Language School

Why Study English in Montreal?

Montreal is an exciting, cosmopolitan city with a European flavour. There's always lots to do - museums, concerts, festivals, amusement parks, sporting events, etc… Enjoy great shopping, restaurants, cafes, and a vibrant nightlife. Montreal is a safe and friendly city with excellent public transportation. Montreal is a bilingual city - practice both English and French!

Currency

Canadian dollar Canadian currency comes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar bills. There are coins for $2, $1, 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 1 cent. Approximately:

Currency converter

It is best to change money at companies such as Thomas Cook, which specializes in international transactions. If you can't find a money exchange office or booth, try a bank. Credit cards are widely accepted, especially VISA, MasterCard and American Express.

Emergency

For emergencies, pick up any phone and dial 911

Montreal Highlights

There is something for everyone in Montreal! Some places of interest are:

• Old Montreal and the Old Port Botanical Gardens
• St Joseph's Oratory
• Eglise Notre Dame
• Museums: art, history, culture
• Festivals: music, film, comedy, culture
• Cirque du Soleil
• Montreal Symphony Orchestra
• Film Festivals: World, Jewish
• Jet Boating on the Lachine Rapids
• IMAX
• Montreal Casino
• Amusement parks

For a calendar of events, visit www.montreal.com or www.montreaplus.ca

www.studyinmontreal.info

To learn more about Quebec, visit "Bonjour, Quebec!"

Store Hours

Most stores are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sunday to Wednesday, with later hours (until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays) Convenience stores are open later hours (often until midnight), as are many grocery stores and pharmacies

Taxes

A 6% Goods and Services Tax (known as GST or TPS) is applicable to all transport, accomodation, restaurant meals and just about anything else you're likely to purchase.

On top of this, a Quebec Sales Tax (known as PST or TVQ) of 7.5 % must also be paid.

Telephone

It costs $0.25 to place a call Phone numbers are made up of a 3 digit area code and a 7 digit phone number. For example: (514) 744-7897

The area code for the island of Montreal is 514 International calling cards are sold at many stores, including the shops in the metro stations.

The rates are normally posted - be sure to compare prices!!!

Tipping

It is considered normal to tip waiters 10% to 15% of the total bill in restaurants (a good trick is to pay the total of the 2 taxes: GST and PST) Tips of one to two dollars are usually given to cab drivers, hairdressers, hotel attendants and bar staff

Transportation in Montreal

The public transit system (STM) in Montreal is safe and efficient. The Montreal metro has 5 lines. You must use the front door when you get on a bus. pay the driver in exact change, show your pass, or use one bus/metro ticket

Transfers

If you pay a bus driver (or use a ticket), he/she will give you a transfer, which you can later use on the metro (within 1.5 hours). At the metro stations, you can obtain a transfer from the automatic Billet de correspondance machines. Take a transfer from the metro station you are departing from if you plan on taking a bus from your destination metro station.

Cash fare:

$2.50 Six ticket strip: $11 CAM Hebdo: Sold only from Saturday to Tuesday, this weekly bus/metro pass (valid Monday through Sunday) can be purchased for $18 at any metro station

CAM Mensuel: Monthly bus/metro pass - can be purchased for $59 at any metro station and at most pharmacies and convenience stores (cheaper for students under certain conditions)

• Line 1 (Green): Lionel-Groulx, Atwater, Guy-Concordia, Peel, McGill, Place des Arts, Saint-Laurent, Berri-UQAM, Pie-IX, Viau, Radisson
• Line 2 (Orange): Snowdon, Lionel-Groulx, Lucien-L'Allier, Bonaventure, Square-Victoria, Place d'Armes, Champs-de-Mars, Berri-UQAM, Sherbrooke, Mont-Royal, Jean Talon
• Line 4 (Yellow): Berri-UQAM, Longueuil
• Line 5 (Blue): Snowdon, Cote-des-Neiges, Jean Talon

Taxis/Cabs

It is safe to hail a taxi on the streets of Montreal. To do this, extend your arm and wave at a cab that is coming in your direction If the light on the taxi roof is on, the cab is available. If it is off, the cab is not available. You must open the cab door yourself; it will not open automatically. Sometimes, you will see many taxis parked in a row on a street. This is a taxi stand. These drivers are not off-duty. Go to the first taxi in line. Once you sit in a cab, the driver will turn on the meter. It will cost you an initial $2.50 for the ride, plus $1.20 per kilometer. You must pay the driver. It is customary to leave a tip.

Legal Drinking Age

You must be at least 18 (eighteen) years old to purchase or drink alcohol in Quebec. The legal drinking age may differ in other provinces. Many bars and clubs will ask for photo identification at the front door. Most bars are open until 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. "After hours" clubs are open until early morning. Drinking and driving is not tolerated and can result in the driver losing his/her license and serving time in prison.