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[super79dave]

Can anyone provide me with some insight into the montreal F1.
Looking for recommended hotel info
How to get to and from the track
Things to see in montreal
Rental car or not to rental car
How is the track to get around?? Multiple entrances? Do you have to walk far for food drink etc....
Best seats

essentially can you just describe your complete montreal f1 experience. I gotta sell the wife still.

[madbrad]

Mrs madbrad and I have been twice, 98 and 06. Here are my observations for what they're worth:
If you stay in the heart of downtown, you don't need a car. The metro will get you there. Even if you drove to the island, you would still have a long walk. We drove to montreal but didn't use the car all weekend. Except in 98 when we stayed at a relative's home out in the suburbs and drove to the metro station.
Staying downtown adds to the party. Crescent street is THE F1 street! It's closed for the weekend and it's F1 party 24 hours all weekend. Exhibits, vendors, etc, and either on or near there you will find great restaurants. The hard rock is there, as is Newtown, which is JV's restaurant. It's hard to get in for dinner unless you book in advance but they have a lunch restaurant on the main level that's very nice. There's even an F1 paraphenalia store there yearound. In 06 BMW had a big playground with alot of activities and a little track with exhibitions etc.
So make sure you stay on or near Crescent street.
The hotels won't be cheap. A package might save a bit, and add convenience. Most people book their room for the next year as they are checking out.
Also there's a museum in the neighbourhood that happened to be free for some reason that week.
As for the track, I don't know whether you want to spend for the gold seats or what, but beware there are loges not shown on the diagram that block your view if you sit at the turn after the pit exit. The loges are to your right and block your view of the straight. The sales guy didn't know about it, but I later learned the year before all the spectators there sued over it. Most seats are goo, even cheap ones, but study the chart and ask the sales person on the phone alot of questions, and know where all the jumbotrons are before choosing. Bring alot of earplugs. there are dudes selling them for like a dollar each.
From just about anywhere at the track there's food within steps, but the golds are better for that. You might want to either plan or sit near real washrooms because the portolets are nasty, and there aren't enough of them.
There's an F1 village where the teams have their shops for the real team stuff, and there are fakes outside the grounds. All over the track there are canadian gp official vending tables too.
If you're rich then sit alongside the grid, you can't lose. Some people like the hairpin. You can see alot there.

[darwin dali]

Mrs madbrad and I have been twice, 98 and 06. Here are my observations for what they're worth:
If you stay in the heart of downtown, you don't need a car. The metro will get you there. Even if you drove to the island, you would still have a long walk. We drove to montreal but didn't use the car all weekend. Except in 98 when we stayed at a relative's home out in the suburbs and drove to the metro station.
Staying downtown adds to the party. Crescent street is THE F1 street! It's closed for the weekend and it's F1 party 24 hours all weekend. Exhibits, vendors, etc, and either on or near there you will find great restaurants. The hard rock is there, as is Newtown, which is JV's restaurant. It's hard to get in for dinner unless you book in advance but they have a lunch restaurant on the main level that's very nice. There's even an F1 paraphenalia store there yearound. In 06 BMW had a big playground with alot of activities and a little track with exhibitions etc.
So make sure you stay on or near Crescent street.
The hotels won't be cheap. A package might save a bit, and add convenience. Most people book their room for the next year as they are checking out.
Also there's a museum in the neighbourhood that happened to be free for some reason that week.
As for the track, I don't know whether you want to spend for the gold seats or what, but beware there are loges not shown on the diagram that block your view if you sit at the turn after the pit exit. The loges are to your right and block your view of the straight. The sales guy didn't know about it, but I later learned the year before all the spectators there sued over it. Most seats are goo, even cheap ones, but study the chart and ask the sales person on the phone alot of questions, and know where all the jumbotrons are before choosing. Bring alot of earplugs. there are dudes selling them for like a dollar each.
From just about anywhere at the track there's food within steps, but the golds are better for that. You might want to either plan or sit near real washrooms because the portolets are nasty, and there aren't enough of them.
There's an F1 village where the teams have their shops for the real team stuff, and there are fakes outside the grounds. All over the track there are canadian gp official vending tables too.
If you're rich then sit alongside the grid, you can't lose. Some people like the hairpin. You can see alot there.

Hairpin was good - and scary when RK crashed

[Rivelution]

I'm thinking about going to Montreal next year. Do a lot of people speak english, or should I start working on my French?

[darwin dali]

I'm thinking about going to Montreal next year. Do a lot of people speak english, or should I start working on my French?

You can get by with English, no problem. Maybe learn to read in French as most everything is signed in French.

[suitcase]

I'm thinking about going to Montreal next year. Do a lot of people speak english, or should I start working on my French?

You can get by with English, no problem. Maybe learn to read in French as most everything is signed in French.

My dad and I are thinking about it too. Thanks for the information

[madbrad]

Montreal is cosmopolitan. Right downtown, There are't even alot of french accents. You might be more likely to hear Italian than French.
The drivers in downtown Montreal are the worst in the world, so beware.

[suitcase]

Montreal is cosmopolitan. Right downtown, There are't even alot of french accents. You might be more likely to hear Italian than French.
The drivers in downtown Montreal are the worst in the world, so beware.

What do they do that is wrong?

[SCHUEYISDABEST]

Mrs madbrad and I have been twice, 98 and 06. Here are my observations for what they're worth:
If you stay in the heart of downtown, you don't need a car. The metro will get you there. Even if you drove to the island, you would still have a long walk. We drove to montreal but didn't use the car all weekend. Except in 98 when we stayed at a relative's home out in the suburbs and drove to the metro station.
Staying downtown adds to the party. Crescent street is THE F1 street! It's closed for the weekend and it's F1 party 24 hours all weekend. Exhibits, vendors, etc, and either on or near there you will find great restaurants. The hard rock is there, as is Newtown, which is JV's restaurant. It's hard to get in for dinner unless you book in advance but they have a lunch restaurant on the main level that's very nice. There's even an F1 paraphenalia store there yearound. In 06 BMW had a big playground with alot of activities and a little track with exhibitions etc.
So make sure you stay on or near Crescent street.
The hotels won't be cheap. A package might save a bit, and add convenience. Most people book their room for the next year as they are checking out.
Also there's a museum in the neighbourhood that happened to be free for some reason that week.
As for the track, I don't know whether you want to spend for the gold seats or what, but beware there are loges not shown on the diagram that block your view if you sit at the turn after the pit exit. The loges are to your right and block your view of the straight. The sales guy didn't know about it, but I later learned the year before all the spectators there sued over it. Most seats are goo, even cheap ones, but study the chart and ask the sales person on the phone alot of questions, and know where all the jumbotrons are before choosing. Bring alot of earplugs. there are dudes selling them for like a dollar each.
From just about anywhere at the track there's food within steps, but the golds are better for that. You might want to either plan or sit near real washrooms because the portolets are nasty, and there aren't enough of them.
There's an F1 village where the teams have their shops for the real team stuff, and there are fakes outside the grounds. All over the track there are canadian gp official vending tables too.
If you're rich then sit alongside the grid, you can't lose. Some people like the hairpin. You can see alot there.

That really is an excellant post, thank you for sharing it all!

[madbrad]

Montreal is cosmopolitan. Right downtown, There are't even alot of french accents. You might be more likely to hear Italian than French.
The drivers in downtown Montreal are the worst in the world, so beware.

What do they do that is wrong?

You sure ask alot of questions!
They are the worst drivers anwhere. They all ignore traffic signals, which means yes they are going through red lights and when they hit you they will ask why you got in their way, have no sense of lane usage or the lines between them, ignore stop signs, ignore pedestrians who do have right of way(causing montreal to also have the world's worst pedestrians too, because they must jaywalk to survive), cut each other off everywhere, drive on wrong side of road to get to the front of a traffic jam, want to merge into the front of a line and so use the shoulder to do so, stop in middle of road without warning to get out and buy smokes(all Quebecers smoke), turn from the far lane, need I go on?
In Quebec, it used to be illegal to turn right on a red light. A few years ago they changed that law to be in line with the rest of NA, that is make a full stop then you may proceed as ifit's a stop sign. Well, that law change had an exception. That exception is the main island of downtown Montreal. You still cannot turn right on a red there. When the press aske why, the reason given by the Quebec ministry of tranportation is that they don't know what would happen.

[suitcase]

Montreal is cosmopolitan. Right downtown, There are't even alot of french accents. You might be more likely to hear Italian than French.
The drivers in downtown Montreal are the worst in the world, so beware.

What do they do that is wrong?

You sure ask alot of questions!
They are the worst drivers anwhere. They all ignore traffic signals, which means yes they are going through red lights and when they hit you they will ask why you got in their way, have no sense of lane usage or the lines between them, ignore stop signs, ignore pedestrians who do have right of way(causing montreal to also have the world's worst pedestrians too, because they must jaywalk to survive), cut each other off everywhere, drive on wrong side of road to get to the front of a traffic jam, want to merge into the front of a line and so use the shoulder to do so, stop in middle of road without warning to get out and buy smokes(all Quebecers smoke), turn from the far lane, need I go on?
In Quebec, it used to be illegal to turn right on a red light. A few years ago they changed that law to be in line with the rest of NA, that is make a full stop then you may proceed as ifit's a stop sign. Well, that law change had an exception. That exception is the main island of downtown Montreal. You still cannot turn right on a red there. When the press aske why, the reason given by the Quebec ministry of tranportation is that they don't know what would happen.

I am an extremely curious person. It's pretty bad. I constantly ask questions.
That's horrible! Hopefully things change.