari i ever had - not to mention young hot greek waiters, because of whom I almost put out my eye with a fork several times;) Or summer walks along the Old port embankment, full of hot topless guys in their baggy shorts riding a roller skates or bikes - WOW!!! Better that Stock-bar!!! ;) What's the use of going to Toronto from, for instance, Chicago, if you'll find same "Chicago" in there ?:)

hmmm... i guess Montreal Tourist board owes me money for such a publicity ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wyndham is situated at Place-des arts. about 12-15 minute walk from the village and 3 metro stations from Beardry. and there is one more hotel just near the village - as an alternative of Gouverneur - taj-mahal hotel, one block to the north from the Gouverneur, just behind he Berry bus station. rather convenient - not high class of course.

info can be find here http://www.tajmahalmontreal.com/index%20anglais.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>hmmm... i guess Montreal Tourist board owes me money for such

>a publicity ;)

 

LOL...Yes, indeed! But it's great to find someone who so enjoys the city he lives in. :)

 

The three cities are really different. Each has its own character and strengths and I could quite easily be happy living in any one of them. However, if pushed to make an instant decision, I'd probably choose Vancouver. The weather and sheer physical beauty of the city's setting are enormous advantages that can be enjoyed every day. (Yes, even in the rain!)

 

Many people think that Vancouver is Canada's Los Angeles, but I think it might be Canada's San Diego instead. It's clearly a terrific place to live, especially for those who enjoy the outdoors, and a great place to visit.

 

However, if you go to Vancouver looking for St. Catherine Street and throngs of people milling about at 3:00 am or a huge Gay Village, you're going to be disappointed. Vancouver is not Montreal; it's a distinct city with different strengths and stands tall all on its own.

 

I really do love both cities and visit both frequently. Toronto, on the other hand, is a city I visit only for business. That's not taking anything away from it. Being a world-class city for business is no small thing. And clearly one can have a great time there. But if I'm traveling in Canada for fun, I'm generally going to be off to either Vancouver or Montreal.

 

BG

 

ps: There are some terrific fares on Air Canada from Montreal to Vancouver, especially if you book far enough in advance. In late March, when Montreal is still quite cold, Vancouver will be starting to look like a garden. You should go for a visit. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Tampa Yankee

Ditto regarding Vancouver. A great city, probably the most beautiful in North America. Two changes I would argue for: dryer winters and a few hot stripper bars. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...