Visitor Accommodations in Montreal

Hotels, BnBs, Airbnb, etc.

Apologies for the brief hiatus. But the good news is that I am now physically back in Montreal! I have many issues in draft form but this one is top of mind because I myself am not staying in my own place, but in temp housing for the next week.

**But first, ICYMI, Foo Fighters just announced a last minute, special show at the Verdun Auditorium! Tickets go on sale Thursday June 29, at 10 am (via Ticketmaster, ugh)**

Now, back to business

With the (needed) crackdown on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals in Montreal, it can be a challenge to help visiting friends find a place to stay here when you don’t have room to put them up. Of course, there are hotels, but that is not an option that works for everyone and also means that friends are likely staying far from where you live, making spending time together more challenging. I do not have any magical solutions, but here are a few things that come to mind to explore.

Airbnb, VRBO, etc.

There are still quite a few short-term rentals that are legally licensed and available for rent in town. With fewer options, plans need to be made well in advance and options are restricted to certain areas and even streets in the city. They are more expensive than they used to be (scarcity and all), but they can be found. You can tell if they’re legit if they list their license number on the listing. This is no longer a good default option in Montreal.

Bed and Breakfasts, Auberges, etc.

There used to be so many gîtes (guesthouses) and auberges (inns) in town, but many have closed in the Airbnb era. And now what’s left can be really hit or miss and are hard to find. There are still some individually-owned and operated inns and guesthouses. I have a nice one in my neighbourhood and if you get to know the blocks around your home, you might have one too. Others like this can be hard to find. My default search engine for these types of places is Booking.com, but perhaps others have better ones for Montreal. Whenever I find a place here (because I am local) I try to visit ahead of time (or at least get the address). If they are hesitant at all, I move on to something else. I will begin accumulating a list of reputable places shortly. I have a few on there already. Looking for auberge or gîte in the name is more likely to lead you to these smaller boutique hotels and inns.

Hotels

Obviously, the most conventional option. I have my favourites for when friends come, but it is rather an individual choice. If they have kids, I steer them towards a hotel with an indoor pool. That is a real treat, especially in the winter months. If they are independent travellers, staying near a metro stop is great. If you are going to be picking them up and taking them around, I try to avoid Centre-Ville hotels in the heart of downtown. It’s the last place I want to drive. I also love to encourage visitors to stay in a more residential neighbourhood if possible. Friends have had great experiences in Laurier E (near the Parc), Latin Quarter, Outremont, and also near me in Cote des Neiges. It’s fun to feel like a local.

Corporate Apartment Rentals

I am struggling to come up with the catchall word for these. They are apartment buildings that have been converted for short-term stays. I am not entirely clear on their legal status, but they mostly seem to be legit (but not necessarily very nice). Some may be run by real estate moguls in town who have gobbled up many buildings and create cookie-cutter generic apartments or guest rooms. Sonder is another popular (international) company that offers a decent stay in a hybrid hotel-apartment at various locations across town.

Sabbatical Homes

If you have guests coming to town for a week or more, it might be worth considering checking out Sabbatical Homes. Anyone can get an account and Montreal is such a university town that there are many academic folks who put their places up even for short-term trips (especially over vacation times). I have had some good luck on here. Remember that these are people’s actual homes; do not expect a pristine rental or hotel. If your guests are not fully comfortable with that arrangement, look elsewhere.

Home Exchange

I think I may be saving the best for last. I joined Home Exchange last year and have stayed in 6 different places in 12 months and all have been stellar experiences. I have also had guests in our home and that too has gone very well. Originally, Home Exchange was a direct exchange system (I go to your place while you go to mine.) But a couple of years ago, they instituted a GuestPoints system that allows for someone to come to your house (or to your vacation home) while you’re away elsewhere and you can receive GP that can used at someone’s else Home Exchange home sometime later. So far, all of the people I have interacted with have been genuine, kind, and open and it is their actual homes that they are exchanging. This has made for very nice experiences and feels like what Airbnb’s peer-to-peer system could have been were it not for corporate greed. It does cost $175/year to be part of this network and you must be willing to list your home to be on there. There are a good number of Montreal homes on the site. Again, caveat— these are people’s homes. Full disclosure: if you join through this link, I receive Guestpoints for your enrolment.