Does anyone here know anything about the Metro System in Montreal? I'm nervous about taking it by myself and am leaning toward just getting a cab that early in the morning, but how expensive would a 20 minute ride be? It should at least be cheaper than a hotel and I do have a friend I can stay with but she is 20 minutes away by car I think... and she does live right next to one of the metro stations... but... again, taking the metro in Montreal without a guide (I don't want to ask her to take me that early in the morning) is not ideal to me except for the cost! I guess my question is whether the metro does go there... (to or near the Consulate) and whether I should look into it more...

Give me a minute I can look it up for you

Well you can check too at http://www.stcum.qc.ca/index.htm

Metro is really easy and the stations are well identified. I think there is a station not too far from the embassy.

The Embassy is close to the station Place-d'Armes on the orange line. You take it to that station, then walk on the underground walkway under Complexe Guy-Favreau up to Complexe Desjardins and then get out on Rene Levesque Boulevard. Then you walk 3 streets to the west its St-Alexandre . You can see the embassy on the area map around the station.

Hope it helps

Edit: The underground way is really usefull when it rains or when it's cold There is some cafe on the way too

The Metro is pretty easy- when I live in Montreal I always used it and loved it. I always kept a Metro map in my purse.

If you have the time- do a dry run to the Consulate. See how long it takes to get there and that way you know exactly where it is.

Yeah its pretty easy, and there is a map in the wagons do you know where you are, and there is an electronic system that shouts the stations out loud and also writes it on a board. On top of that the stations are well identified on the walls of the boarding area. You should be fine Melyssa

I took my husband there to go see the Nutcracker at Place-des-arts in Dec 2005, and he is a country boy from Michigan. Was his first time on the underground metro, he was so stressed There is nothing to stress about! Just take it easy, and don't stand close from the rails when waiting!

But if you end up taking a cab- that is totally fine too!!

If it was me- I would probably just take a cab. I didn't like moving around too much with all my paperwork in hand.

I took a cab to my interview in Vancouver even though it was only a 10 minute walk.

I agree, the Metro is very easy to use and it's much less expensive than a taxi!

Ooohhh, that's a good idea. Maybe I can get my friend to come with me the day before. $5 or so is better than $25-40 (or whatever a cab would end up costing!)



True... I don't really like the idea of having my paperwork around with me for too long either... hmmm...

THANKS! This will definitely help! I am sure my friend will recognize the name of the station as she takes the metro all the time...

Sorry- I wasn't much help to you in this thread

I was such a freak about my passport and paperwork- I clutched on to it and had to keep it in eyesight at all times. I was a nutcase. If I could have carried it in one of those briefcases that you handcuff to yourself, I would have.

Well, who knows, I might just end up taking a cab anyway if I get paranoid that I'll get lost. That happens to me sometimes with public transportation in cities I am not used to. My hometown is a different story and it's pretty easy for me to find wherever I want to go as long as I have a map and schedule!

I would say i come and show you how the metro system works since I live here , but sorry am goin to the states next weekend be with my babe till the end of oct
but the metro is easy to take if you know the station you enter you can look it up on stm.info click on underground maps , like the previous post said you can get out at place-D'Armes or you could also get out at square Victoria
every metro station gives out the lil maps like this
http://www.stm.info/English/metro/souterrain2007.pdf
as you see if you get out on square victoria first road to the right is saint alexandre take a left walk up the road towards rene leveques and your there
or take the instruction from the previous post with complex dejardins
again sorry i wont be able to show you in person

Strange, it's very similar to the Toronto Subway map just on an angle and the Toronto one missing the connection through the middle. Weird...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TTCsubwayRTmap-2005.png

I did that too! I had all my paperwork in a separate tote bag and kept my eye on it when it went through the airport xray. I even had it on my lap the entire time on my flight to Vancouver! Then the strap was wrapped around my wrist in the cab to the hotel... I was tempted to ask the hotel if I could put it in the hotel safe but I think my husband would have told me to knock off the neurotic behaviour at that point.

Well, since the Consulate doors don't open until 7:45 a.m. anyway turns out my friend in Montreal will be able to take me on the Metro that morning (it's not too early, and she doesn't start work til 8:30 I think!!) Yay!! I'm so happy not to have to worry about a hotel or hefty taxi fees or getting lost!! Now just hoping nothing gets in the way of that.... And I have a friend to come with me! Now I'm getting excited about my trip to Montreal. But I'm a bit nervous as well...

BTW, thanks Mephys, I copied the information you gave me to her so it will come in useful, just in case!