Tourist Scams in Montreal

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  • Опубликовано: 10 янв 2025

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  • @sk8terboy64
    @sk8terboy64 Год назад +46

    Regarding the Metro, you can easily get a 3-day pass for $21 CAD and you get unlimited access to public transportation for those three days. I was there this past weekend and it was totally worth it!

  • @francoisegarabed2057
    @francoisegarabed2057 2 года назад +133

    Update : there are no horse-drawn carriages in Montreal anymore since a year ago. With all the controversies surrounding the heat, the noise and the bad working conditions for the horses, this tourist trap has been terminated.

    • @sunny572
      @sunny572 2 года назад +9

      This ^. No more horse carriages for a year or two now. The double decker busses are a better tour and less expensive too. A nice alternative

    • @pegasuslb
      @pegasuslb Год назад +2

      That's very unfortunate, it was a beautiful tradition full of charm. Horse-drawn carriages should have regulated instead of forbidden.

    • @Poodleinacan
      @Poodleinacan Год назад

      Oh I didn't know that!

  • @simonrancourt7834
    @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +58

    The advice for maple syrup also applies to maple leaf cookies. You'll pay a lot more at a souvenir shop than at the grocery store for the same cookies.

    • @jkinnear81
      @jkinnear81 Год назад +1

      Correct. Also the maple syrup or cookies they sell at the duty free shop at the airport are also overpriced. You do save the tax yes but on a product you find at a tourist shop instead of the grocery store

    • @benoitgratton6395
      @benoitgratton6395 Год назад +3

      You can find the same maple cookies at Dollarama for 2,50$/box

    • @jkinnear81
      @jkinnear81 Год назад

      @@benoitgratton6395 Anything snack related at Dollarama is not of the highest of quality.

    • @abrahamdozer6273
      @abrahamdozer6273 Год назад

      @@jkinnear81 ... nor is it at the airport.

    • @jkinnear81
      @jkinnear81 Год назад

      @@abrahamdozer6273 your not wrong on that one but as I mentioned before the place to get Maple cookies is the grocery store, hands down. Provigo has the best selection in my opinion

  • @LauraDBM
    @LauraDBM 2 года назад +68

    Born and raised Montrealer here! All your tips are totally true! I would add one general "trap" is that tourists always fall into Old Montreal. Don't get me wrong, it's very pretty. But real Montrealers don't hang out there. It's a nice place to see quickly and then branch out to the real Montreal afterwards :)

    • @LauraDBM
      @LauraDBM 2 года назад +15

      @@jeanbolduc5818 That's a weird jump to make... A strange negative jump. Montreal is fantastic for both Old Montreal AND Verdun, the Plateau, St Henri, Jean Talon market, etc etc. You don't see Montrealers flooding Old Montreal just as you don't see Parisians flooding the Eiffel Tower. Not because it isn't valued, but because we have experienced it and value it AND the other things the city brings.

    • @jkinnear81
      @jkinnear81 Год назад +4

      @@ashjones7297 i was also born and raised in Montreal. My fave areas of town in which to live are Verdun, Plateau, Mile End and St Henri. Those areas are filled with dozens of restaurants, bars, grocery stores as well as many other services. They are all very well connected also so you will not need a car if you are there.

    • @LauraDBM
      @LauraDBM Год назад +5

      @@ashjones7297 I have a special place in my heart for Verdun. I lived there for a while and watched the area get a really cool 'makeover' over the past 10 years. Wellington street has so many great bars/pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops, but still retains some of the gritty charm, cool murals, etc.

    • @callofthecthulhu4148
      @callofthecthulhu4148 Год назад +1

      @@LauraDBM Tout les magasins de souvenir à Montréal appartiennent à des tamouls.

    • @tracymiller2571
      @tracymiller2571 Год назад +1

      @@jkinnear81 I am traveling from the US to Montreal (via trains) in mid-July. Not exactly sure where Plateau is but think I am easily within walking distance. My Airbnb is near Laval and Rue Rachel. Any neighborhood cafe's, coffee shops, bars, grocery stores I should check out? Plan to do a lot of walking all over for 3 days. Looks amazing!

  • @Yyunalunna
    @Yyunalunna 2 года назад +23

    Montrealer here!! I agree with everything Wolter says! I say stay away from the gift shops in old Montreal! Overpriced and tacky. Plus they sell a lot of “native” stuff that aren’t made by indigenous people nor does it profit the people. Go to Kahnawake, a Mohawk reserve right outside of Montreal if you want to buy and support the local indigenous community

  • @gimmedavidb
    @gimmedavidb Год назад +10

    If you use bank machines, make sure that you go to a popular bank and use their machine (because any fees they charge will be a lot cheaper). Some bars and convenience stores have "private" bank machines that don't belong to a famous Canadian bank, and these private bank machines often charge outrageously high banking fees.

  • @TheMl145
    @TheMl145 2 года назад +11

    Mount Royal Park also has great free views of the city. If your going in summer go in the morning before it gets too hot.

    • @simonrancourt7834
      @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +2

      Great place to photograph the sunrise.
      Check sunrise time and be there at least 1 hour before.
      It's free, but parking is not.

  • @mlu007
    @mlu007 Год назад +9

    Just a note about the hors-drawn carriages. They have ceased operations by December 31, 2019. The current administration which was first elected in 2017 passed a bylaw prohibiting horse-drawn carriages for entertainment or transportation purposes. The bylaw was upheld by the Superior Court in September 2020 and again by the Court of Appeals in November 2022.

  • @simonrancourt7834
    @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +16

    Fun fact about Schwartz's : in 2012, it was bought by René Angélil (Céline Dion's husband/manager), so she's now the owner.

  • @PrimeTimeTravelers
    @PrimeTimeTravelers 2 года назад +11

    Montreal is on our bucket list. We hope to get there sometime in the next 2-4 years. Thank you for the tips, they are always helpful.
    Passe un bon weekend!!

    • @H.P.Blavatsky
      @H.P.Blavatsky Год назад +1

      native montrealer here, highly recommend the indian restaurants around decarie on sherbrooke west
      every single one a banger

    • @PrimeTimeTravelers
      @PrimeTimeTravelers Год назад

      @@H.P.Blavatsky oh good to know. We are hoping to visit in 2024 if not sooner

    • @H.P.Blavatsky
      @H.P.Blavatsky Год назад +1

      @@PrimeTimeTravelers ps. dawa chicken!
      ;)
      Hope you guys have fun!

  • @Zynnix
    @Zynnix Год назад +4

    The Underground City is also a life saver when its super hot out in the summer. Was showing some older family members around last summer and they were dying in the direct sunlight, so we used it a lot to stay cool and get around to where we needed to.

  • @simonrancourt7834
    @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +13

    The "underground city" is also usefull in summer, when it's very hot - yes, it gets hot in the summer, upwards of 40°C (105°F) with the humudity factor.
    The shoping malls are air conditionned but the Métro is not. The Métro is well ventilated, so it's not too bad.

    • @goosevillage
      @goosevillage 2 года назад +3

      Are you kidding me ?! When it is 35C outside , the Metro is UNBEARABLE !!!!!

    • @simonrancourt7834
      @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +3

      @@goosevillage I DID say the Métro was NOT air conditionnned

    • @simonrancourt7834
      @simonrancourt7834 Год назад

      @@ashjones7297 Simple.
      Every downtown Métro stations (Montréal subway) are part of it. It's shopping malls between shopping malls and office buildings.
      You can live, work and be entertained without setting foot outdoor.
      There are hotels, movie theaters, concert halls, a Congress centre, 2 train stations, Bell Centre (where the NHL Montréal Canadiens play). Although It's not downtown, but 5 km east, the olympic stadium is also connected to the Métro.
      Also, several University buildings are connected.
      Before the Montréal Expos moved to Washington DC, you could sometimes watch a MLB game at the olympic stadium in the afternoon and a Canadiens game in the evening without setting foot outdoor.

  • @jotravel7603
    @jotravel7603 2 года назад +12

    Montreal tour guide here just want to rectify something: horse drawn carriages are now illegal here so no longer a problem ❤️

    • @oscarchica5566
      @oscarchica5566 Год назад +1

      And that's a good thing! The horse-drawn carriages were not only cruel: they were so fake, and they made the streets of Old Montreal stink of horse piss and manure, which was rather off-putting, I daresay!

    • @jotravel7603
      @jotravel7603 Год назад

      @@oscarchica5566 could not agree more!

  • @jasoncrobar724
    @jasoncrobar724 Год назад +2

    I thought the poutine looked like it was from La Banquise, then I saw the beer & it erased all doubt. I went there for a long weekend in 2018 I stayed in a hotel that was walking distance from that place. So good!

  • @bikesarebest
    @bikesarebest Год назад +2

    Great video! Id recommend people get a one-month bixi pass if thsyre gonna be here for a few days. Its only 20$ for unlimited rides and it's really worth it, especially if youre gonna be out late when the metro stops running.
    Plus there are so many beautiful bike commutes like Parc de Dieppe/Expo 67, the Ice Control Structure Bridge, Jean-Drapeau park, etc.
    The underground city isnt a tourist trap, it's just boring. Its convenient if you need to run errands or if the weather is bad but yeah, just a tourist trap.
    The best thing you could do is get a bottle of wine and some takeout and go to a park for a picnic (Laurier park is my go-to)
    Have fun in Montreal!!

  • @Sprocket01
    @Sprocket01 6 месяцев назад +2

    I live in Montreal and appreciate the snark about the "underground city", as I too call it an underground mall.

  • @vickenator
    @vickenator Год назад +5

    One thing to keep in mind with using public transit while traveling is how good you are at navigating -- I get anxious trying to use public transit in areas I'm not familiar with as I've ended up on buses or trams that head way out of town and then I'm kind of stuck. So yes, you can save a lot of money using public transit, but you have to have some sort of navigational ability so you don't wind up clear across town from where you wanted to be! That is one benefit of taxis or rideshares as you are definitely getting from Point A to Point B without having to really think about it. Then again, with buses in particular, you get a nice leisurely way to see a lot of an area without paying a lot of money for it. All depends on your comfort level with navigation.

    • @pegasuslb
      @pegasuslb Год назад +4

      Just use Google Maps ;)

  • @happydupa
    @happydupa Год назад +5

    I was in old town Montreal in September and had a craving for a soft serve ice cream cone. I saw a sign for cones at one of the Maple syrup places and bought one there. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but my chocolate/vanilla twist cone was flavored with Maple Syrup! It was delicious and unusually smooth and creamy. Would recommend.

  • @jeanbolduc5818
    @jeanbolduc5818 2 года назад +3

    i hope your video about Toronto is about CN tower the worst tourist trap and Niagara falls ....

  • @thatcherdonovan7305
    @thatcherdonovan7305 Год назад +3

    Correction - calèches (horse-drawn carriages) were banned for widespread animal abuse back in 2020. They were very cruel.

  • @PatricenotPatrick
    @PatricenotPatrick 2 года назад +17

    Mark, the lil maple leaf bottle is for looking cute on my Texas mantle as a souvenir, not for my eggos 😂 no regrets! 🍁

    • @yaowsers77
      @yaowsers77 2 года назад +1

      😂

    • @Snowshowslow
      @Snowshowslow 2 года назад +4

      Yes or in my case for gifting a cheesy souvenir to the plant sitter. I was totally aware I wasn't so much paying for the leaf as for the concept, but hey, the concept is what I needed 😉

    • @PatricenotPatrick
      @PatricenotPatrick 2 года назад +4

      @@Snowshowslow Lol I just have a lil $8 mini one. Felt more unique than my usual go to shot glass collection buy. That maple candy is underrated tbh 👀

    • @TMD3453
      @TMD3453 2 года назад +1

      The Maple 🍁 leaf bottle is cool and worth it.

    • @Snowshowslow
      @Snowshowslow 2 года назад +1

      @@PatricenotPatrick It tastes really nice ^^ it's good I can't get it here, haha

  • @matthewhook1347
    @matthewhook1347 2 года назад +7

    When you get a Fairmount bagel from the source and it is still warm that is the best bagel you will ever eat

  • @jasoncrobar724
    @jasoncrobar724 Год назад

    I love that 5 seconds after I posted about La Banquise, you talk about Schwartz's deli... another place I visited on that long weekend! Definitely not the only place to get a smoked meat sandwich, but it must be done.

  • @KevRyanCG
    @KevRyanCG Год назад +2

    I've been living here over a year now and had my brother over to visit, and one thing I did notice was the touristy maple syrup when he was shopping for gifts. I mean I bought some magnets and other rubbish for the fridge in there for a laugh but I stopped at the syrup.
    One other thing I noticed as an Irish man who likes a good pub, is you will get hammered on the import prices for some beers from Ireland or the UK, even if they're only brewed down the road. So you're better off sticking with the local beers. Could be the difference between 8 dollars and 12.
    I do love this city though.

  • @ThatCodeBlue
    @ThatCodeBlue Год назад +2

    I can eat in Montreal for half price or less on Ontario at Saint-Denis and enjoy just as much. Schwartz is the exception for me and I always go immediately there on my first night in the city. I’ll go every second day after.

  • @lechoix88
    @lechoix88 Год назад +8

    As a true local... why wait in line at Schwartz for smoked meat?? Walk across the street to The MAIN... less fancy, less rushy and the smoked meat (brisket) is just as good!! Or as an option, head over to REUBEN's (the new downtown location)... shorter line, just as good. If you're travelling to the Western part of the Island... go to Pete's Smoked Meat!
    ps: if you really need to bring some Quebec Maple Syrup home with you - forget the over-priced Maple Leaf-shaped bottle in the souvenir shops... walk into any supermarket and pick up a CAN of Maple Syrup (2 for the price of the bottle) and you'll have protection from it breaking in your luggage! Enjoy your travels in Montreal...

    • @deborahmurrayfly
      @deborahmurrayfly 5 месяцев назад

      @lechoix88 update - The Main closed down a couple of years ago

    • @lechoix88
      @lechoix88 5 месяцев назад

      @@deborahmurrayfly yes, sadly it's closed nowadays. If you're in the West Island, check out Pete's Smoked Meat (former meat slicer from the Main)...

  • @RandallHeath1121
    @RandallHeath1121 2 года назад +11

    Montreal rocks - we have been going up from Connecticut every summer since 1999, and now go 3-4 times per year. Always fun!
    A comment on this video - the horse drawn carriages he shows here are now banned, and have been since the beginning of 2020. While part of me misses seeing them, it’s definitely better for the horses.

    • @mlu007
      @mlu007 Год назад +2

      A recent (Nov. 2022) Court of Appeal ruling has upheld the ban. As a long time resident, I have always felt uncomfortable seeing those horses being used for entertainment purposes. In 2018, a video of a horse collapsing and dying on the street went viral. That was the final straw that prompted the administration to act.

  • @Unterwelten
    @Unterwelten Год назад +2

    Right on Wolter, maple syrup comes in a can for 7-8$. My buddy from NYC forgot his decorative syrup that he'd bought in Old Montreal while he was here (so I sent it to him) and when I saw the price - 20$ - I almost died!

    • @cookiemonster-20
      @cookiemonster-20 4 месяца назад

      Costco in Quebec has true good quality maple syrup.

  • @TheMadagenais
    @TheMadagenais Год назад +1

    If the line at Schwartz is too long, go across the street to the Main Deli. Same quality, even better on some days, but without the aggravation

  • @StanHasselback
    @StanHasselback 2 года назад +1

    Best bagels outside of NYC. Some really nice gardens if you are there when its warm. Otherwise see a ice hockey game.

  • @simonrancourt7834
    @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +4

    One more "tourist trap" in Montréal : going to a Montréal Canadien hockey game at Bell Centre. Tickets cost an arm and expect to pay through the nose for a beer and a hot dog.

    • @stephendacey8761
      @stephendacey8761 5 месяцев назад

      I didn't find that to be true. Tickets to see the Toronto Maple Leafs are at least 4 times expensive. I've bought tickets to see the Canadians over the years and found the tickets very reasonable. Of course, it depends on the team they are playing. A Boston-Montreal game would be more expensive, but much less at The Bell Centre than at TD Bank in Boston.

  • @simonrancourt7834
    @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +1

    1:30 : poutine with smoked meat.
    Need I say more ?
    In the sumnmer you can climb the 192 steps to the top if the Bell Tower in the okd port. It's free.
    The horse drawn carriages are no longer in operation.

  • @malekyo
    @malekyo Год назад +1

    Montrealer here: 100% on spot, if you see a line anywhere, just walk elsewhere... no place is worth waiting that long, the place in town are all good and not worth wasting time while on vacations. Really, there's no real tourist trap in Montreal.

  • @toxikavenger9088
    @toxikavenger9088 2 года назад +2

    Food at schwartz is great but on my visit they had a pretty bad fly infestation with a bunch of dead ones also lining the walls. Didn't get sick or anything but def not the best dining experience

  • @tobiojo6469
    @tobiojo6469 2 года назад +1

    Awesome video

  • @abundancepositive
    @abundancepositive Год назад

    Keep up the great work 👍

  • @seaboirs
    @seaboirs Год назад +2

    Great video as always Wolter! To piggy back off what you were sharing, Ubers have gotten recently so overpriced here in Montreal (with fees and taxes); And taxi's tend to "get lost" a lot in Montreal... The Underground city is very much something you can skip. Also the horse carriage are soon going to be banned in Montreal thankfully.

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  Год назад

      Thank you for the heads up!

    • @Suzanna-chez-moi
      @Suzanna-chez-moi Год назад

      I also wanted to mention the carriages.... There may be 1 still operating, but it won't be for much longer if so. Québec city still has several horse drawn carriages. I'm always confused when visiting friends or family ask to see the underground city.... The best I've found is to show them the McGill metro station. This station connects to several buildings, most with shopping on the basement/ground level, plus you can see down to the tracks and watch the trains - you can even look down the track tunnel and see the next station (Peel)! That's it. Most of the tunnels between buildings are purely functional - low ceilings, not decorated. They are meant to funnel people (workers, students mainly) down to the closest metro station, so you don't have to go outside.

    • @H.P.Blavatsky
      @H.P.Blavatsky Год назад

      i had that problem too a lot
      i got into the habit of putting on my GPS and putting the speaker on max and actively directing them

  • @fredklein3829
    @fredklein3829 Год назад +1

    A big tourist trap restaurant was Carlos & Pepe's inauthentic Mexican food. Mercifully, it has closed forever.

  • @mejeremiejohnmartin9334
    @mejeremiejohnmartin9334 Год назад +1

    I'm from Montreal and I approve this message.

  • @charlesmcdermott6139
    @charlesmcdermott6139 2 года назад +9

    I have never used taxis or Uber in Montreal. The Metro and buses are good and frequent. You are absolutely on point about the food. I have never had a bad meal in this wonderful city.

    • @simonrancourt7834
      @simonrancourt7834 2 года назад +2

      Our public transport is very safe and clean.
      Our Métro (subway) runs on tires. This makes for a quieter ride, better acceleration and breaking and it climbs slopes better.

  • @captainsouth4460
    @captainsouth4460 Год назад

    The best Lobster Poutine I had in Montreal was from a food truck. Chinatown was great too, found a great local restaurant on a side street.

  • @colegreen1291
    @colegreen1291 9 месяцев назад +1

    You are correct about the debit card. I never understood why people had to get the cash of the country before or during the trip , just use a bank machine people! Also i cannot tell you about how much i love the city of Montreal, this coming from a New Yorker who has resided in Panama for the last fifteen years. Montreal is the best city in North America, at least to me.

  • @nicknumber1512
    @nicknumber1512 2 года назад +1

    0:16 "...but the thing is is, a lot of these tourist traps, you might actually want to do anyway, 'cause they're still worth it, but that doesn't mean they're a tourist trap, ok?"
    So it is is what it is, but also it isn't.

    • @HotBranch
      @HotBranch 2 года назад +3

      Schrödinger's tourist trap😆

  • @Jamescraigjohnson
    @Jamescraigjohnson 4 месяца назад +1

    You can buy grade A maple syrup in a can (old school), 540ml for between $5 and $10. It will not break in your luggage and so much cheaper than the glass maple leaf bottles and possibly better quality syrup.

  • @moveon1830
    @moveon1830 Месяц назад

    So exchange houses and tourists shop are more expensive than other options? Like any cities....

  • @Patataf
    @Patataf 4 месяца назад

    Place Jacques-Cartier in old Montreal was quite a different place in the late 70s, early 80s. Appart from the two cobblestone streets on each side, the central part was mainly grass. Musicians and street artists livened the place up many a summer night. Most were Montrealers, and the tourists got a real taste of our "joie de vivre." Police would look the other way on beer drinking and weed, as long as no one was rowdy. Montreal has much changed since then. Maple Syrup is bought in a can.

  • @pegasuslb
    @pegasuslb Год назад +1

    It's true you can get smoked meat pretty much anywhere in Montreal, but it won't be as delicious as Schwartz ;)

  • @TMD3453
    @TMD3453 2 года назад +4

    Great, loved it Wolter. There’s an art to knowing what is a tourist trap and what isn’t. It depends! The Eiffel Tower and the Sound of Music tour are NOT tourist traps! They are unique and worth visiting- as opposed to overpriced things you can experience elsewhere and better- maybe the definition of a tourist trap !! Lol thanks much. Happy travels in 23!!

    • @siphonsnob
      @siphonsnob Год назад

      His name is Mark Wolters.

    • @TMD3453
      @TMD3453 Год назад

      @@siphonsnob yeah thanks

  • @adamr63
    @adamr63 5 месяцев назад

    Fairmount and St. Viateur bagels are equally famous, authentic, and old, and offer an equally interesting experience as you can see the bagels being made. I'd argue St. Viateur is more fun because you can see the whole process from the cutting and rolling of the dough, the dipping in honeyed water, and the baking in the wood oven.
    One touristy thing I always do in cities if they have them is the open bus tours. They are s corny but it's actually really fun and informative to be driven around a city and get an overview while the history and historical sites and neighbourhoods are being narrated.
    Another cool thing is the small boat ride on the Lachine Canal from neat the Atwater market to the Old Port, it's a beautiful trip, and you learn a lot about the history of the canal, the city that grew up. around and partly because of it, and its importance to the growth of the early colonies and later the economic growth of Canada as a whole.

  • @gibupleb
    @gibupleb Год назад

    As a person who lives in Montreal, I need to follow these tips

  • @rioriggs3568
    @rioriggs3568 Год назад +1

    Excellent advice for Montreal. (PS : horses have been banned since 2019.)

  • @freakyflow
    @freakyflow 8 месяцев назад

    I found a few times...Parking Hotels dinning cost the highest In old Montreal & The plateau You want to get out of the Area And Subway into downtown Try Verdun for food And cafe They have nice beaches and boardwalks near the water Bagel St-Lo is one of my favs Going the other way north along the water front Cabotins Apportez votre vin is a good spot for fine dining.
    You can also get maple syrup in open markets like the one at Jean Talon market From the person that owns the farm Light And dark syrup Montreal has alot to offer so do some home work on what to see End of may / sept is a good time to go

  • @markfinn0
    @markfinn0 2 года назад

    Look for the 540 ml cans of maple syrup - usually one of the major supermarket chains has then on sale for $5 or $6.

  • @toddglantz2499
    @toddglantz2499 11 месяцев назад

    The Metro once you get the hang of it is the best! And it is a bit pricey, but if you are there with someone definitely do the ferris wheel at night. Worth the money.

  • @joeprestera2239
    @joeprestera2239 2 года назад +1

    If you are at Schwartz's Deli you should also have the chicken. It is so amazing and no one talks about it because of how great the smoked meat. Be warned though, it's a big serving. Like a half a chicken big.

  • @karenrio7314
    @karenrio7314 Год назад

    Agree! Underground is nothing special, might save u from the cold but absolutely nothing to see

  • @nadaadecirr
    @nadaadecirr Год назад

    Montrealer here :-). Tourist always go to the old Montreal to eat, Go where the locals go, it's less expensive.... Mont-Royal street, St-Denis, St-laurent... Beaubien and a lot of other streets

  • @itmanager489
    @itmanager489 9 месяцев назад

    How's the weather on may? do i need jacket or can i walk around with just a t-shirt?

  • @TheNmecod
    @TheNmecod 11 месяцев назад +1

    Maple Syrup rule: if it’s not in a can, if it isn’t from quebec, don’t buy

  • @jonathandorval2704
    @jonathandorval2704 2 года назад +3

    There no more Horse carriage ride. The Montréal city outlawed it. It's gone forever.

  • @dabradmp1
    @dabradmp1 Год назад +2

    I'm from Montreal and pretty much everything you said are not traps or scams...maybe except the maple syrup thing. Everything else is pretty much you pay for an attraction or meal at a touristy place or a service like the taxi. Basically here you there's almost no chance to be picked pocketed or someone asking you for signatures on something or trying to tie a dumb bracelet to your hand or fake taxi charging you 4x the price...

    • @wyvernrealms
      @wyvernrealms Год назад

      Nah some grocery brands also sell maple syrup in a maple leaf bottle, am I a tourist for being born and raised here and going to Maxi for something to eat?

  • @youngdark3
    @youngdark3 2 года назад

    Awesome 😎👍 best place to stay in? Thinking of going in early June

    • @mlu007
      @mlu007 Год назад +1

      You'd better reserve quickly as June is typically the beginning of tourism season. Some downtown hotels are already sold out for the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend (June 16-19, 2023).

  • @mamdouh-Tawadros
    @mamdouh-Tawadros 4 месяца назад

    All countries do that. Tourists would not buy it to consume maple syrup, but to keep as a souvenir.

  • @patrisio3
    @patrisio3 4 месяца назад

    Although a different Canadian city, what gets me is all the maple syrup sold in tourist shops in Vancouver. Maple syrup is not produced anywhere near Vancouver. The farthest west that it is produced is a line from extreme southeast Manitoba down past Minnesota to Missouri. I understand that the maple leaf is a symbol of the entire country. But still. Now maple syrup in Montreal makes 100% sense given that 70% of all maple syrup is produced in Quebec.

  • @alainbellemare2168
    @alainbellemare2168 5 месяцев назад

    You still have a better 360 degrees view from the observatory of the tower of the olympic stadium

  • @jpbernier4196
    @jpbernier4196 Год назад +2

    Montreal has banned horse-drawn carriages since 2020

  • @MonicaTRodriguez
    @MonicaTRodriguez Год назад

    Hi Mark! What do you think about using AirBnB in Montreal? They seem to be a lower cost option for lodging there, but I haven't used AirBnB much, and haven't been to Montreal (yet!). Thanks!

  • @yaowsers77
    @yaowsers77 2 года назад +9

    i'm going in november and have started doing my research. i love that your montreal videos have been coming out!

    • @HotBranch
      @HotBranch 2 года назад +1

      Reach out if you want/need ideas

    • @yaowsers77
      @yaowsers77 2 года назад

      @@HotBranch thanks!

    • @mayaxxx
      @mayaxxx 2 года назад

      montreal native here. what kind of trip are you planning? i'd love to recommend some places!

    • @nc8507
      @nc8507 Год назад

      November is literally the worst month to come. It's when all the buzz from the summer and terrace weather has died down, and the sunsets at 4pm.

    • @yaowsers77
      @yaowsers77 Год назад +1

      @@nc8507 that's ok. I'm not a warm weather person at all. It'll be the first half of November that I'm coming. It's also the only time my friend, who's a teacher, has a bit of time off for teachers convention. I also like a quieter, slower pace. But I appreciate your input!

  • @ImperiousMax
    @ImperiousMax Год назад

    Honestly your best option is to also get any maple syrup in a can from any grocery stores, lasts longer and might sustain better in your luggage than the pretty leaf shaped bottles. And it's way cheaper.

  • @magellan8232
    @magellan8232 Год назад +1

    For the airport to downtown trip, i wouldn't suggest the bus unless your accommodation is close to the drop off point. As for the metro, this isn't europe, don't drag your luggage into a wagon full of people because you'll just piss people off more than anything else. A taxi is fine as the risk for scams is relatively low compared to european airports.

  • @dimman77
    @dimman77 5 месяцев назад

    I love the maple syrup being sold in tourist shops. In Vancouver. Because of Vancouver's wide and established sugar shack culture... heh

  • @jimdellavecchia4594
    @jimdellavecchia4594 2 года назад

    The absolute best "Tourist Trap" is Chez Paree, home of the best "Canadian Ballet!!!"

  • @oscarchica5566
    @oscarchica5566 Год назад +2

    I'm from Montreal and I say to you: listen to Mark! His advice is spot on!
    Another piece of advice, from a true Montrealer: the truest Montreal experience does not happen in touristy Old Montreal, it happens in the Plateau Mont-Royal and the Mile-End.
    And remember: every minute spent waiting in line to visit a tourist trap is a minute not spent walking around the cozy and walkable streets of Montreal to discover the REAL VIBE of the city!
    Last piece of advice: don't come to Montreal from November to March. Our winters are a murky, frigid, sludgy, depressing, miserable ordeal. Come from June to August. Our summers are glorious and festive!

    • @halfthefiber
      @halfthefiber Год назад +1

      I always go in late September or early October because the tourists have thinned and the heat is gone. I love your city but the humidity can be really stifling!

  • @europa258
    @europa258 2 года назад

    Hey Wolters i am planning in going to Belgrade Serbia what do you recommend there?

  • @koubilai2
    @koubilai2 8 месяцев назад

    Good everywhere is true 🙂 but Swartz and Fairmont Bagel are truly unique, original and more expensive 😅.

  • @babsr8479
    @babsr8479 2 года назад

    Good tips 👍

  • @simondr70
    @simondr70 Год назад

    What replaced the horse-drawn carriages is Throwback Tours

  • @derekgibson1870
    @derekgibson1870 6 месяцев назад

    Try maple syrup instead of sugar in your coffee...it's really good

  • @sleepnomore6065
    @sleepnomore6065 Год назад

    Can maple syrup be duty free? I don't wanna check a bag if I dont have to but I'm not buying 100ml of a condiment either!

  • @sleepnomore6065
    @sleepnomore6065 Год назад

    If claustrophobia doesn't get me on Ferris wheel, the height will... But the Pao de Azucar tram didnt bother me for some reason!

  • @bobbypaluga4346
    @bobbypaluga4346 Год назад

    Costco has Canadian Maple Syrup in cool quart jugs for less than $13. Yes, Virginia the Canadian origin is clearly labeled.

  • @jonathanjudd3168
    @jonathanjudd3168 8 месяцев назад

    I visited Montreal a dozen times in the 1990s, but haven't been back since. Looks much the same.

  • @martinboulianne2360
    @martinboulianne2360 Год назад

    as a life long Quebecer and Montrealer.. 90% agree with your list. except for Smokemeat...and bagles!! Schwartz!! 500% worth it.. they are a 15/10.. most other places are 6-10 as for the bagles... even montrealers still fight over them... Fairmount or St Viateur!! gotta try both and make up your own mind!!

  • @jenknodell
    @jenknodell 7 месяцев назад

    St. Viateur and Fairmount are the best bagels. Get 'em while they're hot out of the oven in the Mile End locations. Just my opinion as a former Montrealer.

  • @laurettecastellano2830
    @laurettecastellano2830 2 года назад

    Does Dankoff still exist?

  • @Towalak
    @Towalak 4 месяца назад

    The maple syrup market in Québec is entirely controlled by the PPAQ (an organization sometimes called a cartel), so it'll be pretty much the same (up to grading) no matter where you go

  • @alainbellemare2168
    @alainbellemare2168 Год назад +1

    There is no more horse drawn carriages inmontreal

  • @alainbellemare2168
    @alainbellemare2168 Год назад

    Same for the public markets , atwater maisneuve jean talon , bonsecours , overpriced food

  • @HotBranch
    @HotBranch 2 года назад +9

    Excellent video on my hometown. Keep up the great work. I do have a few points or suggestions:
    A) Maple syrup sold in grocery stores can be purchased in cans, which makes for easier transport. Also, big props for calling a convenience store a "dep", you're talking like a local!
    B) If the line for Schwartz is too long, simply cross the street to The Main deli. Just as good, almost equally surly wait staff, and very rarely a lineup.
    C) Lineups for St-Viateur or Fairmont typically move quite quickly, and if you're in that area, it's not too far to walk to get to Lester's, which is one of the best delis in the city and their smoked meat is exceptional.
    D) If you plan to use cash, definitely avoid money exchange places; most of the major North American banks use the Cirrus or Plus networks, which will link directly to your account at home and save you additional fees. The unbranded ATMs in corner stores and restaurants without bank branding will charge an additional fee on top of the network exchange fee, which puts them on par with the money exchange places. Look for ATMs with branding from the major banks (TD, BMO, RBC, BNC, Scotiabank, CIBC, and Laurentian), they generally won't charge the extra fee if your home bank is on the same network. That said, Montreal shops, restaurants, and taxis LOVE their card machines, so cash is more of an option (the original St-Viateur and Fairmont bagel locations are CASH ONLY though).
    E) Agree on the "underground city" being overrated, but what is worth venturing beneath the streets is the metro. Pretty much each station has its own unique design and architecture, which makes for a cool way to spend pretty much a whole day for less than $4 per ride if you don't go beyond the turnstiles. If you go on the orange line and end up off island in Laval, it will cost you an extra fare to get back on and back into the city. Taxis and Uber are best for when the metro shuts down between midnight and 1am.
    F) You showed the Bixi bike sharing stands at the end, which are a convenient alternative to taxis and public transit, but be mindful of the pricing structure: 1) the card you use will have a $200 reserve for 24-48 hours in addition to the unlocking and time fee, 2) electric-assist bikes (the blue ones) are more expensive than regular Bixi bikes, 3) it's best to use them to go from one area to another rather than using it all day; the day rate is to unlock the bike and it includes ~30 minutes free after which each block of additional time costs. When Bixi first started, some unfortunate tourists were dinged for hundreds of dollars because they thought the daily $5 fee was cheaper than renting a bike but they didn't read the pricing structure. Definitely get the Bixi app before coming, so you can easily locate the docking stations and get fully informed on costs.

  • @SRondeau
    @SRondeau 2 года назад +6

    Next time you are in town, have a look at the Verdun borrough! It's Wellington Street is pedestrian from June to October and it's restaurants are awesome. The area also has a nice beach and a park that follows the River up to the rapids (where you can have a try at whitewater surfing) and a natural reserve!

  • @jorgeluisalrey3061
    @jorgeluisalrey3061 Год назад

    Bacán el sitios 🎉🎉

  • @djyanno
    @djyanno Год назад

    In fact, Schwartz is the last smoked meat I would eat in Montreal. Lester's being the first. I also consider La Banquise as a trap. There are far better places at better prices

  • @TheNmecod
    @TheNmecod 11 месяцев назад

    we call « the old montreal » old port ;) or vieux-port

  • @Ben-xt4xo
    @Ben-xt4xo 2 года назад +1

    Is there a Liverpool video coming mark?

  • @wyvernrealms
    @wyvernrealms Год назад +1

    Lmao if you buy Maple syrup in grocery stores, you won't have the real deal... It's really not the same as going to the sugar shack.

  • @cynthiajordan9269
    @cynthiajordan9269 2 года назад +2

    Yeah I am the first to see this. I love his advice

  • @refinedsugar
    @refinedsugar 3 месяца назад

    I gotcha disagree with what you said about Schwartz. My definition of "tourist trap" applies to places that are overpriced, ripoffs, trap people that don't know any better.
    They might bank on their old name, history, but the smoke meat is A1. Yeah you can get it at other places, but that doesn't take anything away from them.

  • @kauaiboy5o
    @kauaiboy5o 2 года назад

    Is it really worth going to Montreal for vacation? Maybe Quebec is a more interesting option?

    • @mayaxxx
      @mayaxxx 2 года назад +1

      for historical museums, maybe. but as a resident in montreal who has been to quebec city, the crowd in montreal is much more out and about, the people are more diverse, the transportation system is better in montreal and i can't speak for the food but i have never eaten out at a bad restaurant in montreal. montreal has its little secrets, these little places that i just don't think any other city has, type of places you can only find because someone on the street told you. but don't get me wrong, please do visit quebec city! gorgeous basse-ville with pretty cobblestone streets, and the chateau frontenac and the plains of abramham. this city in my memory have more of a french feel when downtown but it's not like we don't have our own little france here in montreal! in my opinion, montreal is where it's at in the province. (please do visit quebec city - very gorgeous!)

    • @TheMadagenais
      @TheMadagenais Год назад +2

      Québec is a 2-3 days vacation destination, including a day trip to the Montmorency falls and Île d’Orleans. You can spend two weeks in Montreal, especially in the summer, and barely scratch the surface of things to do.

    • @lechoix88
      @lechoix88 Год назад +3

      Montreal - Friendly bilingual (multi-lingual) speaking population and multi-cultural, great festivals, shopping, activities, foodie culture, easy public transport, a nice mountain view.
      Quebec City - All French-speaking population, older architectural features, tourist traps especially around the Chateau Frontenac, boutiques (shops) in Old Quebec, Grand Allée restaurants. Both are wonderful cities to visit but Montreal wins Hands-down with its BAGELS and SMOKED MEAT + POUTINE!!

  • @Bodybeautiful
    @Bodybeautiful 2 года назад +3

    Lester's Deli!!! Great video as always!

    • @HotBranch
      @HotBranch 2 года назад +2

      My preferred destination for smoked meat, but it is out of the way for most tourists. Not impossibly out of the way, but you need to plan some extra time to get there and find parking. Bonus for Lester's is that they have vacuum sealed portions to bring home and reheat.

  • @sidrad
    @sidrad 2 года назад

    Schwartz's sounds like Montreal's answer to Katz's in New York. It must be incredible, but (as a New Yorker) the line stretching up Houston Street is a turnoff.

    • @TheMadagenais
      @TheMadagenais Год назад +1

      When in NYC, I go to Sarge’s instead. Great Jewish deli and we never encountered a line.