[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference kaosws::canada

Title:True North Strong & Free
Notice:Introduction in Note 535, For Sale/Wanted in 524
Moderator:POLAR::RICHARDSON
Created:Fri Jun 19 1987
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1040
Total number of notes:13668

269.0. "Toronto, Montreal or Quebec?" by FRECKL::HUTCHINS (Wheeere's that Smith Corona?) Mon Feb 19 1990 09:15

    Bienvenue!
    
    My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon, and we'd like to find out
    more about Toronto, Montreal and Quebec.  We'd be travelling from the
    Boston area at the end of September.
    
    - Is there train service between Boston and the 3 areas, or is it
      easier to fly?
    
    - We're looking for a place where we could just relax for a couple
      of days, then set out for interesting museums and other sites?
      (We're both artists, so we appreciate *good* museums!)  What
      about theatre and music?
    
    - How expensive are the 3 areas?  (We'll be staying about 10 days.)
    
    Other than personal experience, what other sources have information on
    these 3 areas? (AAA, etc.)
    
    Thanks for your help!
    Judi
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
269.1COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertMon Feb 19 1990 12:0121
You can fly to Toronto or Montreal from Boston.  There is no reasonable air
connection to Quebec City; last two times I tried it was cheaper to go to
England than to Quebec City because it requires using two different airlines,
completely destroying the possibility of any cheap fares.

Forget about train service.  Remember that Boston only has rail service to
New York, plus one train each day to Chicago via Albany.  There are only two
trains a day between Montreal and the U.S.; one operating via Albany; the
other operating via New Haven.

Your only options involve overnight trips taking in excess of eighteen hours
in each direction and requiring a train change at an ungodly hour.

If you _really_ love trains and want to spend the money for the overnight
accomodation (much more than you'll spend to fly plus a night in a hotel),
you can go for it, but you'll spend a lot of time waiting for your connection
in somewhere like New Haven, Albany, New York City.  In the case of Toronto,
your connection will be in Buffalo or Detroit and will (I think) involve a
short bus journey.

/john
269.2Oh boy, the Buffalo train stationFRECKL::HUTCHINSWheeere's that Smith Corona?Mon Feb 19 1990 13:0712
    re .1
    
    Thanks for the info!  Sounds like those trains go through some real
    garden spots.  Somehow a honeymoon in the Buffalo train station doesn't
    really tickle my fancy!
    
    Now that my transportation questions have been answered, what are
    people's opinions about the 3 cities?
    
    Thanks!
    Judi
269.3Why not both?KAOO01::LAPLANTETue Feb 20 1990 07:4416
    
    If you are planning on spending ten days, why not spend half in
    Montreal and  half in Toronto. The cities are really different in
    character, yet both have excellent museums, art galleries, places
    to visit, nightlife etc.
    
    It would be easy to fly from Boston to either city, then take a
    train from one to the other (approx 4-5hrs) and get to see some
    of the countryside in between. Then fly home from the other.
    
    There are other notes in here that give details about both cities,
    and I am sure people will put there recommendations in here as well.
    
    Come and enjoy the people and the country.
    
    Roger
269.4COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Feb 20 1990 11:0012
You may run into the two airline problem trying to get a cheap fare if you
fly the open jaw suggested in .3.

Boston Montreal is served almost exclusively by Delta, although there is
one Air Alliance prop flight each day which might qualify for Air Canada fares.

Boston Toronto is served by Air Canada and US Air.

It may be cheaper to fly round trip to Montreal, and then fly round trip
Montreal-Toronto.

/john
269.5MQOFS::DESROSIERSLets procrastinate....tomorrowWed Feb 28 1990 16:1510
    Don't shun Qu�bec, it has the charm of the old world, and good museums
    too.
    
    Why not drive to Montr�al (aprox 5-6 hours or less if you wear big
    shoes), then to Qu�bec (aprox 2-3 hours) and then fly to Toronto if you
    absolutely MUST see the grand canal, $90 one way by Intair.
    
    
    Jean
269.6Time warp?FRECKL::HUTCHINSWheeere's that Smith Corona?Thu Mar 01 1990 08:158
    re .5
    
    Where is your starting point?  I *know* that it takes more than 5 hours
    to drive to Montreal from Boston!
    
    Thanks for the info!
    Judi
269.7MQOFS::DESROSIERSLets procrastinate....tomorrowMon Mar 05 1990 11:035
    From Montr�al to Bedford Ma. (BUO) about 5 hours, return I did in 4.5
    once coming up route 93 and across 10 in Qu�bec.
    
    Jean
269.8The old Burlington route is slower and longerCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertMon May 14 1990 17:2211
Now that the highway through the notch is finished, any driver can make it from
the north side of Boston to Montreal in just a bit over five hours.

This weekend I used the route through the notch and was able to easily make it
to Montr�al from the ZKO parking lot in 4.5 hours plus stops.

Starting from ZK (NH/Mass line), I used the route up the F.E. Everett turnpike
to 93 to 91 to 55 to 10.  I do not own a radar detector, and I used my cruise
control to keep my speed less than five miles above the speed limits.

/john