Why stay in Centre-Ville
Montreal’s downtown area tends to change vibe within a few blocks. There are patches of corporate blandness, strips of studenty party bars and plenty of entertainment options – whether than means going to the Bell Centre to watch the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team or getting theatre tickets the marketer-monickered “Quartier des Spectacles”.
Big name shopping tends to get done along rue Sainte-Catherine, and during the summer months, a fair few streets see temporary stages erected for festivals. Montreal’s physical heart doesn’t have a coherent feel – but it does combine snapshots of the things that make the other neighbourhoods so enjoyable.
Le Square Phillips
In all honesty, there are myriad categories which Le Square Phillips could come out as “best for”. Shopping is one of them – it’s on the other side of the square to the Baie department store, which kicks of the rue Sainte-Catherine spendathon strip.
It’s also a superb bet for families – a baby-sitting service is available, as are high chairs and fold-out beds. With the smallest rooms still being 42 square metres, it’s not as if everyone’s going to be tripping over each other either.
There’s also a strong case for it being the best option for longer stays, too. All rooms come with full kitchens, dining tables, cutlery, crockery and dishwashers, while there are laundry facilities downstairs. Continental breakfast comes free of charge, as well, although it’s a somewhat perfunctory spread.
It’s not a place of grand statements, high design or pretentions to zeitgeist-grabbing hip – but trying to find something to grumble about leads to a lot of head-scratching.
X-factor: It’s not huge, but on the top floor, there’s an indoor pool – a somewhat unexpected bonus given the price bracket.
Hotel Le Dauphin Montreal Downtown
There are plenty of strong but somewhat pricy options for those on lavish expense accounts, but if in Montreal for work and paying your own way, this prime-positioned outpost of a local mini-chain ticks the right boxes. In-room computers are provided if needed, water and WiFi are free, roller blinds can be controlled from in bed and there’s a little balcony for crafty smokers. The Le Dauphin Montreal Downtown is also right opposite the Convention Centre.
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
This humungous hotel is no stranger to people wanting to huddle under the covers all day – John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famous bed-in and recorded Give Peace A Chance here back in 1969. But there’s no need to do so on one of Montreal’s notoriously fierce winter days. Corridors connect the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth to the main train station and Montreal’s 32km of integrated passages and shopping malls (known as the “Underground City”). There’s also an indoor swimming pool, and having to fill 982 upmarket rooms means that winter prices can be surprisingly low.
More Montreal travel
Other Montreal travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- River surfing on the St Lawrence River in Montreal.
- Five great places to stay in Vieux Montreal.
- Why Pointe-a-Calliere is the best museum in Vieux Montreal.
- Why Montreal is Canada’s best city.
For a selection of Montreal tours, experiences and activities, pick your favourites here.
