Montreal
Getting There/Around

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Getting there:

By Air:

Situated 16 miles west of Montreal, Dorval Airport ( +1 514 394 7377 / http://www.admtl.com ) is the major domestic and international air hub for the region ( the newer Mirabel is limited to charter and cargo flights ). Shopping outlets range form the is-this-in every-airport Tie Rack and Sunglasses Hut, to souvenirs shops, newsstands and more upscale duty free offerings. Restaurants, bars and cafes are also dispersed around the terminal and the departures area. ATMs and currency exchange centers are also scattered about. Major airlines flying to and from the airport include:

Air Canada ( +1 888 247 2267 / http://www.aircanada.ca )
Air France ( +1800 237 2747 / http://www.airfrance.ca )
Air Transat ( +1 866 847 1112 / http://www.airtransat.com )
American Airlines ( +1 800 433 7300 / http://www.aa.com )
British Airways ( +1 800 217 9297 / http://www.britishairways.com )
Continental Airlines ( +1 800 523 3273 / http://www.continental.com )
Delta Airlines ( +1 800 221 1212 / http://www.delta.com )
KLM ( +1 800 225 2525 / http://www.klm.com )
Lufthansa ( +1 800 803 5838 / http://cms.lufthansa.com )
Mexicana ( +1 800 531 7923 / http://www.mexicana.com )
Northwest ( +1 800 225-2525 / http://www.nwa.com )
Swiss Air ( +1 877 359 7947 / http://www.swiss.com )
United Airlines ( +1 800 864 8331 / http://www.united.ca )
Zoom Airlines ( +1 866 359 9666 / http://www.flyzoom.ca )

Ground transportation:

Onsite rental car companies:
Alamo ( +1 800 327 9633 / http://www.goalamo.com )
Avis ( +1 800 321 3652 / http://www.avis.com )
Budget ( +1 800 268 8900 / https://rent.drivebudget.com )
Hertz ( +1 800 263 0678 / http://www.hertz.com )
National ( +1 800 387 4747 / http://www.nationalcar.com )
Thrifty ( +1 800 367 2277 / http://www.thrifty.com )

From the airport, pick up Highway 20 and merge with Highway 520 to get into downtown. Taxis and limos are readily available outside the ground level of the terminal. Both services have a flat rate to downtown: taxi CAD28, limo CAD47.70.

L'Airbus ( +1 800 465 1213 ) is a good alternative to a cab, especially for those not chugging along too much luggage. For CAD12 one way/CAD21.75 round trip the bus links Dorval and Central d'Autobus Montreal via the Aerobus Station at 777 de la Gauchetie`re Ouest, which has access to hotel shuttles. Buses run daily every half hour from 7a-1a.

By Bus:

Montreal's diverse coach empire begins and ends at Central d'Autobus Montreal ( a.k.a. the bus station ) ( +1 514 843 4231 ).

Bus companies include:
Acadian Lines: ( +1 800 567 5151 / http://www.smtbus.com ), with service to and from cities in the Maritimes.
Greyhound ( +1 800 661 8747 / http://www.greyhound.ca ), serving all points across Canada and the United States.
Voyageur ( +1 800 668 4438 / http://www.voyageur.com ), which links Montreal and Ottawa.
InterCar ( +1 418 627 9108 / http://www.intercar.qc.ca ), which links Montreal with Quebec City.
Orleans Express ( +1 418 525 3000 / http://www.orleansexpress.com ), serving destinations throughout the Quebec province.

By Car:

An excellent network of motorways converges on Montreal, and although traffic is heavy during the peak rush hours. Hwy 20 runs northeast toward Quebec City and southwest toward Toronto. Hwy 40 heads northeast along the St. Lawrence to Quebec City and west to Ottawa. Hwy 15 enters the city from the south and veers northwest ascending the hills to the ski resorts. Hwy 10 jaunts due east for Sherbrooke.

By Train:

From the US, the most direct route by rail to Montreal is on Amtrak's ( +1 800 872 7245 / http://www.amtrak.com ) Adirondak train. The 11 hour scenic journey begins in New York City and ends at Gare Centrale ( +1 514 871 1331 ) in the middle of downtown. The highlight reel of the trip as the train wanders though upstate New York is the chug along the shores of Lake Champlain. A couple of other routes, one from New York City and another from Chicago, will put you as close as Toronto, where you need to transfer to a Via ( Canada's national rail company ) train ( +1 888 842 7245 / http://www.viarail.ca ). Via trains, which also arrive and depart from Gare Centrale, link Montreal with every major city in Canada.

By Water:

From June to October, numerous cruise lines sail up the St. Lawrence and dock at the Iberville Passenger Terminal ( +1 514 283 7011 / http://www.port-montreal.com ) in the Old Port. From there, the streets of Old Town are just steps away.

Getting Around:

Although you do not need a car to get around town, having one is by no means a drawback considering the road system is straightforward, parking is simple to come by ( both curbside and lots ), and traffic is limited to rush hours, and then the only headaches are on the major expressways.

Société de transport de Montreal ( STM ) ( +1 514 280 5100 / http://www.stm.info ) controls the metro and bus lines in the city. The metro consists of four lines ( Green/Orange/Yellow/Blue ) and 65 stations. Trains dart into stations every 4 to 10 minutes daily from around 5:30a until just after midnight. More than 150 bus routes complement the subway system including an array of night buses. A single fare runs CAD2.50 and monthly and weekly passes are obtainable. A Tourist Card costs CAD7 for one day and CAD14 for three days. Both buses and the metro merge at points with the five commuter train lines ( +1 888 702 8726 / http://www.amt.qc.ca ) which extend all directions off the island, way into the various bedroom communities.

From late spring to mid-October, ferries ( +1 514 281 8000 ) cruise the St Lawrence between the Old Port, St. Helen's Island and Longueuil. Fares begin at CAD3.75 one way. For those not into searching out the city without a bit of help, Gray Lines ( +1 800 461 1223 / http://www.coachcanada.com ) has guided tours.

Montreal is continually ranked as the one of the best cities to ride a bike in, and once you get a look at the expansive urban and recreational trail system. Sure, you will still face the thrills ( and possibly spills if riding in winter ) and intensity of maneuvering through the urban landscape, but the city set up of bike lanes ( many of which even have a separate left turn lane ) make pedaling just as effective as any other form of transport. If leisure is more your style opt for a ride around Mount Royal, along the trails of Lachine Canal or the trails and roads on St. Helen's Island.

Vamos a Canada ( +1 905 326 2880 / www.vamosacanada.com ) offers services, information, and authorizations for transferring employees, students, immigrants, or visitors to Canada. Such authorizations include employment and student authorizations, visitors visa, permanent resident cards, passports, and much more.