Ancient brash tones. Â An odor of urban decay, European flair, and 20th century architecture blindly placed in sequences reminiscent of a gene-splicing experiment, dank lighting and spooky music included. That was the buildings. The culture? Free-wheeling, easy going, with an underlying passion.
And I don’t really have much else because I was tucked away in Laval for 3 days.
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See Point A on the map? Â My original location, north of Montreal Island. Point B is where my current location is. Still not close to downtown, but it was cheap cheap.
I’ve had it cushy, relying on friends for accommodation. I made the drastic decision to break my couch surfing/free ride rule in Canada and booked into a hostel close to the Village and The Big O (not that “O”, dirty birds) – the Olympic Stadium resurrected in 1976 for the games that broke Montreal’s bank.
Can you believe they only paid off that debt 2 years ago? Will Vancouver have the same woes? Time will tell.
Current pad is Appartement Qualitas, 3 blocks from Frontenac Metro Station.  Yves, the owner is an odd duck peppered with a bit of control freak.  Smoke 10 metres from the hostel.  Recycle EVERYTHING possible – even dust.  And NO crumbs on the beds. I feel like I’m at the Norman Bates motel for the OCD set.
Hostel "garden"
Apparently the recycling policy only applies indoors
To add to the situation Qualitas is an old apartment building converted into a makeshift hostel. Â It preys on my mind. Â Apartment sized rooms with 4 or 5 beds stuffed in them, an apartment sized kitchen. Â Wait! Â Didn’t I just leave this life?
However his weirdness, Yves is nice. And I have the female dorm all to myself. Â Not a bad deal. Â It’s clean and easy to self-cater. Â Take heed, not every hostel will be 100%.
If you do book, just beware of his testy rules, and other hostelers say he fiddles with the prices. Â One night it’s $16 CDN, the next it could be $20 CDN. Â Still cheap to what I saw on hostel.com.
Shamefully, I’m a Montreal virgin. Â But, so far I’m intrigued. Â The brick row houses, how every word in public or private is French, and yet I’m still in my own country!
The gems I will unearth is awaiting my eager hands.
And check out the crazy storm that pelted the street outside my hostel the other day. Â Is this similar to monsoon season in India?
Hostel Info
Appartement Qualitas
Address: 2146 Montgomery (2nd balcony), Montreal, Quebec
Website:Â http://youthhostelsmontreal.com
Popularity: 12% [?]
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Hope you had a nice time there. As for India, it is heavy monsoon. A little extended over Delhi. Yes, droplets feel like stones pelted from the sky.
@Staci – It’s a romantic, lively city, huh? I can’t get enough of it. Although come winter, I wouldn’t stick around!
@Eurotrip Tips – Oh really? Downpours aside, I really love this town. And thanks for the offer, I might take you up on it.
Great blog. You’ve done a good job introducing Montreal to us and I feel like going to the place already one of this days. If only it is no that expensive to travel and it is easy to escape from work I will immediately set a date already.
Montreal was my first foray to solo travel and I went there for a week in early march. It wasn’t cold as expected and it was the best place I couldve chosen for my spring break.
Have fun on your adventures in Montreal.
Great article! Too bad your hotel doesn’t seem that great… if you need tips on restaurants or sights or anything else, do contact me. I’m a Montrealer, maybe I could get in handy. ;)
p.s. that kind of downpour is totally normal in July-August!
@Anna – Thanks! I hope that’s what I achieve here, which now means you should come to Montreal!
Thank you for sharing this article, a well written one about your first impression. Writing is one way of letting the world know about your adventure. When a person reads it, it makes him feel like he has also been to that place.
@ayngelina – Thanks, gal. What’s the name of it? It might come in handy. :)
@Jabba – Yeah, finally! And it’s soo awesome, lady!
If you’re looking to hit downtown I know of a really cheap hostel that just opened up that is really nice.
Montreal finally!!! I remember the first time you talked about going there, we were walking along the sea wall in Victoria. Can’t wait for more impressions and adventures in the days to come.
@Andi – A bit cramped, with some odd art all over the walls, old tv’s and phones everywhere – you know- in case of an emergency. :)
@Marsha – My French is so atrocious. It’s a beautiful language to the ear though. The city does have tons of culture!
@SpunkyGirl – Totally! And I’ve found quite a bit of weird already. :)
@Daniel – I didn’t get down there! Doo. There will be more for me to do and see, I promise.
Yikes, what did the rooms look like I dare ask?
Love Montreal! Had a great time there last November. It was *cold* but so much culture to be had. Fun times trying to resurrect the French I learned, oh, 20 years ago, lol!
I love Montreal- especially Old Montreal. I think the only way to really experience Montreal, is to find the quirky and the weird. Your hostel sounds interesting.
Be sure to dop whatever you are doing tomorrow and head down to the George-Étienne Cartier Monument at Mount Royal Park for tamtams! It’s like a small Woodstock Festival!
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