Where to go on vacation this All Saints' Day? City Trip Montreal, Quebec, New York

Published on 20 septembre 2018

Où partir en vacances à la Toussaint City Trip Montréal, Québec, New York

This week, it's my turn! I'm here to talk about my trip to North America, specifically between Canada and the United States. I spent two weeks visiting three cities: Montreal, Quebec, and New York. I was there at the end of the Indian summer, in the last days of October and the beginning of November. It's a great time to explore these areas, although the temperatures were cool, it was extremely beautiful! Note that the Quebec region and New York are among the ideal destinations for All Saints' Day holidays.

1. Which country do you want to discover for us? How did you choose this destination?

As I mentioned earlier, I left Bordeaux alone for two weeks to meet a friend in Montreal at the end of October. During this trip, we had chosen to mainly visit three cities: Montreal (6 days), Quebec (3 days), and New York (5 days). The advantage of Canada is that the round-trip airfare is financially more interesting than that of the United States and the administrative procedures are less substantial.

2. If there is one thing to do or see, what is it?

Unfortunately, I arrived at the very end of Indian summer, so I could not enjoy the incredible colors that the Quebec landscape offers. Nevertheless, the climb up Mont Royal is a must-see in Montreal. The climb can be tiring but it's worth it. The viewpoint overlooks the whole city!

Plateau du Mont Royal et le vieux port de Montréal

Next to the city of Quebec, I recommend visiting the island of Orleans, which is occupied by various agricultural farms: vegetables, livestock, vineyards, etc. The houses are very colorful, and the car tour takes only a morning. Before heading to the island, make a detour to Montmorency Falls, which are less famous but higher than Niagara Falls!

ville de Québec et chutes de Montmorency

In New York, it's difficult to choose THE thing to do since this city is incredible. The High Line, Chelsea Market, Soho, Little Italy, Brooklyn, Central Park, etc. do as much as possible on foot to take it all in!

de Greenwich à la High Line

3. What are your good plans for accommodation, food, activities in this country/region?

👉 Accommodation: I was lucky enough to be hosted for free in Montreal and New York by friends. We chose an AirBnb in Quebec, where the prices are very affordable!

👉 Food: I didn't find the food very good in Canada or New York. It's difficult to "eat well." However, take the time to taste Poutine, a Quebec specialty at Banquise (beware, a tourist spot, there is often a queue) or devour a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz's (historic Hebrew butcher shop in Montreal). In New York, we ate a lot "on the go" or at home. A good place to have brunch in Brooklyn is the Sea Wolf! Note that both in Canada and the United States, the prices displayed in restaurants may seem attractive, but you must take into account the service tax and the tips (fixed % of the total amount)... You could be surprised!

👉 Activities: When you think of Canada, you think of vast open spaces and natural parks! We went on a hike in the Jacques Cartier Park, and we even encountered the first snow, it was superb! In New York, the MOMA, Rockfeller, and Liberty Island are must-sees and worth a visit. We only stayed 5 days in NY, enough to do many tourist activities, but to fully enjoy the city, a slightly longer stay would be ideal.

le pont de Brooklyn

👉 Transportation: We walked a lot in all cities to discover as many neighborhoods as possible. We took all possible and unimaginable means of transport. In this regard, the Montreal metro is remarkably simple and clean (and heated...practical, it was already very cold at the beginning of November). The same cannot be said of the New York subway, which can be a real headache if you don't have a sense of direction (Uptown or Downtown). We also rented a car to visit the surroundings of Quebec. Car rental is quite expensive due to multiple insurances and age limits (<25 years). We tried the Canadian Blablacar between Montreal and Quebec: Amigo Express. On the way there, we were dropped off in Levis, just in front of Quebec. We took the ferry crossing, with the sunset...very beautiful. Finally, we used the night buses to go to New York from the company Greyhound...a very unrestful experience, the buses are quite uncomfortable. On the other hand, crossing cities and timeless areas!!

4. How do you organize a trip (alone, travel agency, all inclusive, last minute stay...)?

For booking tickets, I search everywhere on the internet, including comparators (Skyscanner, Google Flights) and always in private browsing! I chose to leave directly from Paris, which saved me more than €100 on the ticket (compared to departing from Bordeaux). As for the rest, we chose our program once we met in Montreal.

For Canada, I had to apply for an ESTA, which can be obtained easily from the web. Administrative procedures are a little longer for the United States. When crossing the U.S. border, passing through customs is a bit long, you will have to answer a few questions (always have an address to give to customs) and present your papers.

Finally, the last point is to be careful with the use of your bank card and cash withdrawal. Contact your bank branch before you leave, fees can be substantial.

5. What are the must-sees for your trip (app, object, book, lucky charm...)?

My camera accompanies me on every trip. Otherwise, a pair of headphones and music for all hours of transportation or even moments of calm!

Any anecdote to share?

In Montreal, go to Les Deux Pierrots bar, a song box. The principle of these bars: gangs compete on stage by performing worldwide titles... and more! Philippe Lafontaine had his moment of glory that evening... and with the Quebec accent, Heart of Wolf had even more charm!

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