Jasjas Posted September 16, 2014 #1 Share Posted September 16, 2014 my friend and I are 2 ladies in our mid-sixties and will end our Alaska cruise in Vancouver and then spend 2 days there. From Vancouver we have a choice to either fly home (Johannesburg) via Montreal or Miami. We could also spend 2 days in either of these cities ... We have never been to USA before this trip. Prior to the Alaska cruise we will also spend 3 days in New York... Please help us choose : Montreal or Miami ??? Regards. Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted September 16, 2014 #2 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Those are two VERY different cities - aside from time zone, partying and English not being the main language I see very little they have in common. You truly don't have your own idea which you'd enjoy more? If you'd rather hear French, eat bagels, and see hills & rivers - Montreal. if you'd rather hear Spanish, eat churros, and see the ocean - Miami. Yes, I'm distilling a ridiculously complex comparison down to some very stereotyped bullet-points... the better answer is 'go do some reading to see which has the most things you would like to do/see/eat' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted September 16, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I suppose that I should have expected to sound a bit dumb in posing such a question.... and I did deserve the answer... In South Africa it most probably would have been a choice between a beautiful beach resort or an exciting bushveld safari,,,and I would also not have understood that someone could not make up their own mind... I will follow your advice and do some homework.... Thanks for taking the time to talk to me... Sincerely. Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zephyr17 Posted September 16, 2014 #4 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Just my opinion but MIA as an airport is a major pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted September 16, 2014 #5 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I choose Montreal. Possibly cooler and less humid than Miami in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted September 17, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Hi SadieN, We will be there by mid-September...what is the weather like ? Not that it is very important... Thanks for the comment. Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleaves Posted September 17, 2014 #7 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Wunderground has historical data. Just plug in the location and dates ..... go back 4-5 yrs for a good comparison. http://www.wunderground.com/history No question ..... Montreal over Miami. Perhaps borrow some travel books from your library to read up on both locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruin Steve Posted September 17, 2014 #8 Share Posted September 17, 2014 September? Hurricane season in Miami...Fall foilage in Montreal... No brainer...Montreal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SensFan11 Posted September 17, 2014 #9 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I agree. Montreal is beautiful in September - fall weather, but not yet cold (think sweater or light jacket)...but it's not yet winter, which means you don't yet have to worry about snow and snow-related flight delays. Montreal also, as mentioned, has great views right in the city from Mount Royal, where the changing colours of the leaves will be breathtaking if you've never seen that before. Miami - definitely better as a beach destination, and better shopping, but there is the chance a hurricane could cause a major crimp in your plans. One other consideration - what are your flight plans? If you have to go through Europe, Montreal will give you shorter flights for both legs. I know there's nonstop flights from Vancouver to Montreal - to get from Vancouver to Miami, you need to connect. And one more thing...Vancouver to Montreal is a domestic flight, so you avoid going through US customs again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted September 17, 2014 Author #10 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Well, I guess my mind is made up for me by people who know much better than I can ever know by doing any amount of reading... I thank you all sincerely for taking the trouble to respond to my plea... SensFan11, Bruin Steve and Mapleleaves... Thanx again. Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittercat85 Posted September 18, 2014 #11 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Just wanted to say another vote for Montreal, though it seems you may be headed that way based on the comments. Great time of year to visit, will be cool but probably won't be any issue after returning from Alaska. They do speak a fair amount of English in Montreal... you won't be completely stuck if you don't know French. (it's the outlying areas and in Quebec City you have more issues with language) Montreal is a beautiful city. Visit down near the Vieux Porte... old city... absolutely beautiful. One of the places you'll feel closest to being in Europe while still in North America. Good luck with your planning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted September 18, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted September 18, 2014 dear Kittercat85, I really do appreciate your comment... and we are now excited to visit Montreal... Can you maybe suggest a reasonable hotel in a good location for us to see the beautiful sights in Montreal ? Thanx again. Jasjas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleaves Posted September 18, 2014 #13 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Well, I guess my mind is made up for me by people who know much better than I can ever know by doing any amount of reading... A little reading will provide information on all the sights and activities available to you in Montreal. I think research is half the fun .... the excitement builds as you learn more about your destination. :) Lots of info available on-line. ie the city web site http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/ Or use tripadvisor. Look at the Top Questions section and read trip reports. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g155032-i51-Montreal_Quebec.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted September 18, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Thanx for the links...I will certainly do some research... I will still appreciate suggestions for affordable hotels ? Thank you. Jasjas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted September 18, 2014 #15 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Actual numbers do wonders for helping focus answers - what's affordable/reasonable to me may be a ghastly fleapit or a veritable palace to you... That said, when budget is our primary concern on a Montreal trip we've found that the Springhill Suites offers a clean environment, free brekky, and great location for the old town/port area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMSDingy Posted October 14, 2014 #16 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Expect the unexpected in Montreal. Today October 14th its a balmy 24 C or 75 F outside!:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow cat Posted October 15, 2014 #17 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I love both cities but agree wholeheartedly with all the posters above. Montreal is a beautiful city - last time we stayed in the Vieux-Port area. Flying Vanc to Montreal - easy. Flying Vanc to Miami - takes all day due to connections required. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted October 15, 2014 Author #18 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Thanx Snow cat... my mind is made up... It will be Montreal. I'm looking for a suitable affordabbe hotel for 2 ladies in our mid-sities... ? Counting the days... Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberCascades Posted October 15, 2014 #19 Share Posted October 15, 2014 The only time I ever stayed in downtown Montreal we stayed at the Cantlie Hotel. My husband used to stay there for business. It's an older hotel but very nice service and easy to walk everywhere. Very safe area. There were other hotels in that neighbourhood, but I don't remember what they were. www.hotelcantlie.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted October 16, 2014 Author #20 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Thank you, AmberCascades...it looks like a BEAUTIFUL hotel... I will most certainly consider it. Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyOfSix Posted November 4, 2014 #21 Share Posted November 4, 2014 It's a very personal choice. I suggest you keep doing research to find out what you would prefer. For me, I would do Miami by a landslide. I've been to both. Montreal will have a few historic sites that are worth visiting, but otherwise its not a whole lot different from any other major Canadian city ... speaking in very broad brush strokes. Miami, on the other hand, is a very stark contrast to Vancouver. Goodbye firs and cedars, hello palm trees. Goodbye grey skies and rain jackets, hello sunshine and t-shirts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasjas Posted November 5, 2014 Author #22 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Hallo FamilyOfSix, Thanx for your input...We have decided to do neither of the 2 cities, but to spend the remaining 3 days in Vancouver and Victoria and then see Miami in two years time when we will do a Caribbean cruise. Sincerely. Jasjas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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