How to Plan a Summer Trip to Montreal

Montreal, Canada, is an exciting and happening vacation spot, and a hugely cultural experience. Summer is a great time to visit Montreal, when the weather finally warms up and a plethora of festivals invade the city of 2 million people. Because summer is such a popular time to check out this great tourist attraction, you need to get organized in order to plan a summer trip to Montreal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Credit card
• Internet access
• Research skills
• Travel agent

Planning the Trip

1. Start planning enough in advance so you don’t have to worry about scrambling for last-minute bookings.

2. Pick which days you and your partner, family, or friends want to vacation to Montreal.

3. Book the time off work or make whatever arrangements you need to make to ensure those days are reserved for your holiday.

4. Have some alternative dates in mind just in case everything in Montreal is booked solid, or you find a better travel deal for another time in the summer.

5. Decide if you’re going to fly or drive to Montreal. If you’re flying, you’ll have to book plane tickets well in advance. If you’re driving, you’ll have to factor in how long it will take you to get there and back as part of your vacation time.

6. Decide where you’re going to stay for your vacation. Choose from hotels, discount hotels, motels, executive suites, vacation rentals, hostels, and a friend’s or relative’s home.

7. Do some research as to what’s available for Montreal accommodations. Factor in availability, price, amenities, proximity to certain attractions or activities and personal tastes.

Look for Travel Deals

8. Talk to your travel agent to see if they can find any travel deals for you, including booking flights and accommodations, as well as dining and activities/attractions.

9. Go online and check for travel deals and vacation packages for Montreal through several online trip planners (see the resources section for examples). Search for accommodations, flights, attractions, restaurants, rentals and deals and packages.

10. Have your travel agent make the reservations/arrangements, or book your vacation yourself online using a credit card.

Decide What to Do in Montreal

11. Research Montreal and the different kinds of activities and attractions that are offered in summertime.

12. Decide if you want to partake in any of Montreal’s summer festivals, and base your vacation around that.

13. Choose from the Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal Botanical Gardens, Biodome de Montreal, Old Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the many festivals, clubs and cafés around the city in summer.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to assemble any documents you might need for crossing the border, if applicable.
• Montreal has the second-largest French-speaking population of all cities in the Western world after Paris, so if you want to practice your old French skills, this could be a fun time to try it.
• If you're a hockey fan, you might want to consider going in the fall, winter or early spring to catch a game of the oldest franchise of the National Hockey League.