Canada (Toronto - Montreal)
Canada (Toronto - Montreal)
With my work I have set times where I can take my holidays, this year one of the times being 28th Sept - 11th Oct. I'm planning on flying over to Toronto and youth hosteling it for a few days before then getting the train to Montreal, again youth hosteling it before heading home.
If I go ahead with it it'll be my first trip to Canada but it'll mean I can visit two of the places on my top 20 (or so) list.
Essentially I'm just looking for any suggestions or opinions from people who have been there and done that. Anything to completely alternative trips to youth hostels to stay in or must-see/do things whilst I'm there.
Thanks in advance.
Answers:
Nice neighbourhoods to visit in Toronto: Chinatown (area around Spadina Av) (extremely cheap shopping and you can get great fresh fruit and veg and some very unusual things); Queen Street West has lots of cool shops, bars, comedy places, and barrow sellers (I lived with a group of them while I was there 2 years ago) and if you like clubbing you'll be in heaven; Kensington Avenue (near Chinatown) has a street market and lots of ethnic shops; and the lakeshore is nice, especially towards the west but worth looking at all the new buildings immediately south of the Gardiner expressway.
Seeing as budget seems to be important, I'd recommend looking out for the "pay what you can" offers they have in theatres in Toronto (from memory, Monday nights). They sometimes have the same at comedy events too, but I went to see some great theatre for about 5 dollars a go (you have to get there early obviously!).
Travel in the city is very well organised and easy: the TTC has a scheme that connects up all the streetcars and buses with the subway so you can make a single trip on subway then bus then streetcar for the cost of a single trip on the subway. It operates largely on tokens and you have to ask for a transfer when you board the bus or get on the subway - but very "joined up" and works brilliantly. But it's not a huge place anyway, so if you are staying somewhere central, you can walk a lot (the weather should not be too brutal in October).
As for somewhere to stay, I only spent one night in a really awful hostel near Chinatown so no good recommendations. However, why not try that crash on a couch scheme? Can't remember what it's called, but there is bound to be a website and someone else is going to know. [Sweeping generalisation] Canadians are generally very friendly and trustworthy and places that may look a bit scuzzy and you might steer clear of in the UK will usually turn out to be just fine [/sweeping generalisation]
Sorry, no firm recommendations for Montreal as I only spent a few days there over 11 years ago, but I remember the pitchers of cocktails in Crescent St being quite nice.... and walking up to the lookout on the Mont Royal you get a great view of the city.
Answers:
Lucky you!
They are such amazing cities and I'm so jealous. I adore Canada!
In Toronto the St Lawrence market's amazing. It's a huge Victorian building that used to be the City Hall. Toronto Islands are a must see as well, they all have different names but are actually linked - bizarre! You can take a wee ferry over and just walk along. It's a really relaxing way to spend a day. The whole harbour front area's really nice actually. If you're wanting a budget trip then the beaches are gorgeous and free; there's often da festvals and stuff around the harbourfront. Oh and the Art Gallery of Ontario's free on Wednesday eveings (or it was when I was over there, you may want to check it's still the same day!)
Are you going to try to see Niagara Falls while you're so close? I can't recommend it enough. The Maid of the Mist trips are amazing!
Have a brilliant trip!
Montreal's lovely too, especially old Montreal. They do horse and carriage rides through the area or, obviously, you could just stroll around. The old port area's lovely too and has a really nice feel to it. La Fontaine park's nice as well. Oh and go to The Vision hall to see over the whole city.
Answers:
Agree with everything the other posters have said.
Downtown Toronto is my favorite place, lots of little strange shops and crafty arty bits and bobs.
Niagra i have been to about 7 times (ok, maybe 6) but i never get tired of it, it's beautiful.
just have fun. I find Canadian a bit quiter than American, but both/either will usually go out of their way to make a good impression once they here an accent :)
With my work I have set times where I can take my holidays, this year one of the times being 28th Sept - 11th Oct. I'm planning on flying over to Toronto and youth hosteling it for a few days before then getting the train to Montreal, again youth hosteling it before heading home.
If I go ahead with it it'll be my first trip to Canada but it'll mean I can visit two of the places on my top 20 (or so) list.
Essentially I'm just looking for any suggestions or opinions from people who have been there and done that. Anything to completely alternative trips to youth hostels to stay in or must-see/do things whilst I'm there.
Thanks in advance.
Answers:
Nice neighbourhoods to visit in Toronto: Chinatown (area around Spadina Av) (extremely cheap shopping and you can get great fresh fruit and veg and some very unusual things); Queen Street West has lots of cool shops, bars, comedy places, and barrow sellers (I lived with a group of them while I was there 2 years ago) and if you like clubbing you'll be in heaven; Kensington Avenue (near Chinatown) has a street market and lots of ethnic shops; and the lakeshore is nice, especially towards the west but worth looking at all the new buildings immediately south of the Gardiner expressway.
Seeing as budget seems to be important, I'd recommend looking out for the "pay what you can" offers they have in theatres in Toronto (from memory, Monday nights). They sometimes have the same at comedy events too, but I went to see some great theatre for about 5 dollars a go (you have to get there early obviously!).
Travel in the city is very well organised and easy: the TTC has a scheme that connects up all the streetcars and buses with the subway so you can make a single trip on subway then bus then streetcar for the cost of a single trip on the subway. It operates largely on tokens and you have to ask for a transfer when you board the bus or get on the subway - but very "joined up" and works brilliantly. But it's not a huge place anyway, so if you are staying somewhere central, you can walk a lot (the weather should not be too brutal in October).
As for somewhere to stay, I only spent one night in a really awful hostel near Chinatown so no good recommendations. However, why not try that crash on a couch scheme? Can't remember what it's called, but there is bound to be a website and someone else is going to know. [Sweeping generalisation] Canadians are generally very friendly and trustworthy and places that may look a bit scuzzy and you might steer clear of in the UK will usually turn out to be just fine [/sweeping generalisation]
Sorry, no firm recommendations for Montreal as I only spent a few days there over 11 years ago, but I remember the pitchers of cocktails in Crescent St being quite nice.... and walking up to the lookout on the Mont Royal you get a great view of the city.
Answers:
Lucky you!
They are such amazing cities and I'm so jealous. I adore Canada!
In Toronto the St Lawrence market's amazing. It's a huge Victorian building that used to be the City Hall. Toronto Islands are a must see as well, they all have different names but are actually linked - bizarre! You can take a wee ferry over and just walk along. It's a really relaxing way to spend a day. The whole harbour front area's really nice actually. If you're wanting a budget trip then the beaches are gorgeous and free; there's often da festvals and stuff around the harbourfront. Oh and the Art Gallery of Ontario's free on Wednesday eveings (or it was when I was over there, you may want to check it's still the same day!)
Are you going to try to see Niagara Falls while you're so close? I can't recommend it enough. The Maid of the Mist trips are amazing!
Have a brilliant trip!
Montreal's lovely too, especially old Montreal. They do horse and carriage rides through the area or, obviously, you could just stroll around. The old port area's lovely too and has a really nice feel to it. La Fontaine park's nice as well. Oh and go to The Vision hall to see over the whole city.
Answers:
Agree with everything the other posters have said.
Downtown Toronto is my favorite place, lots of little strange shops and crafty arty bits and bobs.
Niagra i have been to about 7 times (ok, maybe 6) but i never get tired of it, it's beautiful.
just have fun. I find Canadian a bit quiter than American, but both/either will usually go out of their way to make a good impression once they here an accent :)