Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec and is known for its unique blend of European charm and North American modernity. It sits at the meeting point of the Saint Lawrence and the Ottawa Rivers and is surrounded by diverse landscapes, including hills, forests, and waterways.

Montreal is renowned for its vibrant arts and cultural scene. The city hosts many festivals throughout the year. It is also home to several world-class museums and galleries, such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archeology and History.

The city is a shopper’s delight, with a mix of upscale boutiques and trendy fashion districts. Rue Sainte-Catherine is a popular shopping street, and the Underground City (RÉSO) provides a vast network of interconnected shopping malls and indoor spaces. Montreal also has a thriving nightlife with a variety of bars, clubs and live music venues.

EATING IN MONTREAL
Monteal offers a diverse, creative, and vibrant culinary scene with hundreds of restaurants to choose from. The city is famous for its bagels, smoked meat sandwiches, tourtière (meat pie), poutine (fries topped with cheese curds and gravy), and a wide range of international cuisines.

The city is home to numerous award-winning restaurants, from fine dining establishments to casual bistros and trendy cafés. Montreal’s food scene is heavily influenced by its multicultural population. You can go on a culinary journey around the world without leaving the city.

AIRPORT AND TRAIN SERVICE
The Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is located in Dorval, approximately 20 kilometres west of downtown. The drive from the airport to Le Westin Montreal will take 20-30 minutes. The airport is a hub for both domestic and international flights, connecting travellers from around the world. The airport hosts numerous airlines and has direct flights from many major cities in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world. For information on flight and airport services, please visit the airport’s website.

Via Rail is the national passenger rail service in Canada and offers several routes to and from Montreal. The most prominent route is the Montreal-Toronto corridor, which is serviced by frequent trains throughout the day. For more information and reservations, please visit the Via Rail website, or call 1-888-842-7245 (within Canada and the U.S.), or connect with the overseas sales agents.

BANKS AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Canadian currency is the dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. There are 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar bills. The Canadian $1 coin is called a loonie, and the $2 coin is called a twoonie.

There are numerous currency exchange offices for visitors to exchange money into Canadian currency. Most exchange offices are open during regular business hours (9am-6pm) and Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Credit cards are also widely accepted in restaurants, stores, taxis, etc.

TAXES
There are two taxes in Quebec:

• GST (Goods and Services Sales Tax): 5% GST is charged on all goods and services.
• QST (Quebec Sales Tax): 9.975% QST is charged on all goods and services.

Provincial Goods & Services tax. Only basic groceries (breads, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc.) are not taxed. Taxes paid by visitors are not reimbursable.

CLIMATE & CLOTHING
The average November daytime temperature range in Montreal is 0-6ºC. Visitors can expect a possibility of snow and cooler evenings, so it is best to pack an umbrella, light winter coat and clothes that can be layered. We welcome delegates to check out Montreal weather online, and plan ahead!

INSURANCE
Liability insurance is the responsibility of each individual delegate and delegates should have their own medical coverage. 

Getting to the Westin Montreal Hotel from the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport

-Travel Distance: Approximately 20.0 kms/12.5 miles
-Time: By car, approximately 30 minutes during daytime, 20 minutes with no traffic

Options for getting to and from the hotel include:

Taxi:
Taxis are readily available at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport. The journey from the airport to Le Westin Montreal takes around 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Taxis are readily available outside the airport and hotels. A trip from the airport to downtown
Montréal (or vice versa) will cost you a flat rate of $49 CAD (between 5:00 A.M. and 11:00 P.M.or $56 CAD between 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M.

Uber:
Uber users can choose to be picked up from either Door 20 on the arrivals level or Door 7 on the departures level.

Public Transit:
Montréal’s public transportation system is very fast and convenient. The Metro (underground subway) typically operates between 5:30am to 1:00am. The bus route is also very extensive and could also be an option. There is also an express bus that services the airport (747 Express Bus). A one-way fare card, which is valid for 24 hours costs $11.00 CAD. For more information on the public transportation system, please visit www.stm.info.

To reach Le Westin Montreal, you can take the 747 bus from the airport to the Lionel-Groulx Station. From there you can transfer to the subway (Metro) system and take the Orange Line to Square-Victoria-OACI station, which is closest to Le Westin Montreal. This option takes approximately 45 minutes.

Limousine:
Limousine service at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport provides a luxurious and convenient option of travellers. The fleet of vehicles include stretch limousines, luxury sedans, SUVs, and vans with professional drivers. Passengers who wish to benefit from limousine service must go to the terminal located at door 24 on the arrivals level and are required to place an order on site. Pricing depends on the final destination and type of vehicle chosen. For more information, please visit the Montreal-Trudeau Airport parking and ground transportation page.

Getting around in the city

Bike:
Montrealers are avid cyclists, and proud of it. The city has 350 kilometres of bike paths criss-crossing its territory, including natural parks and suburbs. BIXI is the bikesharing system in Montreal. The network consists of 6,200 bicycles and 540 stations in Montréal. To choose your subscription or rent a bike, click on the following link. Rent a BIXI

This pubic bike sharing system can be a great way to get around the city. The cost for a 1-way ride is $1.00 CAD + 15₵ ($0.15) per minute of usage. A $100 deposit is required. You must download the Bixi App to pay for your usage. For more information visit their website at www.bixi.com. Be sure to abide all traffic signs to avoid any violations which can result in a fine.

On foot:
Montréal is a very walkable city and you will see many people out on the streets at all times of the day. It is safe to walk alone in Montreal, but like in any metropolitan city – be aware of your surroundings.  Crossing the street on a red light or in the middle of a block can result in a “jaywalking” fine.