"They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, through Eden took their solitary way." -Book 12

Montréal-Mirabel is located 34 miles northeast of downtown and serves mostly charter flights.

Buses, limousines and taxis provide shuttle service downtown and to the Montréal hotels.
Aéroports de Montréal website

Note that airfares tend to fluctuate throughout the year. The Convergence VIII Montréal committee members intend to keep all attendees abreast of the best time to buy your ticket should you choose to travel to Montréal by plane.

Trains
The main railway terminal is le Gare Centrale (Central Station), which is located in the downtown area of the city and is connected to both the underground city and the Metro (subway) system. Via Rail provides rail service from all over Canada, which Amtrak serves the US customer.
Via Rail website
Amtrack website website

Bus
The central bus terminal is the Station Centrale d'Autobus de Montréal, located on rue de Maisonneuve and Berri in the downtown area of the city. This is located a few blocks from the Berri Métro (subway) station.
Greyhound Canada website
Greyhound in the US website
Voyageur in Ontario and Québec website

Car
From Toronto and the West:
Take 401 East which becomes 20 East in Québec
Take 40 East and get off at Exit 66-S: 15 South / Décarie (the exit is in the left lane)
On 15 South / Décarie, take Exit 64 (Sherbrooke St.)
At Sherbrooke St, turn left and continue for approximately 5 km (about 3 miles)
After University St, stay in the right lane. You will pass Union St and Aylmer St
Turn right onto City Councillors St.
The Delta is at the corner of City Councellors and Président Kennedy.

From New York:
Take 87 North (U.S.A)
Take 15 North (Canada)
Take 10 West onto Champlain Bridge
Keep right and follow signs to Exit 58 "Montréal"
10 West becomes University St
Stay on University St and turn right on Président-Kennedy Avenue

From Vermont and the South:
Take 87 North (U.S.A)
Take 133 North (Canada)
Take 35 North
Take 10 West onto Champlain Bridge, Keep right and follow signs to Exit 58 "Montréal Centre-Ville / Downtown"
10 West becomes University St
Stay on University St and turn right on Président-Kennedy Avenue

Note that there is also a Delta Montréal Downtown on University St. This is not the correct hotel. The official hotel is the Delta Montreal on Président Kennedy.

In the City

Most of the events being planned for Convergence in Montréal will be held in the downtown and Old Montréal areas, which are easily accessable by foot. However, for those who wish to explore more of what the city has to offer, public transportation is readily available.

Public Transit
The Société de Transport de la Communauté Urbane de Montréal runs a network of subway trains and buses that cover the entire city. A single fare for adults is $2 for a one-way trip. A one-day unlimited pass is $7CAN ($4.50US) or a three-day unlimited pass is $14CAN ($9US)

The subways shut down at 12:30am, however night busses run all night until it re-opens at 5:30am.
STCUM website

Taxi
Taxis are plentiful in downtown Montréal and can be reserved by phone or simply hailed on the street. Rates are; $2.50 to start, and $1.20/km.

Car
Car rental in Montréal starts at $19CAN/day. ($11US)

The main thing to remember about driving in Québec is that right turns are not permitted on red lights. Also Québec has mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists.

Metered parking is plentiful downtown and there are numerous private lots. Hotels generally offer reduced parking rates for guests.



Additional Information

Crossing the Border
Border guards in Québec tend to be a little more relaxed than in other parts of the country, but there are still some requirements for visitors into Canada.

Visitors from the USA will not require a passport, but are required produce proof of citizenship on demand. Although not a legal requirement, visitors may also be asked to produce proof of employment or school enrollment.

Legal proof of citizenship or permanent residence consists of a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, or certificate of naturalization. If you are a permanent resident of the United States (ie you have a Green Card) you should bring it.

More information for Americans and other visitors is available in the form of a downloadable pdf brochure from the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency.
website

Citizens of other countries require a passport and may require a visitor's visa. Countries that do not require a visa in order to visit Canada include Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. A full list is available from Canadian Citizen and Immigration.
website

It is worth mentioning that people who are travelling to Canada by a flight that requires landing in a third country are subject to the immigration rules of that country.

Importing and Exporting Goods
There are limits on the importation alcohol and tobacco for personal use. Each person in your party who is over 18 can bring in 40 ounces of liquor, or 24 12-oz cans of beer. Tobacco is limited to up to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, 200 grams of tobacco and 200 tobacco sticks.

Note that you can bring in more than that if you wish, but you will have to pay duty on it.

Handguns are not permitted and there are no carry permits in Canada. There are restrictions on the importation of certain kinds of foodstuffs, such as beef from the UK.

When leaving Canada there are restrictions on the exportation of certain goods such as endangered animal parts, fossils, and antiques that are classified as cultural artifacts. Special permits are required to export these items.

What citizens are allowed to import back into their country of residence is under the jurisdiction of their own customs departments. Visitors from the United States are allowed $400US worth of duty-free goods if they have been out of their country for 48 hours or more. This can include up to 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars, (excluding Cuban cigars) and 1 litre of alcohol.

Travel Mailing Lists
The room- and ride-share page is now available for those who wish to organize car pools or convoys.
website

A mailing list has been set up for those travelling from the UK.
website

A local mailing list has been set up for those travelling from the San Francisco Bay area.
website