Ins and Outs of Montreal

[Mark J]

Here's a few practical details I posted earlier for visitors to this wonderful, wonderful city:

First off, everyone in the service industry speaks English.

Montreal won't let you down, but it gets pricey near the jazzfest. You'll pay 100-200+ per night at a decent hotel, but this is a bargain compared to most big cities in North America. Try the "Econo Lodge" on St. Dominique.
Near the Jazz Festivities, you'll see a hill towards the North: head up the hill on any of the parallel streets onto the "Plateau". Here, you'll find lots of typical Montreal fare, including several "bring-your-own-wine" restaurants. I recommend Amelio's (gourmet pizza $6 cab ride from Leonard's venue).

Sorry, I forgot some more practical questions:

There's a shuttle bus that costs $16 that takes you from the Airport to the downtown Bus stations with 2 stops at hotels (takes about a half hour). Cabs charge a fixed rate from the Airport to any downtown address for $35. ($40 with tip, I guess). Cabs here are plentiful and reasonable. Public transit is $2.75 per trip, and very good, but much slower than a cab. (you can also get 6 trips for $12 at any subway station)
Book early for not-so-ludicrous hotel bills! I don't think there's really a cheap way to stay anywhere near downtown, but cheap is a relative term (my wife just stayed at a modest hotel in London, UK. for $1000 Cdn a night).
Party one night at St. Sulpice, the largest outdoor patio in town. It's a 5 minute walk from the venue, and it's a real nice slice of Quebecois culture.
-Mark J