[bigslickak]

What's up, I'll be traveling to Montreal on business next week. This will be my first time visiting your fine land, so what should a single late 20's professional be looking to do during my free time? Even though I am over 3000 miles away in California, I am very aware of Montreal's reputation as a fun city.

I'll be staying near the airport at a hotel on Cote de Liesse, and don't plan on having a rental car, since I will have transportation provided (for work purposes). Some questions for you guys:

1. I know Montreal is quite billingual, but how should I greet people around town? I have some minor French speaking ability, like "Je suis de Californie; Ou est le bain? Le vol depart a huit heures et demie" (pardon the lack of accents), that type of stuff. Should I just greet everyone with "Bonjour" and hope they recognize I'm obviously not French speaker and switch to English? Or will they appreciate a broken attempt at a French conversation?

2. I am a hockey fan, are there any suggested places to check out?

3. Should I check out the Casino? I am a poker player with some decent casino experience here in the states.

4. How much should a cab ride cost from the hotel on Cote de Liesse to downtown?

5. Where should I change my cash?

Thanks in advance

[Tonybest]

You should have a good time... Here are just a few answers for ya.

Originally Posted by bigslickak

What's up, I'll be traveling to Montreal on business next week. This will be my first time visiting your fine land, so what should a single late 20's professional be looking to do during my free time? Even though I am over 3000 miles away in California, I am very aware of Montreal's reputation as a fun city.

I'll be staying near the airport at a hotel on Cote de Liesse, and don't plan on having a rental car, since I will have transportation provided (for work purposes).

Not the nicest part of town, nothing is walkable from there as you can imagine...

Originally Posted by bigslickak

Some questions for you guys:

1. I know Montreal is quite billingual, but how should I greet people around town? I have some minor French speaking ability, like "Je suis de Californie; Ou est le bain? Le vol depart a huit heures et demie" (pardon the lack of accents), that type of stuff. Should I just greet everyone with "Bonjour" and hope they recognize I'm obviously not French speaker and switch to English? Or will they appreciate a broken attempt at a French conversation?

I guess you should say : Où sont les toilettes? or else you'll get a bath instead of a toilet
Le vol part à huit heures et demie.
or
Le départ est à huit heures et demie.

Everybody always appreciates someone who at least tries.
On the Island of Montreal, you shouldn't have any problems getting around with English only. I know many people who only speak English and they get around, but it might be through habit.

Originally Posted by bigslickak

2. I am a hockey fan, are there any suggested places to check out?

Hockey season is 365 days a year over here, you'll hear about on the radio, on TV, on the streets all year round. But we are still off season as for the on ice activity. You can go skating at 1000 de la Gauchetière which is very close to the Bell Center where the Habs play. I guess you can visit the Bell Center, even the old Forum de Montreal but it has been transformed into a movie megaplex. There is still a few memorabilia there but not really worth the time.

The best is coming during the real Hockey season (playoffs) and catching a game at the Bell Center.

Originally Posted by bigslickak

3. Should I check out the Casino? I am a poker player with some decent casino experience here in the states.

Sure why not? You'll be smack in the middle of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where until last year (damn Bernie) we had a F1 race. Supposed to be back next year... There is a fabulous restaurant (5 star) right in the Casino.

Originally Posted by bigslickak

4. How much should a cab ride cost from the hotel on Cote de Liesse to downtown?

around 25$, but you can get a ride to our Metro system and that will get you anywhere and everywhere... for a lot cheaper.

Originally Posted by bigslickak

5. Where should I change my cash?

Use your Credit Card, but the best rates to change your money should be around Peel and Ste-Catherine (Downtown) there is 4 or 5 stores and they all show you the rates in the window... You might find better walking east on Ste-Catherine but you'll get a fair comparison near Peel and Ste-Cath. No scammers there. No need to waste too much time to save pennies. Better than a rate at a major bank, and by far a better rate than at the airport.

Originally Posted by bigslickak

Thanks in advance

You are so welcome.

[GAM3OVR85]

Check out post #7 (last post) http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274727

[GAM3OVR85]

Originally Posted by bigslickak

What's up, I'll be traveling to Montreal on business next week. This will be my first time visiting your fine land, so what should a single late 20's professional be looking to do during my free time? Even though I am over 3000 miles away in California, I am very aware of Montreal's reputation as a fun city.

I'll be staying near the airport at a hotel on Cote de Liesse, and don't plan on having a rental car, since I will have transportation provided (for work purposes). Some questions for you guys:

1. I know Montreal is quite billingual, but how should I greet people around town? I have some minor French speaking ability, like "Je suis de Californie; Ou est le bain? Le vol depart a huit heures et demie" (pardon the lack of accents), that type of stuff. Should I just greet everyone with "Bonjour" and hope they recognize I'm obviously not French speaker and switch to English? Or will they appreciate a broken attempt at a French conversation?
2. I am a hockey fan, are there any suggested places to check out?

3. Should I check out the Casino? I am a poker player with some decent casino experience here in the states.

4. How much should a cab ride cost from the hotel on Cote de Liesse to downtown?

5. Where should I change my cash?

Thanks in advance

LOL!!!!! I've been living in montreal for 7 years and i still can't speak french! I came to mtl young too (13 years old) so it was easy for me to learn it, but never cared about it .
I have no idea what you said in your sentence, except you are from California haha....im being serious. I always start conversations in english, but if they don't speak english, too bad.
When i hold a door for someone, they tell me "merci", my reply is "you're welcome"

BTW you are close to a bmw dealership



Tony, Great reply!!

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by MTL Bimmer

LOL!!!!! I've been living in montreal for 7 years and i still can't speak french! I came to mtl young too (13 years old) so it was easy for me to learn it, but never cared about it .
I have no idea what you said in your sentence, except you are from California haha....im being serious. I always start conversations in english, but if they don't speak english, too bad.
When i hold a door for someone, they tell me "merci", my reply is "you're welcome"

No one is perfect...

Originally Posted by MTL Bimmer

BTW you are close to a bmw dealership

which one?

Originally Posted by MTL Bimmer

Tony, Great reply!!

ahhh thanks man... or should I say Merci mon ami

[bigslickak]

Thanks guys, awesome replies, and thanks for pointing to the other threads. Lord knows we see a ton of these types of "What to do in <fill in the blank>?" threads already in Off Topic and the California section.

I knew I screwed up those French phrases in my post, thankfully I just downloaded a Blackberry app that should help with some basic translation, and it even has a text to voice feature. I think I will be fine, so long as I don't order the "poison" instead of the "poisson"

[samej]

If you're looking for a club or bar scene hang around Sherbrook & St. Laurent (KoKo's is a hot lounge spot, and there are several clubs within a couple of blocks). Heading east to St. Denis things get more raw and raunchy. Tourists hang around Old Montreal - lots of cafes and restaurants. Shopping is along St Catherine's West of Jeanne Mance...

[Me_Hi]

don't forget the strippers !!!! A+++++++++

[samej]

that's on the walk along St Catherines from Koko's to Crescent if you don't get lucky at KoKo's...

[DinoMite]

GO to old town in Montreal, and go to a place called Nelsons, yummy crepes there !

Originally Posted by bigslickak

What's up, I'll be traveling to Montreal on business next week. This will be my first time visiting your fine land, so what should a single late 20's professional be looking to do during my free time? Even though I am over 3000 miles away in California, I am very aware of Montreal's reputation as a fun city.

I'll be staying near the airport at a hotel on Cote de Liesse, and don't plan on having a rental car, since I will have transportation provided (for work purposes). Some questions for you guys:

1. I know Montreal is quite billingual, but how should I greet people around town? I have some minor French speaking ability, like "Je suis de Californie; Ou est le bain? Le vol depart a huit heures et demie" (pardon the lack of accents), that type of stuff. Should I just greet everyone with "Bonjour" and hope they recognize I'm obviously not French speaker and switch to English? Or will they appreciate a broken attempt at a French conversation?

2. I am a hockey fan, are there any suggested places to check out?

3. Should I check out the Casino? I am a poker player with some decent casino experience here in the states.

4. How much should a cab ride cost from the hotel on Cote de Liesse to downtown?

5. Where should I change my cash?

Thanks in advance

[bigslickak]

So, I just got back. Montreal is a beautiful city, for sure, though I spent too much time in the Dorval/Airport area because that is close to where I was visiting for work. Nice electrical storm Tuesday night, eh? Muggy as hell Monday, but other days were very pleasant.

The language barrier was not a big issue, as you guys stated. I was a little gun-shy to speak any French at first because I wasn't too confident, but found that I had many conversations that involved me speaking French and the French speaker answering in English, and that seemed to work well for the English-challenged. I have no doubt I would be a decent French speaker in Montreal within a few months if I lived there.

The views from Mont Royal are beautiful. I couldn't visit a lot of places you guys mentioned, thanks anyways though, due to work, but I got out a little. My favorite place was Kamasutra I must say I really underestimated the beauty of these Quebecoise girls Red hair, blond hair, brown hair, many so pretty.

I saw a BMW dealer off Autoroute 15 when we had to go visit a facility near Mirabel.

[Tonybest]

Yes that dealer is the latest one in the region. It's in Blainville, north of Montreal.

Glad you got good weather, we aren't very lucky lately. And glad you had a good time. Drop us a line when you come back...