montreal-info
Montreal Travel Info (rev 6/2024)
This page lists trip information for NJ Dragonboat team members attending the Montreal International Dragonboat Races . Races held at the 1976 Montreal Olympics rowing venue, on Notre Dame Island (Île Notre-Dame). We always seem to have a great time competing here, we combine with and fill in for tons of teams. (directions)
Note: "*" = 5 min walk from dorms, "**" = 10 min.
About Montreal
Montreal WWW Stuff || Current Happenings
2nd largest French speaking city in the world! Bonjour anyone???
Montreal is an island...so expect to pass over several bridges
Bring your own bike/blades! Great trails along docks/canals/parks. Note: biking's VERY popular...and so is bicycle theft!!!
Montreal has BICYCLE SHARE program called BIXI.
Exch rate $1CAD=$.73US / $1.37C=$1US - MACs abound! Restaurants sometimes take US$ (@lower rate)
** Tourist Info - 1001 Square Dorchester St (@Peel/St Catherine). They make info calls and book tours for you! 800-363-7777
Shopping malls abound!!! Most connected via underground tunnels
Postage to US $1.40CAD
911 and 411 ok.
parking meters still take coins!
NO Right turn on red on the island of Montreal, allowed in Canada and Quebec.(6/11)
City Metro (symbol=arrow facing down inside a circle)
Stuff to Do & See
In Montreal -
** Old Port Montreal - complete w/street mimes, magicians, musicians
**The SOS Labyrinthe (get clues, travel the maze) ($23CAD): in Old Port Montreal near Clock Tower Pier, (514) 499-0099 closes @ 10PM.
**boat cruises around Montreal
Jet Boating- Montreal (9am - 7pm)
Eateries
* Latin Quarter - 2 blocks from Days Inn
* Chinatown - 3 blocks from Days Inn
Jardin de Jade-Poon Kai Rest - 67 La Gauchetiere O (514-866-3127) - Great traditional Chinese foods, buffet style - opens 11AM until late. They got us the great 2002 Holiday Inn Room rates - tell them you're from the NJ Team!
La Maison Kam Fung - 1008 Rue Clar (514-878-2888) - opens @ 7AM, but you have to order dim sum.
**Creperie du Vieux-Montreal (3, St. Paul E) - home of great breakfast & dessert crepes!
Comedy Clubs
comedy nest - National and local comedy acts, mostly English-language entertainment. Singers, actors, dancers, musicians, female impersonators, jugglers, contortionists, acrobats and more. Full bar. One show Thursday-Saturday at 9 pm. There's an additional show Friday and Saturday at 11:15 pm. Can$5-$15, depending on the show. Most major credit cards accepted at the bar, but not at the door. 4020 Rue Ste. Catherine W. Phone 514-932-6378.
comedy works- This is the place for live comedy any night of the week. Regular events include open-mike nights (feel free to join in), improv and headlining acts on weekends. Heckling is encouraged. Full bar. Monday-Thursday and Sunday shows at 9 pm, Friday and Saturday shows at 9 and 11:15 pm. Call for schedule and reservations. Cover varies. Most major credit cards. Leave message on English-language answering machine for call-back. 1238 Rue Bishop (Guy Concordia Metro stop). Phone 514-398-9661.
Events
International Fireworks Competition - Sat 8PM = France - viewing from Old Port area: OK. (6/27-8/1/24)
*International Jazz Festival - free outdoor performances between St.Denis and Ontario St (6/26-7/6/24)
*Just for Laughs Festival - free outdoor performances between St.Denis and Ontario St (7/18-7/28//24)
Museums/Parks/Theatre
Bio Sphere - Ecowatch exhibits about water and St. Lawrence River (514-283-5000)
Bio Dome - live indoor displays of the world's various climates in Olympic Park
Parc Safari - 30 minutes south of Montreal
From Montreal to elsewhere
Mont Tremblant - 888-736-5268
3 hr Canoeing ($69C ), Canoe Camping @ Parc du Mont-Tremblant: 819-688-2281 (fax:1169)
Camping @ Parc du Mont-Tremblant - $17C/night
Horseback Riding - $100-170CAD
Rafting - $160-200CAD
Days Inn Montreal Centre-Ville - 215 Rene-Levesque East/Hotel De-ville: 800-668-3872 / 514-393-3388
Univ of Quebec at Montreal Dorms 303 Rene-Levesque East/Berri: 514-987-6669
Hôtel-Suites Le Faubourg - 155 René Lévesque Blvd. East: 1-866-398-7100 / 514-448-7100
Holiday Inn - 99 Viger Avenue West/Centerville, Convention Center: 888-878-9888 / 514-878-9888
Hotel Travel Lodge Montréal Centre- 50 Rene-Levesque East 800-578-7878 / 514-874-9090
MISC Stuff
Bring:
Racing paraphernalia - uniform (racing tank/black shorts), gloves, mouse pad, food, drink, plastic bag...
Trade goodies - extra/old team shirts
Towel, blanket or chair to sit between races.
Personal cooler
paddle, pfd, sun screen, sunglasses
Traveller info:
US State Department info on Travel to Canada.
You NEED A VALID US PASSPORT to enter Canada and to get back into USA! (or other approved documents: passport card, NEXUS, etc.)
IF you have a valid US Passport you may enter Canada (U.S. citizens do not need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada if they have a valid U.S. passport)
IF you DO NOT have a valid US Passport, you may need a VISA or eTA to cross into Canada. CHECK HERE - requires a $7CAD fee.
See Department of Homeland Security's How Do I? for Travellers for more information on changing travel requirements.
stay away from Canadian $100 bills...most merchants will NOT accept them because of a rash of counterfeits! (6/2002-2020)
Know your compass directions: Nord, Sud, Est, Ouest
BUY gas in US...in Canada: $1.77C/liter ( 3.785 liters = 1 gal, or = $6.70 US/gal )! (7/2024)
Charging avoids conversion fee. But...some local places offer EXTRA discount for US cash.
Travel time=6.5+hrs, drive "w/traffic", watch for troopers.
Expect cooler weather
Everybody speaks French (even the Chinese!), so you can practice your HS French.
Suggested eateries: Crêperie Chez Suzette (3, St. Paul E...a great crepe place in Old Port area).
Popular food: poutine (Poo-teen), unique to Quebec=fries + brown gravy + cheese curds.
Mont-Royal - best night time city view (not worth it in the day) and in the spring to early fall, there are the Tamtams (big drumming party) on Sunday afternoons
