Joseph Ponton Costumes (http://www.pontoncostumes.com)
Joseph Ponton has rental costumes from $35 to $150 (price covers a full weekend). Located in Old Montreal, Joseph Ponton has been in the costume business since 1865. It is the oldest and largest costume shop in Quebec and one of the top Montreal costume shops. They offer more than 15,000 costumes for kids and adults with a well known period costume section. They provide tailoring and accept custom-made requests.

L’Entrepôt de Halloween (https://www.facebook.com/pages/LEntrepot-de-Halloween/198454136887782)
L’Entrepôt has purchase only costumes from $20 to $90. Having now been in business for 20 years, L’Entrepôt was Montreal’s first costume shop dedicated to Halloween products. Their inventory includes costumes, make up, wigs, decorations, and numerous costumes. Place custom orders at least two weeks before Halloween. They are only open seasonally from mid-September to Halloween.

Chapeaux de la Chaudière (http://www.chapeaux-chaudiere.com)
Rentals only from $22 to $62 for a one day rental. The second day of a rental is half price, and the third day is free. Chapeaux features period costumes and hats from the 30s through the 70s. They have a selection of costumes and accessories for additional periods and themes, too. Besides being a costume rental shop, Chapeaux also sells used adult and children’s clothing. Open by appointment only.

Maison du Costume Johnny Brown (http://www.johnnybrowninc.com/)
Johnny Brown has rentals from $25 to $100 and for purchase costumes from $50 to $80. Johnny Brown offers 900 for sale costumes for 450 rental costumes on their web site. These costumes include everything from period to theme costumes. They also sell accessories, dance shoes, and makeup.

Boutique Moulin Rose (http://www.boutiquemoulinrose.com/)
Moulin Rose offers purchase costumes only from $50 to $150. One of Montreal’s newest costume stores, Moulin Rose offers hundreds of men’s and women’s costumes as well as wigs, footwear, a wide variety of Venetian masks, and colored contact lenses.

Malabar (http://www.malabar.ca/)
Malabar offers purchase only costumes from $25 to $150. Contact the store for rental prices. Malabar has been selling costumes since 1905. They have a wide variety of themes available. Rental prices include wigs, accessories, and alterations.

First things first. Montreal can be said to shine at this time of year, in physical terms, due to an extension of the fall colors most have come to expect from New England and the Canadian Maritimes. Check out the fall foliage as you come into the city, and you won’t be disappointed there.

Now, what to do and where to go? The most general celebration in town, suitable for both adults and accompanied children, is the Fright Fest at La Ronde (a Six Flags amusement park), where the familiar theme park format becomes a showcase for seasonal thrills and chills.

Another all-ages activity is the Fantomes de Montreal ghost walk. You’ll never look at Old Montreal the same way again, and all participants will pick up a healthy dose of city history as well.

A free event, again held each year in the city, is the Zombie Walk, where you’ll be able to watch or even join a parade. This will delight old and young alike, and in some ways it is clearly reminiscent of Francophile celebrations in other North American cities, most notably New Orleans. Routes will be announced each year in advance.

And in the weeks leading up to the fateful date, it would be worth your time to investigate the number of labyrinths, mazes, haunted houses, and even pumpkin/farm-oriented events throughout (the Old Port, the Montreal Botanical Garden, and McMaze come to mind, though the specifics are far too numerous to list here).

Night events for Halloween are equally profuse, and adult fun is never neglected in Montreal. From the largest Rocky Horror Picture Show event in North America to La Maudite Halloween, an annual costume ball at the Theatre Plaza, you’ll be able to find precisely the right event to match your seasonal desires and energies. Other noteworthy events include the Grande Masquerade on Place Jacques-Cartier Square, the Halloween Howler Club Crawl (complete with bus!), and a slew of private club affairs, complete with featured DJ’s and other musical entertainments to suit every taste from Jazz to Electronica and House Music.

Searching for these events each year will also be a relatively simple matter: not only does the local paper “The Mirror” offer relevant cultural and entertainment listings throughout the year, in print and online, there are also weekly and monthly papers to be had in many club venues throughout Montreal’s central districts.

Go, and enjoy! Montreal has plenty to offer for Halloween.

COMMUTING

STM mobile (iPhone)
Provides the STM bus schedule and routes; plus the timetable of Montreal’s metro stations, connecting buses and trains.

Taxi Québec (iPhone)
A phone dialer of taxi services in Quebec. FREE.

Trafficnet (iPhone)
Provides highway traffic reports of several Canadian cities. FREE.

Transport Montreal (Android)
Lists Montreal’s public transportation schedule (bus, subway and train) offline. Maps of metro and train routes are also available. FREE.

Traffic Montreal (Android)
Allows drivers to choose the best course of travel by accessing traffic conditions through road cameras in Montreal.

BestParking (Android)
Helps identify the cheapest parking service in your vicinity. Covers 30 major cities and 79 airports (including Montreal). FREE.

Montreal Bixi (Android) and Spotcycle (Android)
Bixi is a bike sharing city system very popular in Montreal. These apps let you find locations of Bixi bike racks and how many numbers of bikes or free spots are available. Spotcycle also supports other cities like Melbourne (Australia), Minneapolis (USA) and London (UK). FREE.

ACCOMMODATION

HotelsbyMe (iPhone)
Listing 120,000+ hotels worldwide. Users have access to customer support 24/7 too. FREE.

Hotel Finder (Android)
Features more than 100 hotels in Montreal and also, various places of accommodation worldwide. FREE.

ENTERTAINMENT 

La Vitrine (iPhone)
An electronic cultural calendar containing extensive entertainment info and even direct links for purchasing tickets. FREE.

Party@Montreal (iPhone)
All you need to know about Montreal’s night life. FREE.

BlackBook City Guide (Android)
Contains a comprehensive list of prominent restaurants, hotels and hotspots in Montreal as well as other international cities. FREE.

SIGHTSEEING / TOURISM

Montreal “At A Glance” City Guide (iPhone)
Recommends different sights and services nearest to you. FREE.

Montreal Map and Walking Tours (iPhone)
The light version of walking tours in Montreal (with map). FREE.

Montreal Museums (Android)
Supplies the description, location and even turn-by-turn directions to different museums in Montreal. FREE.

Montreal Travel Guide Triposo (Android)
An all-in-one guide featuring different places of interest and restaurants in Montreal. Recommendations for day trips and an offline map of the city are also included. FREE.

WEATHER & NEWS

Atmosphérique (iPhone)
The electronic weatherman every traveler needs. (Available in English or French; Fahrenheit, Celsius or Kelvin.) FREE.

Cyberpresse (iPhone)
Read the local paper while you’re in town! This mobile media comes with great interface too. (French only.) FREE.

Celinium Weather Montreal, Qc. (Android)
Reports the current weather in addition to other meteorological conditions (temperature, sunshine duration etc.). Also features a one-week weather forecast and special alerts of extreme weather. FREE.

AG Canadian Newspapers (Android)
A combination of main Canadian papers – Montreal Gazette, 24 Heures Montreal, Le Journal de Montreal – and important international papers. FREE.

Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list. For more apps listings, go to http://www.apple.com/ca/iphone/apps-for-iphone/ or https://market.android.com/ .

Quartier du Musee
The Museum Quarter obviously drew its name from the renown Montreal Museum of Fine Arts located on Sherbrooke Street West. Made up of three majestic pavilions, it is the largest museum in Montreal, showcasing 40,000 pieces of art. However, that is not the only attraction here. Tourists can also visit the many art galleries, boutiques and fancy restaurants in the district while enjoying the rich architecture lining the streets.

Quartier des Spectacles
Home to 30 performance halls and host to various international festivals and events, the Quartier des Spectacles is virtually an arts-and-culture paradise. Must-sees include the Monument Nationale, the Metropolis concert hall, the Montreal Contemporary Art Museum and the Place-des-Arts (a multipurpose cultural complex dedicated to promoting both performing and visual arts).

Quartier International de Montreal
Discover the urban side of downtown Montreal in this quarter. Landmarks include the Palais des Congres, an international convention centre featuring modern designs; and two beautiful public squares that serve as popular lunch spots for the locals. The Victoria Square is marked by a statue of Queen Victoria within its grounds, whereas the Place Jean Paul Riopelle proudly displays an elaborate fountain christened La Joute.

Quartier Chinois
Better known as Chinatown, this commercial area is rich in Oriental customs and traditions. Check out the variety of Asian wares, medicinal services and authentic Chinese dishes available. Not only is this place a major tourist attraction, it also serves as a gathering place for the local Chinese community to celebrate their native festivals.

Underground City
The largest underground complex in the world, Montreal’s Underground City was designed to shelter its residents from harsh weather during the winter and summer months. Within this pedestrian network, seven metro stations, two commuter train stations, numerous shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, apartments, university buildings, museums, commercial buildings and banks all link together to form a massive labyrinth.

Well, there you have it – great sights in downtown Montreal.  So what are you waiting for? Start packing your bags, Montreal awaits you!

Healthcare

If your physical well-being is compromised while you are away from home, you’d want a plan that covers all expenses incurred by medical attention, emergency assistance, ambulance service, hospitalization and repatriation. And make sure your insurance company will take care of the costs directly – you don’t want the hassle of having to fork out the money first and then requesting for a reimbursement later.

Trip Cancellation/ Interruption

Should unforeseen circumstances or natural disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis force you to revise your travel plans, an efficient insurance agent will see to it that your financial interests are fully protected. Get a policy that covers cancellation fees plus any extra costs of a curtailed/ delayed trip. Some companies will even assist you in filing a claim with your travel agent if you’re eligible for a refund.

Personal Belongings

Nothing ruins a trip more than losing your private possessions in a foreign place. Baggage delay, theft or vandalism can result in permanent or temporary loss of important items like money and/or legal documents. If you’re ever caught in such a frustrating situation, having first-class coverage is priceless ‘cos you’d need a lot of help getting your credit cards replaced and new official documents issued speedily.

Accident / Death

Most people would buy a plan that provides adequate compensation in the event of an accident or death. But what happens when you’re the cause of the accident or a legal dispute? A comprehensive plan that also gives you civil liability coverage and proper legal advice can protect you better if you’re ever in trouble away from home.

Whether you are an international tourist visiting Montreal, or a Montrealer on the go, do not overlook the importance of sufficient insurance coverage. When things go wrong (and they sometimes will), you’ll be really glad you invested in a good policy.

Aérobus

The Aerobus shuttle runs hourly in both directions but doubles its frequency between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 45 minute trip to the Central Bus Station costs $16 (one way) or $26 (return) as of June, 2011  (from there, you can take the free shuttle to most major hotels downtown.) Tickets are available at the Aérobus counter in the airport or at the Central Bus Station. See : Timetable Montréal to Airport Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau .

747 Express Bus

Travelling on a budget? Take the 747 to central Montreal for $8 only! What’s more, the one-way ticket is also valid for all metro and bus services within the next 24 hours! The 747 makes several stops downtown and ends at the Berri-UQAM métro station. Buses are available every hour from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. and run every 12 minutes throughout the rest of the day. Tickets can be purchased on the bus (coins only) or at the airport arrivals level. And if you have a 1 or 3-day tourist travel pass, just hop on for free! See : 747 Express bus .

Taxi/Limousine

At a higher rate than above (around $40 by taxi or $50 by limousine), you can enjoy a hassle-free, 35 – 40 minute ride to the city centre. However, be prepared to pay more if you are travelling during public holidays or late at night. You are also expected to leave a 15% tip. This option is great for people travelling in small groups or those with heavy luggage.

Car

Using the main highway 20 will get you downtown in 15 -20 minutes. However, if the roads are terribly congested, you might want to consider taking the 520 and then the 13 though it is quite a long way round. And just so you know, if you’re renting a car, it is cheaper to take a taxi to central Montreal first, and then renting from a dealer in town.

Whichever mode of transport you choose to take, remember: travelling is also part of your journey so have fun while in transit!

* Travel time is subject to traffic and roadwork. Rush hour in Montreal is 6:30 am – 9 am, and 3:30 pm – 6 pm.

Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Go on a quick, two hour excursion round Montreal or make full use of the one-day ticket and plan your own travel itinerary. The beauty of this tour is that passengers can hop on/off at any stop to explore the sights at their own pace. Tourist attractions along the bus route include Notre Dame Basillica, Chinatown, St. Josephs Oratory and Mount Royal Park.

Walking Tour

Take in the rich architecture and culture of Montreal as you walk down its streets. Plateau Mont-Royal, downtown and Gay Village are some of the best spots to go sightseeing on foot, whereas “The Old Montreal Ghost Walking Tour” would certainly appeal to teenagers. Unfortunately, the success of your trip is largely subject to weather conditions and you do need quite a bit of stamina.

Biking Tour

Cycling offers you the same amount of freedom as walking does, plus you’ll be able to cover more of the city in less time! Opt for a guided bike tour or try out Montreal’s BIXI public bike service which offers more than 5000 bicycles over a network of 400 stations.

Water Tour

Take a ferry ride along the scenic St Lawrence River during the day, or go for an elegant dinner cruise at night. For the adventurous at heart, the rafting and jet-boating activities on St Lawrence’s Lachine Rapids are a must.

Calèche Tour

Children would love the enchanted horse-drawn carriage tour around old Montreal. Available all year round, it is a unique way to discover the sights and smells of this part of town.

Amphibus Tour

Enjoy the ride of a lifetime as your air-conditioned amphibus (bus-cum-boat) cruises through old Montreal before plunging into the St Lawrence River on a one hour commented tour. Prices are a bit steep though.

Each of the above tours helps you to experience Montreal in a totally different way. So don’t just take one tour, go for all the available tours to truly get to know this vibrant Canadian city!

First of all, pay close attention to the road signs. Most streets are one-way only and can be identified by distinct arrow signs showing the direction of traffic. Though most signs are in French, don’t worry as they are actually rather similar to English: est (east), ouest (west), sud (south) and nord (north). Also remember that in Quebec, military time applies. For instance, 5 a.m. is denoted as 5h00 whereas 5 p.m. would be 17h00.

Another tricky part about driving in Montreal is that you need to ‘decode’ the traffic lights. It is important to know that there is no right turn on red allowed on the Island of Montreal. No right on red simply means that you are not supposed to make a right turn even though the road is clear. A green straight arrow means you can go straight only; and a flashing green light indicates that you can go in any direction, left, right or straight. If in doubt, just remember that the pedestrian always has the right of way.

The downside to driving in Montreal is that the road conditions are terrible and that parking can be ridiculously expensive in some places. Many roads are peppered with potholes and traffic jams are a frequent occurrence though they don’t usually last very long. While you can’t do much to change the state of roads, you can avoid parking woes by scouting for a decent parking spot at montreal.bestparking.com before heading out.

One last thing — if you’re making a trip to Montreal during the summer, note that many roads will be closed to make way for carnivals, street bazaars and events like the Festival des Arts, the Jazz Festival or the fireworks competition. So always check out which roads are accessible well ahead of time to avoid frustration.

Driving in an unfamiliar town may be a challenge but it doesn’t have to be a pain. Just be observant on the road, plan your route carefully, and you’ll surely enjoy your visit to Montreal.

During the Montreal annual parade, one can see beautiful floats, dancing irish bands and groups representing the Irish community. Irish pubs are usually quite crowed during Saint Patrick’s day…

2011 Montreal St Patrick Parade : Sunday 20th, 2011, at Noon, Corner Saint-Catherine & Fort.

Irish Saint Patrick day is famous for

• the color green (you should wear green cloths for the day, the beers will even turn green in the pubs too…)
• irish clover
• leprechauns (Irish legendary man with a green coat)
• traditional irish dances
• celtic music

Some famous Irish imported beers

• Guinness
• Murphy’s
• Smithwick’s

Montreal downtown Irish pubs

• Hurley’s Irish Pub
  1225 Crescent Street
• Ye Olde Orchard Pub
  3 locations :
  5563, av de Monkland ; 1189, de la Montagne ; 20 Rue Prince-Arthur O
• McKibbins Irish Pub
  2 locations : 1426 Bishop St. – 3515 St. Laurent
• McLean’s Pub
  1210 Rue Peel
• O Regans Irish Pub
  1224 Bishop St
• Irish Embassy Pub
  1234 Bishop St
• Le Vieux Dublin Pub
  636 Rue Cathcart