Travel information
Montreal Metro and bus website:
http://www.stm.info
Direct link to
Metro map:
http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-mapmet.htm
We will be doing most of our travelling around town on the Metro. You can by a strip of
six tickets (un lisière de six) for $11.75 from the agent at each Metro stop.
Please note that on the
orange line, the Laval extension has been finished, so you will see signs that indicate either "Henri-Bourassa" or "Montmorency" as the direction. These are the same thing (until you get up to the H-B stop). Hopefully all of the signs will be changed to "Montmorency" before the long weekend.
If you arriving
by train (VIA rail, Amtrak) your
terminus is the Gare Centrale, which is connected to the Bonaventure stop of the
orange line. From here you can take the Metro to the stop nearest your hotel, or if you are staying nearby, walk above ground or underground to your destination. There are usually staff hanging around the main hall, and they should be able to help you get on your way.
If you are
flying in, you will almost certainly be landing at
P.E. Trudeau airport (code YUL, formerly called Dorval). There is no convenient train service, and due to the distance, there is no Metro stop here. A taxi to the greater downtown core is a
flat rate of $35, IIRC. Be sure to ask the driver in advance, and double-check if he/she takes a credit card before you get into the car. Tipping rules vary, and you're not
obliged to tip, but generally we do tip anyways. I would suggest that ~10% is sufficient, unless the driver was exceptional in some way.
If you are
driving up from Toronto, you'll arrive on the island via Autoroute 20, and from Ottawa, Autoroute 40. There is plenty of signage to get you to the downtown area, but once you're there, you had best be prepared. Make sure you've printed out your directions ahead of time!
Google Maps usually provides good directions, and they also do a good job of indicating one-way streets.
Some driving tips: Remember that on the island of Montreal, it is
prohibited to turn right on a red light. Many lights in the downtown area start with a green forward arrow, followed by a solid green.
Do not turn on a forward arrow, unless it is accompanied by a directional arrow; wait for the solid green.
Turning left across traffic is generally permitted on solid green, unless specifically prohibited by a sign. Priority left turns are indicated by a left directonal arrow, a flashing solid green, or both.
Speed limits are loosely enforced, and therefore loosely observed, but it pays to be prudent, especially on the long weekend. Please be careful! And finally, a humourous look at driving here in Montreal:
http://www.cs.umanitoba.ca/~arindam/montreal_driving.html
If you are unsure of how to get to your hotel, have general questions, or don't trust the directions that you received online, just ask; I'll be glad to help out to the best of my ability. You can also send me PMs or emails with the details.
