Conference kaosws::canada

    Well...I don't know what you call reasonable, but...
    
    If you are interested in a really nice hotel in Downtown Montreal,
    where most things are within walking distance (or a couple of minutes
    drive - depending on your preference), I'd recommend the Meridian
    Hotel.  It's a 4 or 5 star hotel, with a great location - but it
    will run you about $100 (that's with a corporate discount!)
    
    Another nice one in downtown Montreal is the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
    It's right next to the train station, and a bit expensive (don't
    have a ball-park for you), but it is a nice 'old' hotel.
    
    I might suggest that (if you are a member of the AAA/CAA) that you
    get one of their books on the area.  They tell you about the areas,
    give you a map, and rate the hotels.  The books are indispensible
    if you are a tourist!  They are free for members, and are about
    $3.00 for non-members.
    
    Hope this helps - Enjoy Montreal!
    
    
    
    Dave Gendron (formerly lived in Montreal)

    
    This looks like the place!
    
    My wife and I are planning a weekend trip to Montreal for our 
    anniversary, August 24-27.  We plan on driving up from New
    Hampshire, and would like to leave our car at the hotel and
    sightsee via the Metro.
    
    I was wondering if there are any recommended places that fit
    the following profile:
    
    	1) Moderately priced ($50-$75 US)
    	2) Close to downtown or easy access to downtown by Metro
    	3) Free parking (I want to do as little driving as possible)
    	4) Clean and reasonably comfortable
    	5) Not a B&B (we're pretty neurotic about it - we always get
    	     the feeling we're messing up someone's house!)
                                                
    Our general attitude is that we'd like to spend our money on all
    the wonderful things to do in Montreal (and from this notes file,
    it appears there are MANY), as opposed to spending it on a glorious 
    room that we would only spend a couple of waking hours in.  If the
    price range I'm specifying is unreasonable, please give me an idea
    of what is reasonable...
    
    I called the 1-800 number advertised by Quebec Tourism, but always
    take such publications with a grain of salt.
    
    Many thanks in advance.
    
    						Roland
    
    P.S.  My French is EXTREMELY rusty - along the lines of "I'll 
          understand it if I hear it, but I wouldn't remember how
          to say it".  I don't anticipate any problems getting around,
          but would there be any?
                            

    Merci  :-)
    
    			Roland
    

    We stayed at a hotel out near the Botanical Gardens and the Olympic
    Stadium back in '86.  I think it was a Holiday Inn or something, kind
    of cheap, around $40-$45 a night.  It was only 2 blocks from the Metro
    (Pie X I think?) but we found it took a good 45 minutes from leaving
    the hotel to arriving downtown.  It was about 8 stops out and got to be
    a pain by the end of the week.
    
    I would suggest getting something closer to downtown, even if the cost
    is a bit higher.
    
    Do try to see the Gardens of you get the chance, they are pretty nice.
    
    Dave

    
    RE: .4
    
    Looked up the recommendations you gave in the travel book sent out
    by the Department (Ministry?) of Tourism.  Hotel des Gouverneurs
    appears to be considerably more expensive than the others.  Is this
    a misprint, or is it actually the case.  All of the places you 
    mentioned seemed wonderfully located, though - I will probably
    start calling around in the next day or so...
    
    						Roland
    

    Let us know which is the best so others will have a reference.


    Less whirly-twirlies that way.


    Glenn

    Glenn,
    
    	I can't let you know which is best unless I stay at all of them,
    now can I?  If I were to attempt stays at all 4 places in 3 days,
    I would be the one with whirly-twirlies!  :-)
    
    	I have made reservations at the Lord Berri, and will let you
    know how I liked it when I return.
    
    							Roland
    
    P.S. Two additional notes:
    
    	1) This is one of the more entertaining NOTES conferences I've
    	   read.
    
    	2) So far, all of the people I've dealt with over the phone
    	   have been extremely friendly and helpful.
    

    
    My wife and I stayed at the Lord Berri this past weekend (8/24-27)
    
    It was reasonably priced and reasonably comfortable.  Nothing fancy,
    but we didn't pay enough to warrant "fancy".  It was extremely
    convenient to the Metro (1/2 block), which made it easier to get
    to other parts of town without my car, which I left in parking for
    2 1/2 days.
    
    The only thing I didn't like was that the area of Rue St. Catherine
    near the hotel wasn't as, shall we say, elegant as other parts of
    the street.
    
    Some overall Montreal notes:
    
    	I was extremely impressed by the Metro.  Clean, convenient,
    	and reasonably priced.  I'm used to the Boston "T".
    
    	The people were wonderful - very tolerant of our inability to
    	speak French for more than 2 words at a time.  Hopefully I can
    	be as tolerant of others.  Except for a couple of not-so-friendly
    	street people (one of whom started shadow boxing at me on St. 
    	Catherine), it was Montreal's most outstanding feature.
    
    	Wonderful architecture.
    
    	A CLEAN CITY!
    
    	"Les Filles des Roy" on Bonsecours in Vieux Montreal was
    	wonderful - it was where we had our first anniversary dinner.
    
    
    						Roland 

    My wife and I stayed there for the 1990 jazz festival. It was nice
    enough but a trifle minimalist, there are no amenities at all (not even a 
    pop machine) and the soap and towels are pretty skimpy. 
    
    It's across the street from a boarded up building and a vacant lot which
    initially kinda scared me but in the week we were there we saw no
    evidence to suggest any problems. 
    
    It's located 1 block east of Rue Guy and 1 block south of Boulevard
    Rene Levesque, the only other buildings on this section of the street were
    also hotels and pensions. It's a quick walk to downtown from there
    (Ste. Catherine is only 2 blocks north) and I believe there is a metro
    station at Guy and Ste. Catherine.
    
    We were able to walk comfortably to virtually everywhere we wanted to go.
    
    

	Chateau's just aren't what they used to be...

	Charlie

We ended up staying at the Chateau Versailles.  It was a bit more expensive
than the others, but we were looking for something other than a standard
modern hotel -- the Chateau Versailles consists of four connected houses.
We were very satisfied.  The location is excellent -- Sherbrooke and
St. Mathieu, a block from Guy.

We're planning a 2 day venture to Montreal on June 29-30 and wanted to stay in
a hotel downtown.  The Lord Berri sounds like a good choice, convenient to
the Metro and reasonably priced.  Has anyone (from this conference...) stayed 
there in the last few years?

Thanks
Dave

I did some checking myself and found that it is now a Days Inn and the prices
seem to be up around $80/night now.

Has anyone tried the hostels/dorms around Montreal??

Dave

    If you're coming from the states, 80 canadian is less than 60 american.
    
    Try staying downtown Boston for 60 american.  
    
    Remember, your dollar is 1.35 up here.