Organize your stay Montreal
Money Montreal
Currency is expressed in Canadian dollars (CAD, $ CA, CAN $ - not to be confused with the US dollar). Coins in denominations of CAN$1 and CAN$2, and 5, 10 and 25¢ (cents); bills in denominations of CAN$5, CAN$10, CAN$20, CAN$50 and CAN$100 (the latter are sometimes refused in some stores). Cenne, pronounced "cenne" for cent ("je n'ai plus une cenne" means "I'm broke"). Piastre, pronounced "piasse", is synonymous with dollar. The 25¢ coin is also known as a "trente sous". According to the Royal Bank of Canada, the exchange rate in January 2024 was : 1 CAN $ = 0.67 €; 1 € = 1.41 CAN $.
Budget & Tips Montreal
To help you plan your daily budget on site, here are three examples to suit everyone's financial means.
Small budget: $70 CAN per day per person (accommodation in camping/youth hostel, meals on the run or groceries, public transport or hitchhiking, free activities or activities costing less than $10 CAN).
Medium budget: $200 CAN per day per person (B&B or hotel accommodation, good food, public transport or car, paid or package activities).
Large budget: from $400 CAN per day per person (more luxurious hotel or condo/chalet accommodation, fine dining, car transport, package activities/expeditions).
And don't forget that the prices of most consumer goods and services include a provincial tax (QST) of 9.975% and a national tax (GST) of 5%, which are generally not included in the listed price. A tip (between 15 and 25%) must be added to the bill in restaurants and bars. Tipping cab drivers, hotel cleaners and hairdressers is also recommended. No tips at cinemas or theaters.
As forhaggling, this is not a common practice in the country. Prices are fixed and generally non-negotiable. However, shopkeepers can sometimes be generous and offer you something if you buy items from them for a large sum. Similarly, even though it's strictly forbidden, small shops sometimes agree not to charge you taxes if you pay for your purchases in cash and without the possibility of returning them...
Passport and visas Montreal
Travelers from France, Belgium and Switzerland are accepted for six months, and must have completed their application for Electronic Travel Authorization (AVE). They must be in possession of a valid passport, a return ticket (ideally) and sufficient funds to ensure their stay.
Since 2016, visitors who do not require a visa must complete an AVE (electronic travel authorization) prior to their trip. The AVE costs $7 CAN per person, and is valid for five years or until the passport expires. This online application collects basic personal information, just as is currently done at customs on arrival in Canada, and results in faster border clearance. Beware, however, of the many fraudulent sites that abound on the web. Some companies, unconnected with the government, offer to help you apply for an AVE. But it's very easy to do (and available in French). For more information: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/visiter-canada/ave.html
For all other questions about entering Canada, and for contact details of the Canadian embassy in France: france.gc.ca
Finally, if you're planning to cross the U.S. border for a short getaway, or even just for transit, you'll need a biometric passport. This passport allows you to benefit from the Visa Waiver Program for stays of less than 90 days. To benefit from this visa waiver, you need to make an online declaration, accompanied by a US$21 fee, for tourist stays in the United States. For further information: esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta
Driver's license Montreal
French, Belgian and Swiss driving licenses are accepted for a period not exceeding six months; otherwise, you'll need an international license (generally valid for one to three years). If you wish to rent a car in Quebec, you must be at least 21 years of age, or even 25 for certain models, and have a credit card. A driver's license is also required for snowmobiling and quad biking, and a motorcycle license is mandatory to drive one.
To find out about licensing requirements for different types of vehicle, click here: saaq.gouv.qc.ca/je-conduis
For all you need to know about the international license: saaq.gouv.qc.ca/driving-license/international-license/
Health Montreal
There are no infectious diseases or health risks worth mentioning in Quebec. There are also no mandatory vaccinations for travel in the province. Also, be aware that tap water is safe to drink (unless otherwise advised) and free of charge, even in restaurants.
Security Montreal
Quebec's crime index is considered to be one of the lowest of all provinces in Canada, if not North America. The notion of "red-light district" does not exist in Quebec either, but it must be admitted that some neighbourhoods in Montreal are a little less welcoming. So there is no need to worry about women travelling alone in the province, or even taking the subway in Montreal late at night.
Time difference Montreal
The time difference with the greater Montreal area is 6 hours less, in summer and winter. However, the time change in the fall and spring does not occur at the same time.
Spoken languages Montreal
In Quebec, the official language is French. There are, however, several English-speaking communities in Greater Montreal, particularly in the West Island, aptly named the "West Island". In and around the city's ethnic neighborhoods, you'll hear languages from the four corners of the globe (Chinese, Italian, Creole, Hebrew, Greek...). Native communities include Mohawks on Montreal's north and south shores (Mohawk, Iroquoian language family).
Communication Montreal
Telephone coverage is excellent in the greater Montreal area. However, in some more remote areas, such as the northern Laurentians, service may be limited. If you take out a mobile subscription in Quebec, especially with low-cost operators, be sure to check coverage, as it may be limited to just a few towns or a single area.
As for wifi, finding a connection is not a problem in the Montreal area. The airport, bus and train stations, hotels (note: luxury hotels often offer this service at extra cost), restaurants, cafés, bars, cultural venues, etc., are generally equipped with wifi, and most of the time it's free. Free public networks are also available in many parts of the city, thanks to the MTLWiFi network (montreal.ca/programs/mtlwifi).
Libraries, some hotels and cafés also make computers available, sometimes free of charge. But Internet terminals and self-service computers are gradually disappearing from the landscape...
Electricity and measurements Montreal
110-volt alternating current with a frequency of 60 Hz. Plugs are American-style flat (not round as in Europe). To use European appliances such as chargers, shavers or hair dryers, you'll need an adapter, and check that they accept this voltage. If necessary, you'll also need a current transformer.
When it comes to measurements, things get a little trickier. Although Quebec adopted the metric system some forty years ago, the Québécois still use the old measures (inch, foot, pound, ounce, quart, gallon, etc.). To find out more: metric-conversions.org/en/
As for shoe sizes, women's 38 corresponds to 7 (equivalent to 39.5 for men). For clothing sizes, women's 40 corresponds to 12; men's 44 becomes 34.
Luggage Montreal
Summers are hot. However, air-conditioning and cool evenings in the countryside or in the mountains require woolens and a windbreaker. Don't forget a bathing suit, a backpack for hiking and mosquito repellent. In spring and fall, bringing a lined raincoat is almost imperative and in winter, bring a hat, mittens and a scarf as well as an anorak, warm clothing and furry boots.
