Visiting Montreal for New Year's... please help (hotel, restaurants)

[Emilio-]

We are planning to drive up to Montreal during New Year's Weekend from Dec 30 to Jan 1.... what can you do for fun on New Year's Eve and watch fireworks etc. affordable?

Which great, affordable hotel do you recommend? We're 4 adults visiting for first time.

Will there be any terrible weather then? Hopefully not!

Another question - Will downtown and other places be empty due to cold weather, or it's still busy? We don't want dead city.

[Acajack]

Montreal is not a huge New Year's Eve city because, as mentioned in other posts here, Québécois tend to spend New Year's Eve with family. That's the tradition.

That said, this looks like it might be your best bet:
Old Montreal Extravaganza Festival

If you search on this site you will find a New Year's Eve outdoor ball on Place Jacques Cartier, which is the main square in the old part of the city. There is likely to be a decent-sized crowd and this part of the city is a pretty cool place to be during large-scale public events like this.

[Emilio-]

But where could you see fireworks? Where could we eat at evening restaurant?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Emilio-

But where could you see fireworks? Where could we eat at evening restaurant?

There are fireworks around midnight during the events I mentioned in my post. Also, this part of the city is full of restaurants.

[Habfanman]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Montreal is not a huge New Year's Eve city because, as mentioned in other posts here, Québécois tend to spend New Year's Eve with family. That's the tradition.

That said, this looks like it might be your best bet:
Old Montreal Extravaganza Festival

If you search on this site you will find a New Year's Eve outdoor ball on Place Jacques Cartier, which is the main square in the old part of the city. There is likely to be a decent-sized crowd and this part of the city is a pretty cool place to be during large-scale public events like this.

Au contraire Acajack, the clubs are slammed on NYE! And then there's Resolution, the massive rave held at the Bell every year (goes from 9 PM until 10 AM)


Tiesto Resolution 2009 Bell Center (Montreal) - YouTube

[Emilio-]

Originally Posted by Acajack

There are fireworks around midnight during the events I mentioned in my post. Also, this part of the city is full of restaurants.

Is that Old Town?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Habfanman

Au contraire Acajack, the clubs are slammed on NYE! And then there's Resolution, the massive rave held at the Bell every year (goes from 9 PM until 10 AM)


Tiesto Resolution 2009 Bell Center (Montreal) - YouTube

Cool! Happy to be proven wrong on this one!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Emilio-

Is that Old Town?

Yes. Look for signage for "Vieux-Montréal".

[Habfanman]

Originally Posted by Emilio-

But where could you see fireworks? Where could we eat at evening restaurant?

What Acajack says. Place Jacques-Cartier is great and the fireworks go off in the Old Port before your eyes. They play a lot of traditional Québécois music and everyone dances. You can go skating in the Old Port as well on Bassin Bonsecours. Bring your own champagne but be sure to try caribou, a mixture of red wine, whiskey, maple syrup and various spices. YUM! (it was originally made with caribou blood)

I'd recommend staying in Old Montreal, it's beautiful during the holidays and you'll be steps away from the action. Have fun!

Here's a video I made a couple of years ago. It was close to 2 AM and still going strong!


Happy New Year/Bonne Année Montréal 2009 - YouTube

This one is beautiful


Happy New Year From Montreal (2008) - YouTube