Weekend trip: Toronto or Montreal?

[Freitag]

I wanted to plan out a weekend getaway, and since I've never been to Canada, I wanted to go before the weather got too cold.

So the question is, I'm pretty equidistant from Toronto and Montreal by car. (Well, 6 1/2 vs. 5 1/2) So which city do I go to? I've heard some horror stories about Montreal, but I've also heard some great things too.

Thanks!

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I Loved Toronto

But heard Montreal is Better

esp. in the Stripper Dept.

:king:

[Fat_Sunny]

Toronto Has The Feel Of A Newer, Fun City, Like Chicago.

Montreal Has More Of An "Old World" European Feel.

F_S Would Suggest Montreal, With One Proviso: It Is Full Of Snotty-Ass French-Speaking Cannuck-Frogs.

Toronto Is Much Friendlier.

So Take Your Pick.

[JPMNICK]

Been to montreal 3 times, Toronto twice.

hands down montreal is the place to go. it is so much fun. strip clubs are amazing if you are into that, but the regular bars and clubs are just as good. the prices are not insane either. last time we were there we got 3 bottles of vodka at the club and i think they were only 175 each. you can easily get wasted for much cheaper than the NY/NJ area.

[Yuppie_Scum]

very easy -- montreal

[JPMNICK]

Toronto Has The Feel Of A Newer, Fun City, Like Chicago.

Montreal Has More Of An "Old World" European Feel.

F_S Would Suggest Montreal, With One Proviso: It Is Full Of Snotty-Ass French-Speaking Cannuck-Frogs.

Toronto Is Much Friendlier.

So Take Your Pick.

Agreed with the attitude from the local people, esp. the ones who only speak french candian. they can be real pricks.

but they do have something up there called poutine, make sure you eat some of that

[Fat_Sunny]

but they do have something up there called poontang, make sure you eat some of that


:D

[Recyclerz]

Toronto Has The Feel Of A Newer, Fun City, Like Chicago.

Montreal Has More Of An "Old World" European Feel.

F_S Would Suggest Montreal, With One Proviso: It Is Full Of Snotty-Ass French-Speaking Cannuck-Frogs.

Toronto Is Much Friendlier.

So Take Your Pick.

I agree with F_Sunny's first and second assertions, disagree with the third, and am neutral about the fourth. I went up to Montreal for a week last year and it was great. The clubs, the food, everything was terrific. (Didn't get to the strip clubs.) Buy yourself one of those French phrasebooks, mangle a sentence or two and, in my experience at least, the natives start speaking flawless English but love you for trying. (Quebec City seems more militant Franco-phone but even they weren't too bad.) Toronto is also great, haven't been there in a couple of years but agree that it seems more like another American city, where Montreal feels like Europe-Lite.

The US dollar is at a low point against the Canadian Looney so I don't think you'll get tremendous deals but everything is fairly reasonably priced, by NY standards anyway.

[RogerDornShortHops]

I hit up Montreal few yrs back and thought it was an amazing party town. Club Super Sex was still hands down the best strip club I've ever been to.

[JPMNICK]

I think the exchange rate is like 1.07 right now, so once you factor in their tax, not so good

[Ay Kay Forty2]

I went to Toronto a couple of years ago with a group of people and it was a blast. It's clean, safe, and awesome at the same time.

[WhistlePig]

Toronto was cool when I went about 7 years ago. Real clean, friendly city. Lots of great restaurants plus the Hockey Hall of Fame!

[Freitag]

I'm going for a nice weekend with my wife, not really interested in clubs of "ill repute", if that helps the suggestion process.

[JPMNICK]

I would still suggest Montreal then. There are some great walking tours you can do, the city is very historic. there are also some amazing romantic dinner spots, and it is very safe and clean

[drusilla]

i've only been to montreal in the dead of winter & i've still had a blast each time. one of my favorite restaurants ever is up there on st katherine's called Reubens. it's highly recommended. i would love to see it in the summertime one day, because i have heard there is so much to do & see. i've never been to toronto, so i can't compare, but i love montreal.

[DolaMight]

Montreal hands down. It's 350 years old, established, cosmopolitan with deeper culture whereas toronto is just another cold city without any identity where nobody talks to each other. You don't need to know any french in Monts everybody speaks english unless you wander outside the city. Music scene, clubs, strip clubs, food, drinking, smoking, and hookers, all are better in montreal. There's no good poutine in montreal, but check out Schwartz's deli on St-Laurent. As far as sightseeing, toronto is chicago-lite, tall things big things, and montreal has old historical buildings and cathedrals, european-lite.

[EddieMoscone]

In Montreal, make sure to hit Moise's Steakhouse.

Also, be careful if you are driving up in an SUV, especially American made. They are a BIG TARGET for car thieves there. We went to the Botanical Gardens (no, I am not gay) and we came back out to an empty parking spot. The cops said that they go After American Trucks, and usually have them on a ship on the Atlantic before you ever realize it is gone. Had to rent a car, then the guy in my group who got his car stolen had to drive BACK to Montreal to return the car and take a train home. SUCKED FOR HIM!

[weekapaugjz]

ive never been to montreal, but ive been to toronto on many occasions. every time ive been i have had a great time. there are tons of things to do and if you are into hockey, check out the hall of fame. its the best hall of fame i have ever been too.

[Kris10]

Hmmm, I'd say Toronto cause I once f'd a guy from there. Can't speak on behalf of Montreal guys, I don't have f'ing experience with them.

[Havenostaples]

Was just in Montreal.
It is very different and unique compared to here. Toronto is a bigger city that is like a cleaner NYC.

If you go to Montreal take the extra 3 hour trip to quebec city.

[Gwen]

Having been to both several times I think that Toronto is best. The people are friendlier and there is a LOT more to do: Hockey Hall of Fame (reason enough to go), the CN Tower, the Dome where the blue jays play (it's too early for me to know the name), great shopping, great metro feel, nice museums, stellar restaurants fun bars.


Montreal is great for the aforementioned Casino and Strippers, plus there is the biodome, and Old Montreal, some really yummy food and some fun bars. I just can't stand the French-Canadians. Even being one myself I still loathe them because there is nothing friendly about them, so unless you're fluent in French and indifferent to blatant rudeness you might want to skip it.

Also, the exchange rate really sucks lately so you might want to hold off until that fixes 'cause your dollar will go a lot farther.

Montreal is closer and has some cool stuff, but Toronto is my preference. MOntreal is also great in the winter. Cold as hell, but lots of cool activities: outdoor ice skating and a few others that escape me at the moment.

[Recyclerz]

I figured that I'd bump this thread to show that a trip to up north has been getting more expensive by the day. The Looney is now almost on par with the Greenback.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=USDCAD=X&t=3m

[Chigworthy]

Go to Tobermory and see the shipwrecks.

[TeeBone]

Toronto or Montreal is a difficult question that is best answered with a question......
Which do you prefer - Communism or Socialism ?

[Doogie]

I have got to go with Montreal on this one. It has a lot more to do, and less people with the SARS. It also has le gambling and Ste. Catherines street which is just one large hodge podge of fun and debauchery.

[CruelCircus]

Ok, followup:

I am planning a trip to Montreal (and maybe doing the trip to Quebec City, too).
Can I see the city as a tourist in 2 full days (3 nights) or would I need to go for 3 days?

Thanks for any help!

[ToLEEdo]

Windsor...full of drunk American college kids