montreal in july (sales, home, sales tax)

[blueinez]

hello. my husband and i are vacationing in montreal in july. any recommendations for must see's and great cheap eats. we're in our early 30's, and architecture, modern art, all types of music, and the outdoors.
thanks!

[gerrynyc]

here it goes:
Jazz festival--st catherine street---look for the dates for this festival
old montreal "vieux port de montreal"---good food
prince Arthur street---great food---great ambience
St Denis street---very artsy area---lots of artsy shops, and restaurants
Mont-Royal street---artsy shops...go on top of the Mont Royal

Lots of festivals in July...you will not be bored!
check out montreal.com or .org

I was born and raised in Montreal, and currently live in NYC...I always go home in July.


have fun guys!

[chrismpv]

gerrynyc covered it well.

What is great about prince Arthur street is that you bring your own wine which makes the meal more affordable.

However, what kills the traveling budget is the exchange rate (if you are american). The Canadian dollar is at par and it makes the food more expansive. For example, the US federal Per Diem for Montreal for Meals & IE is $115, Manhattan is $64.

[avironneur]

Exactly. Prices were always historically higher but the deals were to be found in the old exchange rate. Now with the dollar almost at parity and with Canadian prices still higher and sales tax still at 14% (this applies to meals too) -- it really isn't the deal it used to be. That said, barring NYC, LA, Philadelphia (not Boston, eugh wretched restaurant selection for a city that size and with that kind of cash) etc Montreal is in a class of its own in terms of diversity, selection, and quality of its restaurants...and the sheer number considering Montreal's population.