We've spent time in Montreal but want to return to Quebec to see QC for three days over thanksgiving weekend.
Flights are insanely priced and few and far between! We're traveling from NYC and would prefer to fly direct. Can anyone comment on whether we ought to just fly to Montreal and then ride the train there? What am I missing?
thanks
You're not missing anything - it's simply an expensive place to fly into (the airport is quite small and probably the landing fees contribute to that as well). Thanksgiving weekends are always priced high (no matter where you're going). Try Porter Airlines out of Newark - I doubt you'll find a direct flight - the best you may be able to do is to fly through Toronto first.
Fly to Montreal and take the train. On our last visit there,many US guests we spoke to did that. Or some told us they picked up a flight from Montreal to Quebec City. It's a very short flight.
Looks like a drive of around eight or nine hours. Maybe consider than rather than dealing with flight or train connections.
What looks logical on the map doesn't necessarily fit airline thinking. You will find far more choices flying to Quebec City through Toronto than Montreal, no matter that Montreal is far closer to your destination. www.itasoftware.com shows plenty of combinations. A plane-train itinerary has nothing on its side -- not price, not time expended. Porter, Air Canada and WestJet can all do better than that.
By the way, there is potential for confusion when you speak of Thanksgiving, a holiday weekend celebrated more than a month earlier in Canada than the US.
Another PS: Jean Lesage Airport is situated on the outskirts of Quebec City with very little in the way of mass transit into town; be prepared to take a taxi. The train does arrive near the city centre, but getting to the terminal in Montreal from Trudeau airport is a long, slow process.
Have looked at Porter Air via Newark. They currently have RT fares over that weekend for around $280 connecting at Toronto Bishop Airport which is a good price. Porter Air has lots of "flash" sales which can cut that fare in half if you signup for their email alerts.
nother PS: Jean Lesage Airport is situated on the outskirts of Quebec City with very little in the way of mass transit into town; be prepared to take a taxi. The train does arrive near the city centre, but getting to the terminal in Montreal from Trudeau airport is a long, slow process.>
I might of misunderstood what the OP said but no need to go into Downtown Montreal to take the train to Quebec City. There's VIA trains from Dorval (which is where PET airport is) to Quebec City.
The drive is nice in the Fall with all the colors if you decide to do that. I would not recommend the drive in the winter. There's some Westjet flights from TO to Quebec City for $296. All these options will depend on what you want to do. Have fun, Quebec City is beautiful.
Just curious.
I'm an old man so bear with me.
Back before there was dirt I used to be much younger (and more handsome) and when I lived on Long Island I used to regularly take the train from New York to Montreal. I remember well looking out the back door of the train and seeing the snow swirling around in the wind behind the train and really enjoying it. I've also taken the train between Montreal and Quebec for Winter Carnival (you thought 40 below was cold in Montreal - you ain't seen nothin' until you got to Quebec ... no wonder so many people were drinking Moose (Caribou)!!!!).
So, me ask, can you not still go, easily and cheaply, from NYC to Quebec City by train anymore?
Nigel, you can still get from NY to Quebec by train via Montreal but it's a 14+ hr trip. Not particularly convenient, but still a very scenic route.
I appreciate all your advice. Yes, train travel is still possible from NY to Quebec but the Amtrak is very slow going to Montreal, and there you must change to a Canadian train to Quebec.
We don't prefer to drive, especially during the "holidays" and we thought the train trip from montreal to quebec city could be scenic and lovely that time of year (november).
I'm considering flying NYC to Montreal, taking the train to Quebec City in both directions. Not that expensive, and getting there is half the fun (well, not the flying part!). We also might layover the first night in Montreal, have dinner and walk the old town, then leave for quebec and spend two nights there.
Do people think Quebec will be hopping that time of year? It's not a canadian holiday weekend, after all. Since it's an American holiday, I'd prefer to keep my flights direct and not risk any layovers.
Let me know if you guys think this is an unsound plan in any way.
I grew up in northern Pennsylvania and do not remember any colorful leaves on any trees at Thanksgiving time. The trees will be bare. No color left at all which I think the OP would know.
It would be so nice to have train service like they do in Europe! Just think how nice that would be to ride a fast train!
The leaves will be long gone. The peak is around the first 10 days of October. Prepare for chilly weather.
Do people think Quebec will be hopping that time of year?
No, definitely not "hopping", more like in-between season, but that's good for getting away from crowds. I went in the shoulder season myself (Memorial Day weekend) but in exchange for less crowds and lower prices, I got some really chilly/rainy weather and one stunningly beautiful day. Unfortunately, summers feel like a zoo - overwhelming crowds.
http://travel.usnews.com/Quebec_City_Canada/When_To_Visit/
Check out the events and see what's going on...the German Christmas Market may be fun
http://www.quebecregion.com/en/what-to-do/events/
Ok, y'all.. here's what we ended up doing. We splurged for direct flights on United, which ended up being $550 pp, which about canceled the RT train fare. It's a short "weekend getaway" and we'd prefer to just fly direct. In order to get that rate we reduced by one night, now only staying two nights instead of three. Should be plenty!
Cold suits us. German Christmas Market sounds divine! And so does a cuddle by the Hotel fireplace with cider. Thanks for all your help thinking it through.
Nigel,
I cannot help but demand a follow up: By Moose (Caribou) !!!! you don't possibly mean.... Well what do you mean? I fear...
Caribou is a drink that will take the top of your head off, twirl it around a few times, make modest explosions in sundry nether regions, and eventually putting the head back together just before the eyeballs are exploded.
I don't drink so never experienced it, but used to visit Quebec with college friends from Montreal. We went for Winter Carnival to see and participate with the Ice Sculptures. We didn't mind the cold because we were used to the minus 30s to minus 40s but my friends wanted a bit of liquid antifreeze.
We never called the poison by its French name, we just called it Moose.
It didn't come in bottles, at least not as far as I knew. It used to come in yard long plastic orange trumpets (fit my best friend as he was a trombone player). The idea was drink the Moose, get a noise maker. Works well - get drunk, make noise.
Am I the only person who knew about this firewater?
Nigel --
It just so happens that I'm a pretty serious aficionado of fire waters, rakis, schnapps, etc., and my french is decent, so I'll be certain to inquire about this!
Nigel, you may be the only person that remembers all the details, having been the only non-drinker at Carnival. You might also want to investigate the source of the Beaver Tail treat at the equivalent winter carnival up-river in Ottawa. And then there's poutine..... Salut! Cheers!
Nigel: you are not the only one :) Quebec City is my hometown and Caribou is a drink that is around during Carnaval ( although you can find it outside Carnaval time) It is very strong and meant to help put up with the sometime extreme cold weather during Carnaval :) You have to try it and say you did !
It will most definitely not be hopping around the American Thanksgiving time. Our Thanksgiving is on October. It is really in-between seasons and many the Christmas markets may not have started yet. Most holiday type activities and events start on December 1.
That being said, Quebec is always beautiful :) Just bring layers and an umbrella ( although you could get snow too)
Let me know if I can help answer any questions
From being a native of this area, I would recommend flying to Montreal and renting a car, instead of taking the train. If you look at practicality vs. cost, you're better off. Also, Quebec City is beautiful and there is also some gorgeous sites to see outside of the city, which are really worth the drive. Right off the bat, I am thinking about the Montmorency Falls, a 20-minute drive outside Quebec, which would also permit you a visit to Ile-d'Orléans, with its beautiful old houses and country roads. And there are more.
And the drive between Montreal and Quebec city is very easy, if you pick up and drop off your rental car at the airport.
The problem with driving to Quebec City from Montreal late in November is that you could run into some nasty, snowy weather. Check the weather forecast before picking up your rental car and take the train if the weather sounds iffy.
Ok, y'all.. here's what we ended up doing. We splurged for direct flights on United, which ended up being $550 pp, which about canceled the RT train fare. It's a short "weekend getaway" and we'd prefer to just fly direct.
The OP already decided how to get there (see above). This thread has pretty much ran out of steam.
So right, Agnes. But ...... it still may be snowy in Quebec City in late November so the OP should check weather forecast before packing his bags.
