Posted by Amanda Fortier
All Habs

We’ve had a lot of questions about how to get around in Montreal, where to stay and what to do while you’re here. To try and help everyone who is coming in for the Draft NHL Tweetup, we’ve compiled some general information to point you in the right direction.

There are also a number of good websites that offer information about Montreal, such as Montreal Kiosk , Tourism Montreal and Montreal.com .

Transportation

From the airport to the city

The Trudeau Airport is located on the western side of the Island of Montreal. While it is possible to get downtown using public transportation, it’s not easy. There are 2 options that are pretty simple:
• The cheap option: Take the airport shuttle bus (Aerobus)
The airport shuttle bus departs every half an hour from the airport, and stops at several hotels downtown before reaching the bus terminal, which is its’ final destination. There is a kiosk outside the airport departures level, where tickets can be purchased on arrival. It will cost $15.00 one-way, or $25.00 round trip. You can also arrange to be dropped off at your hotel by reserving in advance. Click on the link above for more information.
• The less cheap option: Take a taxi
It’s relatively quick and easy to get a taxi outside the airport, or on pretty much any major street in Montreal. There is a set fare for trips from the airport to downtown Montreal (and vice-versa) of $38.00 (not including tip). You can find taxi numbers by clicking on the link above, but trust me, you probably won’t need it.

In the city

1) Public Transit
Montreal has a very good transit system, with both bus and metro (subway) service, if you want to be adventurous and explore the city. For more information about transit:
A couple of pointers for transit:
• You can buy a one-day pass or a three-day pass. If you plan to do a bunch of exploring, this will probably save you money.
• When you take the metro, pay attention to the direction you need to travel. This can at times be confusing, but there are always maps in the metro that can help you figure out which way to go.
• Google Maps is linked in to the Montreal transit system and give you pretty good directions on how to get somewhere using car, transit or by walking!

2) Taxi
Of course, there is always the option to take a cab. Your hotel concierge can get you one, or you can flag one down on most roads in the downtown area. If the light is lit on top of the cab, they are available to take a fare. Just wave, they’ll stop and pick you up!

3) Walk
Yes, walk! Downtown Montreal is a nice place to walk. Montrealers walk a LOT, so get out and enjoy our beautiful sunny weather. If, by chance, it happens to be rainy… there is a pretty cool underground city that connects a few different malls and such.

Hotels and Accomodations

We have been lucky enough to pair with the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth to offer a special rate for people attending the Draft NHLTweetup! They are offering a special rate of $199 per night plus a $25 food and beverage credit. This is a really good rate for a very nice hotel (and just between us, I also heard a rumour the players may be staying at this hotel also). Click the link to make a reservation.

Another option in the downtown area is the Delta Centreville. They are offering summer rates as low as $109 per night through TravelZoo. Click here to make a reservation.

Please note that both of these deals require special codes, which you will have access to if you click on the links from this page.

If neither of these hotels work for you, there are a number of hotels in the downtown area. We intend to focus our activities in the area of the Bell Centre, so consider looking in that area. I would recommend visiting Trip Advisor and exploring the reviews if you aren’t familiar with the hotel. There are a lot of upscale hotels in the area of the Bell Centre, but don’t be discouraged, there are other hotels as well.

Please be aware: The Montreal International Jazz Festival starts the following Wednesday, and people may come in early for this. You might want to book your hotel sooner rather than later!

Restaurants and Bars

Montreal is famous for its nightlife and good food. While it would be impossible to list all the good places to go, here are a few areas that you might want to explore.

• Crescent Street – Located right in the area of the Bell Centre, Crescent Street is full of restaurants, pubs and bars. Wander up the street, and you’ll be sure to find something that appeals to you.
• St Laurent Blvd – If you are interested in the nightlife and want to go to the bars, St Laurent Blvd (north of Sherbrooke St) is always a happening place. There are bars and restaurants along here, including the famous Schwartz’s Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen, where you can try a delicious Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich. Don’t be intimidated by the line up – if you want to take out, you can usually skip the line. But it’s worth the wait if you want to sit down!
• Rue St Denis – A little less nightlife, but a lot more restaurants than St Laurent. It’s a bit further from downtown, but not much.

Things to Do in Montreal

Things to Do in Montreal (that are hockey related)

• Hang out with the Tweeps from Montreal, and come to the TweetUp (of course!)
• Visit the Old Forum (Ste Catherine and Atwater) – there are still parts of the old seats to see. It has been turned into a retail establishment, but if you’re a Habs fan (or even if you’re not), it’s definitely worth a visit
• Visit the Bell Centre and see the new Centennial Plaza… and shop at the Canadiens store (you all know you’re secretly Habs fans at heart, and you are dying to buy a jersey or shirt!)

Things to Do in Montreal (that aren’t hockey related)

If you are interested in checking out other things to do in Montreal, there are a number of big attractions that might interest you:
• La Ronde (our local amusement park)
• For the geeks , the Biodôme/Insectarium/Botanical Gardens/Planetarium (choose the one you are interested in on that page… and just to be clear, I love these places!)
• The Old Port is a cool place to walk around and shop or eat, also right in the area are the Montreal Science Centre and the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archealogy and History
• SHOP (Ste Catherine St, St Laurent Blvd or St Denis are good places to start!)
• Titanic The Artifact Exhibit

Hopefully this information will help you plan your trip to Montreal! Of course, you can always ask us questions if you are stuck or need more information. Just contact one of the local organizing committee members:

@all_habs
@amandafortier
@kyleroussel
@metricjulie

We’re looking forward to meeting you at the NHL Draft TweetUp!