Return to Montreal...some practical stuff

[+ newatthis]

Just returned from my first Montreal trip in 2 years.  It was exhilarating and I'm in a serious post-partum depression.  I hope to post details when I get a chance.

The travel process turned out to be very smooth, if somewhat time consuming.  It's important to follow the Canadian procedures carefully beforehand (see https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid) -- fully vaccinated, PCR test less than 72-hours before departure, use ArriveCAN (https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/privacy) to fill out questionnaires and upload documentation.   

Some things to know about ArriveCAN. You cannot complete the form more than 72 hours before departure.  If you work with the web form, you also cannot save what you've done and return to it later.   You can save stuff on the phone app (at least on Android), but that app kept hanging on me.   Leave a good 20-30 minutes to complete the process, which involves entering information about flights, passport, etc.,  explaining your quarantine plan (see below), and uploading documentation.

At the airport.  Because all  documentation is checked at the departure airport (no online boarding pass), leave lots of time...I arrived 2 hours early and waited an hour in line to check in.  (I was on Air Canada, but I'm pretty sure all airlines do the same.)

Arrival in Montreal.  The line to border control stretched from the arrival hall all the way back along the corridor halfway to gate 76,  but it moved very quickly to the top of the stairs.  The hall below was completely full, but I was able to bypass that and use the NEXUS kiosks once I hit the top of the stairs.   NEXUS holders still have to see a border control officer, but there were only 2 people ahead of me in line.  Questioning was what I remember from my pre-NEXUS days (why are you visiting?  do you know anyone here? and the like).  The border control officer examined my passport, typed some stuff into his computer, and put a blue dot on the back of my passport (there were other-colored dots he could have used).   When I handed in my NEXUS receipt at the customs check,  they asked to see my passport, looked at the blue dot, and shunted me to the far left lane,  which gave me direct entry into Canada.  From what I could see,  those with other-colored dots went into a clinic area where they were given a covid test (they do random testing on arriving tourists).  If you fail that test, you are required to quarantine, which is why ArriveCAN has you prepare a quarantine plan.

A friend who arrived a day after me faced much longer delays at the airport because a bunch of planes arrived simultaneously.

If you plan to take the 747 bus into the city, you should know that as of August 23, during the hours when the metro is running, the 747 goes only as far as Lionel-Groulx.

Returning to the US.  You must have a covid test no more than 72 hours before your departure back to the US.   This test can be a rapid antigenic test and is pricy (CAD$150).   I made an appointment before I left home (definitely recommended) with https://elnamedical.com/en/covid/ at their downtown location.  It was quick and efficient.  I had the result in my email in a little more than an hour.  Air Canada allowed me to upload my test result and check in online ahead of time, which made my departure very speedy (less than half an hour total from the time I got to the airport).  

It's quite possible that some of this will change as time goes on.  Towards the end of https://www.companyofmen.org/topic/119965-what-do-we-know-about-when-and-how-montreal-clubs-will-reopen/  there is some discussion of vaccination passports in Quebec, for example.

Happy travels!

 

Edited August 29, 2021 by newatthis
typo

[twinkboylover28]

Good God that sounds like so much work and so very time consuming. The 747 airport bus only goes to Lionel-Grouix? What's up with that? So returning to the airport we have to also take the metro to Lionel-Grouix to catch the 747 airport bus? What about all of us who aren't fortunate enough to have a NEXUS pass? And then the Quebec vaccination passports... Man, I was looking forward to spend a week in Montreal around Halloween but perhaps I will wait until next May 2022. Looks like so many things could go wrong at any moment on so many levels. Glad you had a good time with no hiccups. All of us are eager to hear about your adventures after 2 years...

[Alfstoria]

4 hours ago, newatthis said:

Just returned from my first Montreal trip in 2 years.  It was exhilarating and I'm in a serious post-partum depression.  I hope to post details when I get a chance.

The travel process turned out to be very smooth, if somewhat time consuming.  It's important to follow the Canadian procedures carefully beforehand (see https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid) -- fully vaccinated, PCR test less than 72-hours before departure, use ArriveCAN (https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/privacy) to fill out questionnaires and upload documentation.   

Some things to know about ArriveCAN. You cannot complete the form more than 72 hours before departure.  If you work with the web form, you also cannot save what you've done and return to it later.   You can save stuff on the phone app (at least on Android), but that app kept hanging on me.   Leave a good 20-30 minutes to complete the process, which involves entering information about flights, passport, etc.,  explaining your quarantine plan (see below), and uploading documentation.

At the airport.  Because all  documentation is checked at the departure airport (no online boarding pass), leave lots of time...I arrived 2 hours early and waited an hour in line to check in.  (I was on Air Canada, but I'm pretty sure all airlines do the same.)

Arrival in Montreal.  The line to border control stretched from the arrival hall all the way back along the corridor halfway to gate 76,  but it moved very quickly to the top of the stairs.  The hall below was completely full, but I was able to bypass that and use the NEXUS kiosks once I hit the top of the stairs.   NEXUS holders still have to see a border control officer, but there were only 2 people ahead of me in line.  Questioning was what I remember from my pre-NEXUS days (why are you visiting?  do you know anyone here? and the like).  The border control officer examined my passport, typed some stuff into his computer, and put a blue dot on the back of my passport (there were other-colored dots he could have used).   When I handed in my NEXUS receipt at the customs check,  they asked to see my passport, looked at the blue dot, and shunted me to the far left lane,  which gave me direct entry into Canada.  From what I could see,  those with other-colored dots went into a clinic area where they were given a covid test (they do random testing on arriving tourists).  If you fail that test, you are required to quarantine, which is why ArriveCAN has you prepare a quarantine plan.

A friend who arrived a day after me faced much longer delays at the airport because a bunch of planes arrived simultaneously.

If you plan to take the 747 bus into the city, you should know that as of August 23, during the hours when the metro is running, the 747 goes only as far as Lionel-Groulx.

Returning to the US.  You must have a covid test no more than 72 hours before your departure back to the US.   This test can be a rapid antigenic test and is pricy (CAD$150).   I made an appointment before I left home (definitely recommended) with https://elnamedical.com/en/covid/ at their downtown location.  It was quick and efficient.  I had the result in my email in a little more than an hour.  Air Canada allowed me to upload my test result and check in online ahead of time, which made my departure very speedy (less than half an hour total from the time I got to the airport).  

It's quite possible that some of this will change as time goes on.  Towards the end of https://www.companyofmen.org/topic/119965-what-do-we-know-about-when-and-how-montreal-clubs-will-reopen/  there is some discussion of vaccination passports in Quebec, for example.

Happy travels!

 

Thanks. Very helpful

[+ newatthis]

9 hours ago, twinkboylover28 said:

...that sounds like so much work and so very time consuming...

and worth every moment of it, believe me 😜

[brettnyc]

Very helpful info...but way too many hoops to jump through for me to even consider a trip now to Montreal.   

[SirBillybob]

I saw the 747 restriction (see screenshot) but went to STM trip planner trying a weekend and a weekday and all the stops are functioning, not just for outside subway hours. I called STM and rep said all is functioning. She could not find the same restriction I found on their site. I also could not find an equivalent page to screenshoot for downtown to YUL direction, so not sure whether L-G is the default embarking. She said things changed related to the pandemic on Aug 23rd, so it is perhaps now an outdated restriction. Sorry it’s still ambiguous. I’m a block from René-Levesque so I’ll sit with a coffee sometime this week for intel recon. 

Edited August 29, 2021 by SirBIllybob

[SirBillybob]

Can somebody in return please briefly relay whether this Nexus thing or an equivalent applies to a Canadian like me, making travelling easier, and what is the process? 

[Karl-G]

I guess I would start by going to their website.  Yes, you are eligible.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/application-demande-eng.html

[SirBillybob]

1 hour ago, Karl-G said:

I guess I would start by going to their website.  Yes, you are eligible.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/application-demande-eng.html

Oh, makes sense as neighbours and much mutual movement. I thought it might be international and ease return home. I don’t travel to USA. 

[jerryskater]

19 hours ago, newatthis said:

I hope to post details when I get a chance.

Would love to hear about Montreal.  Please post details of your trip.

Question: Can U.S. Global Entry be used at Nexus kiosks?

Thanks.

[corndog]

1 hour ago, jerryskater said:

Question: Can U.S. Global Entry be used at Nexus kiosks?

US Global Entry can be used to expedite your return to the US, but it isn't recognized for entry into Canada. Only the Nexus card will help you with that.

[twinkboylover28]

On 8/28/2021 at 10:45 PM, newatthis said:

 

The travel process turned out to be very smooth, if somewhat time consuming.  

Arrival in Montreal.  The line to border control stretched from the arrival hall all the way back along the corridor halfway to gate 76,  but it moved very quickly to the top of the stairs.  The hall below was completely full, but I was able to bypass that and use the NEXUS kiosks once I hit the top of the stairs.   NEXUS holders still have to see a border control officer, but there were only 2 people ahead of me in line.  Questioning was what I remember from my pre-NEXUS days (why are you visiting?  do you know anyone here? and the like).  The border control officer examined my passport, typed some stuff into his computer, and put a blue dot on the back of my passport (there were other-colored dots he could have used).   When I handed in my NEXUS receipt at the customs check,  they asked to see my passport, looked at the blue dot, and shunted me to the far left lane,  which gave me direct entry into Canada.  From what I could see,  those with other-colored dots went into a clinic area where they were given a covid test (they do random testing on arriving tourists).  If you fail that test, you are required to quarantine, which is why ArriveCAN has you prepare a quarantine plan.

A friend who arrived a day after me faced much longer delays at the airport because a bunch of planes arrived simultaneously.

If you plan to take the 747 bus into the city, you should know that as of August 23, during the hours when the metro is running, the 747 goes only as far as Lionel-Groulx.

 

 

 

On the first day they started accepting fully vaccinated Americans again, the line at Customs was more than 4 hours long! I hope it has improved since then.

 

https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/046282b8-f95e-11eb-8788-0242ac110007/?jwsource=cl

 

 

[Luv2play]

I was in Montreal this weekend for the first time in over a year and a half. I opted to stay downtown rather than the Village as the old Gouverneur Hotel is closed and undergoing renovations to reopen as a Hyatt. The scene downtown was very active with restaurants and bars fully opened and accepting Ontario vaccination receipts printed onto cellphones accompanied by a separate piece of ID like a drivers license. No problems anywhere. 

I hired escorts on both nights and they came to my hotel so didn't go to the Village except on Saturday afternoon. There were quite a few people on Ste Catherine and I stopped for a drink in an outdoor terrace as the weather was gorgeous the whole weekend from Friday on. I had as much fun downtown with my escort friends going out to restaurants and the choice of places to eat well was far greater.

I preferred not going to the stripper bars at this time as I am still avoiding crowded drinking establishments. Restaurants seem a better regulated environment with social distancing easier to maintain until further progress is made on the pandemic front. With the colder weather coming will have to see how things play out.

[alrajee]

Wanted to add my experience. I drove to Canada and stayed for three weeks there, half of it in MTL.

I drove from NYC. I was at the border for about 30 minutes in total. Negative PCR test, Covid-19 vaccination card (make sure to clarify that the J&J vaccine—which is what I got—is administered just once, unlike the three other accepted vaccines), passport, car search, and standard questions.

Montreal as a whole was quite lively the entire time I was there. There were salsa parties, outdoor movie nights, comedy shows, the lot. I had to designate a few days when I won't leave my apartment because it was getting to be too much. I want to make up for last year, sure, but going out every single night is not good.

You need to show your vaccine card and an ID in order to dine at a restaurant. If you somehow forgot yours, you can only order takeout (if offered) and you have to wait outside the entire time.

People in general didn't wear masks on the street, but they would put them on as they enter establishments. Masks are obligatory upon entering any Metro station and while riding the train/bus. During the rush hours, the trains were quite packed so be aware. 

I spent a night at a divey bar and befriended a few Montrealers. According to one local, dancing and partying is prohibited. Not sure how that works and the extent at which it's enforced.

I went to Campus more often than I did Stock Bar. On non-weekend nights, the wait between the dancers' first and second dances were noticeable. Nonetheless, it felt good to be back to more familiar environs. 

Campus was packed Friday and Saturday night. There were a lot of female guests too—I would say they made up 40% of the clientele. I did only one lap dance per visit.

There were sign up sheets at both Stock and Campus, presumably for contact tracing in case somebody tested positive for Covid-19, but they largely went ignored. I wish they were enforced more but tant pis.

Because I was in Canada for longer than 7 days, I had to take a PCR test at most 72 hours before coming back to the US. The border agent who welcomed me back also encouraged that I take another test three days after I get home and try to quarantine at least until I get the negative result. I live by myself and work remotely, so these requests were easy to fulfill.

Minus some really minor inconveniences, I had a great time in Canada and Montreal. I can't wait to come back soon.

Edited September 21, 2021 by alrajee
Clarity

[Mustang]

On 8/28/2021 at 10:45 PM, newatthis said:

Just returned from my first Montreal trip in 2 years.  It was exhilarating and I'm in a serious post-partum depression.  I hope to post details when I get a chance.

Congrats on your pregnancy.  Do you know who the baby-daddy is? Or how many? 🤣

 

 

[twinkboylover28]

 

Montreal Gay Village

https://youtu.be/km8p9tXnxlU

 

[Luv2play]

2 hours ago, twinkboylover28 said:

 

Montreal Gay Village

https://youtu.be/km8p9tXnxlU

 

This is a very misleading film about Ste Catherine Street today. When I was there last weekend, it was fairly humming with activity for a Saturday afternoon. The film was obviously shot early in the morning from the way the sun is casting shadows. At 8 or 9 in the morning, it always appears dead. Except for the liquor truck restocking the bars and restaurants. Lol.

And there were very few storefronts that were empty, only couple I noticed.

And the commentary sucked. Why was he going on about Chinatown? Totally irrelevant. In sum, not worth watching 

[twinkboylover28]

2 hours ago, Luv2play said:

This is a very misleading film about Ste Catherine Street today. When I was there last weekend, it was fairly humming with activity for a Saturday afternoon. The film was obviously shot early in the morning from the way the sun is casting shadows. At 8 or 9 in the morning, it always appears dead. Except for the liquor truck restocking the bars and restaurants. Lol.

And there were very few storefronts that were empty, only couple I noticed.

And the commentary sucked. Why was he going on about Chinatown? Totally irrelevant. In sum, not worth watching 

Don't shoot the messenger boss.

"Not worth watching" because the Village doesn't exist in the morning, just in the evening?  Nonsense.

 

It's an accurate reflection of the Village at the time of filming, just like your experience was accurate at  the time you experienced the Village as well.

Why is one viewpoint "not worth watching' while yours is?

Only videos showing Le Village in full bloom suffice?

Sounds a tad bit biased.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by twinkboylover28

[Luv2play]

2 hours ago, twinkboylover28 said:

Don't shoot the messenger boss.

"Not worth watching" because the Village doesn't exist in the morning, just in the evening?  Nonsense.

 

It's an accurate reflection of the Village at the time of filming, just like your experience was accurate at  the time you experienced the Village as well.

Why is one viewpoint "not worth watching' while yours is?

Only videos showing Le Village in full bloom suffice?

Sounds a tad bit biased.

 

 

You missed my point. The commentary that accompanied the film was making it appear that the Village was dead. The truth is it was just asleep, perhaps hungover, depending on the morning. Lol.

[twinkboylover28]

True.

I just upload random YouTube videos I find regarding the Village.

Naturally, some are better than others

[Luv2play]

1 hour ago, twinkboylover28 said:

True.

I just upload random YouTube videos I find regarding the Village.

Naturally, some are better than others

Glad you agree. ☺️

[twinkboylover28]

On 8/28/2021 at 10:45 PM, newatthis said:

Returning to the US.  You must have a covid test no more than 72 hours before your departure back to the US.   This test can be a rapid antigenic test and is pricy (CAD$150).   I made an appointment before I left home (definitely recommended) with https://elnamedical.com/en/covid/ at their downtown location.  It was quick and efficient.  I had the result in my email in a little more than an hour.  Air Canada allowed me to upload my test result and check in online ahead of time, which made my departure very speedy (less than half an hour total from the time I got to the airport).

 

Good news. The rapid antigenic test has been reduced to $99.00 CAD which is about $79.00 USD.

 

[twinkboylover28]

 

https://youtu.be/k2pQje2tsXs

[Chidude]

Any Americans on this forum actually traveling to Montreal these days?  

[+ newatthis]

12 hours ago, Chidude said:

Any Americans on this forum actually traveling to Montreal these days?  

Well, I did 😀.  And I was there with a friend from the States who is planning to return in December.