Some availability updates

1. The apartment will be available during school vacation week, starting Monday April 26 through the following weekend.

2. It will be available any weekend in May and any time during the week.

3. I'll be away from June 22 through the 28th. The Jazz Festival starts on June 25 and runs through July 6. If someone's interest in taking the apartment for a longer stretch than a couple of days, I'm sure we can work out a reduced rate.

A Word about converting dollars into dollars.

Put simply: bring your ATM card and convert in Canada. According to Yahoo Finance, the US $ is currently worth $1.029. A friend of mine did a conversion at the Merchant's in Burlington on Friday and got exactly $1.00 for $1.00. I used my ATM in Montreal this morning and got $1.021 even after a $.007 fee. I've had similar bad luck at the Chittenden.

Facebook Page

The apartment has a Facebook page of its very own. If you're interested in being informed of updates to this blog, feel free to become a fan.

So why this place rather than a hotel?

Why rent my apartment rather than a hotel or B and B? A number of reasons. From the top:

1. I, quite simply, have the best location in the entire city, on a beautiful tree lined street in the Plateau between Parc LaFontaine and Ave du Mont-Royal. If you want the true flavor of the city, away from the tourist crowds of Vieux Montreal or the bustle of the cheesy stores and high rises of St. Catherine, you'll find it here.

2. You'll not only have room to spread out in my 800 square ft. flat, but it will be less expensive than a hotel or B and B. A three star hotel is currently selling for $77 on Hotwire, a four star $95. Add fees and you're at $95 or $115. Now add another $20 for parking and, if you desire, another $13 for Internet, and you're paying considerably more for a sterile, charm-challenged hotel room than you would a 1932 flat on a quiet street.

3. I've added a few amenities that I wouldn't have just for myself. There's cable TV in the place, including the Burlington channels. And there's a landline that includes unlimited calling the Canada and the US.

4. I've come to know Montreal quite well over the last few years and, if there's anything you want/need to know, I'm more than happy to share whatever information I can with you. I'm also leaving quite a few Montreal publications around the flat for you to enjoy and digest, including the latest edition of Sarah Musgrave's book, Resto A-G0-G0: 180 Cheap and Fun Places to Eat and Drink in Montreal, a printout of AJ Kinik's The One and Only AEB Montreal Food Guide, a copy of Cycling in Quebec, for those interested in riding this wonderful city, and a copy of the March 2007 issue of Gourment magazine, which featured Montreal.

Here are links to a couple of photo albums that I've posted on Facebook. The first is pictures of the flat itself, the second of restaurants on a four block stretch of Ave. du Mont-Royal between the flat and the nearest Metro stop.

The flat is now fully furnished and ready to share. While I'm planning to occupy it 10-12 nights a month, it's going to be available at least two weekends a month and even more often during the week. I'm quite flexible as to when I'm going to use it, so if you want it, just let me know.

So why the blog?

As you know, I've rented this flat in the Plateau section of Montreal, a lovely 4 1/2 (bedroom, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, bath is the 1/2) in a classic early 20th row house on a gorgeous tree lined street.

Some details about the location:

I'm less than 100 yards from Avenue du Mont-Royal, which runs from Parc Mont-Royal through the Plateau and is lined with shops and restaurants.

Rue Rachel is two blocks away and on Rue Rachel there is a bikepath that runs from Parc Mont-Royal all the way to the Botanical Gardens. From his bikepath, the rest of the city is easily accessed.

Parc LaFontaine is just across Rue Rachel. There is no lovelier park anywhere. Lots of trees ang green space, playgrounds, an open air theatre, a large pond, tennis courts, baseball fields, petanque courts, and more.

Rue Duluth is probably a 10 minute walk from the apartment across Parc LaFontaine. Rue Duluth is lined with "Apportez Votre Vins" bistros, some of the finest eateries in the city.

So why the blog? I'm only planning to occupy the place part time, some 10-12 nights a month, and am hoping/planning to rent it out to friends and neighbors a couple of weekends each month and as often as it is desired during the week to help offset the expense and share the space. I'll be asking $100 per night. That's either a little or a lot cheaper than a downtown or Old Montreal hotel, time of year dependent, when you consider tax and parking. (And some hotels charge for internet, if you use it.)

The place will be fully stocked, kitchen and linen cabinet. There will be cable, dvd player, land phone and wireless internet.

I'll be posting pictures and more pictures as time moves on. I'm hoping to take some shots along Avenue du Mont-Royal this afternoon. And I'll be posting more about why I think the Plateau is a much more desirable place to be than downtown or Old Montreal.

Food, Food, Food

Any good intro to Montreal should always begin with food. My favorite source of information is AJ Kinik's blog, An Endless Banquet. The A-Z listing down the left side of the page will lead you to Montreal's best restaurants and gourmet shops.

Now Michael Mulley has created an interactive map from AJ's listing. You can find it here.

Once I've signed the lease and furnished the place, I'll be offering it to friends and neighbors a couple of weekends a month and quite a few midweek days to help offset the rent. It will sure beat a hotel and the Plateau is the best neighborhood in town. The apartment is here (letter A near the top of the map):

Rue Rachel runs along the top of Parc Lafontaine. The Rue Rachel bikepath runs from Parc Mont-Royal to the Botanical Gardens. You can ride anywhere in the city from here.