Old Montreal Lodging

Does anyone have suggestions for a bike friendly Inn/B&B in the old section of Montreal? Will be going through there mid-August. I like a place with a bit of character.

Thanks, Chuck

Welcome to the forum - my wife and I are planning a similar trip - so would be interested in answers also.

I will move your post to the Northeastern regionals for better visibility and responses.

Luis

Try an old Inn

For Romance done right as long as you like being in a place that looks like the 17th century, or a place that has great location but very pricy try Pierre Du Calvet. http://www.pierreducalvet.ca/ The sexist people in the world stay there who I think currently are Brad and Jolie, fellow BMW riders. Jolie was in a movie filmed on that location and the street just outside the front door. Both return numerous times ( Room 3 which is haunted ). Plus Ben Franklin knew about Montreal parties long ago even stayed there. Check out the gallery on their web page. $$$$$$$$$

Also up the street is the place that was used for De Niros apartment in the movie THE SCORE ( 2001 ). Plus a few other places along Rue St. Paul will look familiar in recent films which bang the price up on accommodations.

Parking is a nightmare in Old Montreal and I don’t know of any nearby garage with surveillance or a guard for 24 / 7. Du Calvet has off street parking and most likely has a camera. I would suspect taking a light bike cover with you will be enough. The parking is in the green space on the right up the hill in the main photo. Remember it’s a one way street coming down the hill and the cobblestones can get slippery when wet its only drawback of one of my favorite streets in the world. Sometimes there is an MOA stickered Dakar sitting on the street but I do not know where the rider works.

I am going to see if there are some other options but most of the great B & Bs are up in the Latin Quarter or the Plateau. They are great neighborhoods within strolling distance of touristy Old Town. There is a fellow GS rider, and MOA'er who works at a hotel as a concierge may have more insight and who I emailed. Daniel would be a great help but between August 22nd and mid-September he will be riding in the Labrador and Newfoundland. Please give me some likes and dislikes to work it out, because I have traveled there many times, know people and Montreal is a second home.

All the best

City info here http://www.montrealfood.com/stuff.html

Thanks - will look into it

I also like the montreal food link - has a ton of stuff - much appreciated

Here is a Montreal Tourism link,

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/

Thanks--great looking place, though a bit pricey for three guys/3 rooms. We'll be there 13 August so if your contact can help before his trip, most appreciated.
Chuck

I am still waiting replies and Ok to share emails addresses.

Here is a nice inn in Old Montreal with indoor parking. But short notice may not get you in on the dates you wish.

http://www.aubergeduvieuxport.com

The Hilton is nice and its a penthouse hotel overlooking the city. Sometimes they will allow motorcycle parking by the front door. They have great food and a very nice swimming pool.

One of my favorite recommendations is this hotel in the Latin Quarter. Please check the deals and options. Its a great place to stay to scout the city for a return trip.

The positives:

The location because just underneath is the Metro hub allowing you to go easily anywhere in the city. The main city bicycle paths are nearby making it easy to get any where that way. Its Downtown but not really and you are in walking distances to Old Town and some great little neighborhoods.

The directions and access are straight forward coming into the city.

There is a very secure underground parking where the lot attendant will allow you to park in a petite car space right next to the surveillance camera and the attendants office. The parking is added to your hotel bill so no need to fumble with change, ticket machines, and adequate funds go and returning.

The hotel has a buffet breakfast and if you are on the cheap the Metro / Shopping hub has a food court. And you can walk to a few great Mom & Pops restaurants for great food.

The place is clean, the maids will allow you to have more towels and a 1-2 dollar tip goes along way.

Negative

Its a hotel but its a 4 Star.

Its close to the Gay Village and the weekend of August 15th is some sort of community celebration going on closing St. Catherine Street, there maybe some form of Musical entertainment in the park across the street and you may think you are in Amsterdam for the weekend. The hotel may raise the fees that weekend as they sometimes do for the Jazz Fest, Grand Prix, and the Film Fest.


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Notes :

On short notice its a nice place, its safe, and you can leave and venture to other parts of the city and be away from that area if you wish. By the way Little Italy is having their festival that weekend so go to the Ferrari Parade and you will think you are in Rome. On Saturday night head to the Old Port and watch the International Fireworks Competition.

Once settled I can give you some nice 1-4 day recommendations of sight seeing from the Titanic Expo to the Botanical Gardens to the usual tourist places. I even know where there is a 5 dollar gourmet buffet in a Chef School that is open to the public. Or a place that makes a killer coffee with about 8 different coffee beans to places to eat for 5 to 200 dollars a plate, even one with Russian dancers. In Montreal its Alligator to Zebra, name your poison.

Here is an average B & B with its own garage.

http://www.bbrevolution.com/

Le Vieux Montreal

All of the Inns & Hotels in Old Montreal have been "Gentrified" and are expensive. Traffic in this area can best be described as " very busy " read awful.. Statdawg's suggestion in the Latin Quarter is vg and I may add "Hotel Lord Berri " on Berri St ,,a short walk to Old Montreal.You could also consider staying on the south shore of Montreal,less expensive,much less traffic and only 10 mins into Old Montreal by bike or subway.

If I can help in any way, send me a PM and I can suggest some restaurants.Montreal is well known for restaurants where you can bring your own wine,thus reducing the price of a meal..

Thanks to all, especially statdawg for your assistance. Have secured rooms at Hotel XIX Siecle which I think will work fine. Indoor parking (extra charge) for the bikes, walking distance to most everything. We're only there one night, so I think this will work fine. Found this hotel through the link below provided by johnborsellino and am also including the link to the hotel for anyone else who is interested. Rates are very reasonable.

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/

http://www.hotelxixsiecle.com/

Thanks again and good riding to all. Chuck out!

That is a great location for the Old Town. The main Bank of Montreal is right around the corner and they have a small museum that houses a check written on a beaver pelt. Their lobby is worth a look but ask permission if you take a photo. I believe the statue will be fine but not the security system, please check with the guard or receptionist in the lobby.

On St Jacque the same street as the Hotel is the Molson Bank building to prove you can make money making beer. As you go down hill its on your left.

Square Victoria is nearby and the Art Nouveau entrance of the Metro is a gift from Paris.

The Trade Center has a piece of the Berlin Wall and there is an impressive fountain to see on a walk through and its best to enter from Rue McGill.

If you are Irish, St. Patrick's Basilica is nearby the windows gives it an emerald glow.

Places to eat and make reservations.

Upscale French Restaurant http://www.bonaparte.ca/

If you wish to sit in a Garden. http://www.borisbistro.com/

Great Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner http://www.aixcuisine.com/

This place is nice for afternoon beers to a great dinner of steak, escargot, ending with excellent sorbet. http://www.gibbys.com/ This place was once the stables that housed the horses that worked the docks. The big building around the corner is the Customs House which was the location for the movie The Score ( 2001 ).

Here is a small Belgium restaurant inspired by the comic stripe Tin Tin which has great beer and the Mussels (steamed in beer) are the best. Try to get a window seat looking out on Rue St Paul but the terrace is quieter. http://www.lepetitmoulinsart.com/

The Pointe-?á-Calli?¿re Museum has an lunch restaurant on the top floor that overlooks the port, from there you can see the St. Lawrence river and the buildings that once was Expo 67 http://www.pacmusee.qc.ca/index.aspx?lang=EN There is a Pirate Exposition to view and their presentations are first rate and they provide a nice history of Montreal.

Jazz Bar / Restaurant http://www.modavie.com/indexm_e.html

A final alternative is to take a River cruise dinner tour and see the city lights. Check with the hotel.

If its your first time in the city the bus tour gives you a nice jaunt around town then return and enjoy the Old Town. Ask at the hotel.

Redrider can get you routed into the city since there maybe construction and traffic issues. Remember there is no right on red in Montreal and watch out for bicycles.

All the best.