Even better than we anticipated

Guest: Morgan C.
Date of Stay: 07/17/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this apartment. It is very nicely equipped, clean, and comfortable, and in a great part of Montreal. Being able to watch the fireworks displays from the balcony was fantastic. We enjoyed walking through the surrounding neighborhood and the park adjacent to the building, and it is very fast and easy to use public transportation to get to the other parts of the city. It is fairly easy to find parking near the building, although you do need to read the parking signs to know which parts of the block are permit parking, and which days the street-cleaner comes through. We had a great time in Montreal and were glad we had chosen this place to stay. Patrick was very pleasant and easy to work with. He was always quick to respond to e-mails and phone calls, and when we were delayed at the border by very long lines and arrived more than 2 hours late, he was still patient, went out of his way to be helpful and made sure that we were comfortable in both the apartment and the city. We did not think that he talked too long at all. He also provided many useful things that we wouldn't have thought to ask for; including a helpful and detailed notebook of information about the building and the neighboring area, with mapped locations of nearby shops and public transportation, public transportation cards (so we didn't have to buy the cards, we just had to put money on them), tokens for the building laundry enough to last us the week, etc. We would definitely, and highly, recommend this place to others and would stay here again ourselves.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Excellent Apartment

Guest: parker (Winnipeg)
Date of Stay: 07/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/14/11

We stayed here for 2 weeks and the apartment was excellent. Very good location and very comfortable. Patrick was very helpful. Would absolutely stay here again.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Excellent choice for a week stay in Montreal

Guest: mishyfishy (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

I stayed at this property with my husband for a week vacation on our first visit to Montreal. The apartment was an excellent choice. The kitchen was great for cooking and well stocked with anything you may need. The balcony afforded a great view of the firework competition as you are so high up. A large park is directly across the street, which was useful for running, eating, and people watching. The bathroom had a vintage look with bright colored tiles that I enjoyed. It was also well stocked and laundry was easily available. The owner has a nice booklet put together with all of the information you may need about Montreal or the apartment and takes the time to go through it with you, if you prefer. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a clean, bright space in Montreal.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+.

JJ (Calgary)

Guest: formula fun in montreal (Calgary Alberta Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/08/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

The apartment was quiet, clean and well stocked with all the cooking essentials, including spices etc. We could get anywhere in the city in a very short time, buses and subway easily accessible as well as easy to use. We are looking forward to staying there again on our next visit to Montreal. Thanks

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Visit to Montreal last October

Guest: Carole (England)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

Stayed in this property last October and thought it was lovely. It was very well equipped, comfortable, very clean and of course the views were amazing. All in all we had a wonderful time in Montreal. Many thanks.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Fall colors, pumpkins, coffee, treats, smiling faces, Cadbury Crunchies all found in Montreal

Guest: Sara and Katy (Cary, North Carolina/USA)
Date of Stay: 10/14/10 Review Submitted: 10/24/10

My daughter and I try to get away on a girls getaway each year and choose a different destination. Well this year we chose Montreal in October. While some think that would be too cold we truly enjoyed the crisp fall air and yes chilly sleeping nights. But we came prepared. We arrived at the apartment at 9M when Patrick could meet us to let us in. One step in the apartment and there was no doubt this was the place we saw online. The pictures were exactly as seen on the webpage. Clean and welcoming and Patrick had things all ready for our use. Personally I thought the bathroom was a real throwback to retro and loved the look. Clean and all in working order. Loved the tiles on the wall. Yes it was a bit out of "character" to the rest of the decor, but it is the bathroom and it was VERY clean and the shower had a tall shower head and the water was hot!! What more could you ask for. We lacked for nothing. Pots, pans, several dishes, flatware, cofffee pot and coffee, spices, and a spaghetti dinner too. The market was close and we ventured out into a stormy morning to pick up some essentials and it was good we did. We spent Friday in the midst of one of the worst storms in Montreal's recent history. And thank goodness for Patricks apartment. We hunkered down inside with the wind and rain whipping every way possible. We had dinner to fix ourselves, coffee to drink and movies to watch. Plus we were able to catch up on some of our work online. By the next day were were off and exploring and enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Montreal. We walked and walked. We used the metro and the bus system and felt completely safe at any given time. Patrick is the consummate host and he takes pride in his property so its easy to treat it with respect back. We met friendly people in the halls and common areas of the building further making the Montreal experience memorable. Would I go back? YES without a doubt. Warm bagels from Montreal are like non other I have had. Crepes and pastries are delicious. It was a good way to spend this mother daughter time and have that opportunity to be closer to each other and enjoy ourselves with endless laughing and sharing. The word that describes the time for me would have to be PERFECT!! Thank you Patrick, you are a wonderful man and host!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Warmth and Charm

Guest: Jim and Sue (Surrey, British Columbia)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/30/10

This is a wonderful apartment and my wife and I highly recommend it for your stay. From our initial contact to our farewell note, the owner extended a warm and personal approach to our stay. Prior to our visit, he sent us information regarding the area and upon our arrival had in place a binder with useful and relevant information on shops, transit schedules, etc. As well he spent an hour familiarizing us with the apartment, the complex and sharing further insights into the area. He was what all vacation travelers hope to find that warm presence that immediately instills within you a feeling of home. Within the apartment itself everything was meticulously clean and orderly. In particular the kitchen was well stocked with all the expected plates, glasses, and cookware as well as all the spices and cooking ingredients that one might use. He even had juice and ice cream. All those soft comforts that we expected in our own home we found here, even down to a phone card and tokens for the washer and dryer. The direct Internet connection and HD TV were most appreciated for those quiet times in the apartment. Montreal is a world class city and the apartment’s location allowed us to feel the charm of the culture. The Plateau area, where the apartment is located, was fantastic. Our first hour found us listening to music in Parc La Fontaine and sitting by the lake and in the evening strolling Avenue du Mont Royal and Rue Saint Denis visually feasting on the vibrancy of the people and the wonderful shops and restaurants. In no time we felt like true Montreal natives, using their BIXI bike rental program and extending a Bonjour to the friendly inhabitants of the apartment complex and the surrounding area. My wife and I feel that in our future trips to Montreal we have established our second home and look forward to returning to it.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+.

Good location. Okay Condo.

Guest: Giselle2 (Houston, TX USA)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

My husband and I just returned from a weeks' stay at this condo. Montreal is a great city - vibrant and energetic. I have a few comments I hope will be helpful as you select where to stay. We selected this condo after our two original choices were either booked or cancelled on us. The positives: It's clean, fully stocked, and the bed is very comfortable. The view is beautiful, looking out to Stade Olympique and the St. Lawrence river. The owner was kind enough to leave us orange juice, ice cream, pasta sauce and other basics for our stay. It's centrally located and close to the bus line. The not so positives: There is a reason the bathroom is not photographed. It must be the ugliest bathroom in Canada - and definitely not in line with the condo's attempt at more modern decor. It must be from the 1980's. Although everything worked properly, the bathtub is the size of a coffin, and it was very frustrating to shower in it. The owner, while organized, did not take social cues well. My husband and I arrived very late - at midnight - after being on the road for 5 hours. We kept thanking him and indicating we were so tired and were just looking forward to getting to sleep. He kept "walking us through" the ins and outs of the apartment, which took an hour. I finally had to politely ask him to leave so we could get to sleep. I felt awful, but it was already 1 a.m. I am all about being thorough, but he was opening the kitchen cupboards and showing us everything. Seriously, we can find it. The pool is in disrepair and in need of a major renovation. The mosaic tiles are all coming off. I realize this is not something the owner can control, but felt it was worth mentioning. Finally, the fact that "air conditioning" is listed as an amenity is a bit misleading. There is air conditioning - 1 very old small window unit in the living room that really does no job at all of cooling the room. The other two "air conditioners" are (2) small table top fans we used in the bedroom at night. It is true that you really don't need the a/c - especially that high up. But, if you're expecting central a/c as you have in the U.S., this is not what you will be getting here. Overall, our stay was pleasant. The few "not so positives" were things we lived with ultimately. We would probably not stay here again, but if you're interested in an economical, conveniently located place and my list of "not so positives" isn't a big deal, then this is the place for you.

Owner response:The best way to react to such a review is of course to learn from it. The bathroom is the only part of the apartment which hasn't been thoroughly remodelled and its vintage look (it even has a bidet) will eventually be updated. In the meantime, as Giselle points out, everything works perfectly. Just as the rest of the apartment, it's spotless and well stocked. The bathtub is of regular size by Canadian standards although it might be a bit deeper than most. Regarding how long the greeting took, I'm afraid Giselle has a point. I felt the additional information (about where to find such things as the long distance calling card, bus and subway passes, maps and tourist guides, hair dryers, how to get to the building's convenience store, to the nearest ATM, grocery store, bakery, farmers' market, bus stops and subway stations, etc.) was essential to cover since it would end up being a big time saver during their stay and allow them to enjoy the city more quickly. I obviously was wrong and am planning to do things differently in the future. I'm still relatively new at this. From now on, unless guests explicitly ask otherwise (at which time I will be happy to oblige), I will limit the information provided to the basics (5-10 minutes) and, of course, provide the rest of the information in a binder. As always, guests can also call me during their stay if a question arises. A type of comment I've often received in past reviews (and which has been a source of pride) is, for instance, that: "The owner is extremely kind and helpful. Made us feel like we were renting from a friend." The new way of greeting people will be flexible enough to preserve this for guests who wish to do so but allow others to skip this. Regarding the pool, Giselle fortunately specified in a later Email that she was referring to some of the small mosaic tiles which had come off from the stairs leading into the water. These have been reported and should be fixed soon. The pool looks exactly as on the picture posted here. The place is always spotless and the water crystal clear. Regarding the air conditioner, I'm sure it doesn't compare to what's used in Texas and it does have many years in it. For Montreal summers though, it honestly does quite well. Since it might be a concern for future guests though, I will replace it with a more powerful one this coming spring. --- Update: The new, more powerful AC has has now been installed.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

Summer Get Away

Guest: Nate (Boston, MA, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/19/10

My girlfriend and I had such a great stay here that we didn't want to leave. Patrick greeted us upon our arrival and then provided us with a detailed tour of the apartment and building. He then gave us a booklet and very valuable advice on some of the main attractions in the surrounding areas and the rest of Montreal. We hadn't done much research before hand so his tips allowed us to get the most out of our stay. The apartment itself is beautifully furnished and decorated. It feels like home in a way that makes you not want to leave it, even to visit the city. From 24 floors up the view is spectacular and if you go in the summer you get to see an amazing fireworks display every saturday night. The city, in short, was amazing. Well balanced in both old and new it has something for everyone. We enjoyed the history of old montreal as well as the modern culture on Mont Royal. Though the language barrier can be very intimidating, almost everyone speaks English as a second language. I'd recommend this apartment to anyone who wants to visit the city and I will definitely stay there again if I return to montreal.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Wow, what a great idea.

Guest: F1 Fan (Lafayette, Louisiana, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/23/10

I have to admit my wife and I were a bit anxious about choosing an apartment over a hotel. We were better taken care of than in any hotel. Patrick was very hospitable and seemed to genuinely want us to enjoy ourselves. He provided everything we needed and more. Patrick furnished us with an umbrella, and it really came in handy; what hotel provides an umbrella? Great price, great place, and we will ABSOLUTELY return if we travel to Montreal again. Thanks for the great time Patrick!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.