Montreal, Quebec, Canada

MONTREAL : Overview

OVERVIEW

Montreal, Quebec, is a town rich with history and European influence. Because its inhabitants speak French, it adds an extra exotic twist to a visit. We have visited multiple times and have found Montreal to be fairly accessible to the physically challenged traveler.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Montreal is French, and the official languages of Canada are English and French.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Canada is the Canadian dollar. We were able to use US dollars on our visit without any issue.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

MONTREAL : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Montreal Trudeau offers convenient access to Montreal. We have always driven to Montreal, so cannot comment on the accessibility of the airport.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

Multiple taxi services in Montreal provide wheelchair accessible rides. Wheelchair accessible cabs can be reserved 1 hour in advance at any time of the day or year. Here are some companies that provide this service: Diamond Taxi (514-273-6331), Expert Taxi (514-374-7171), Van Médic Taxi (514-739-9933), Rosemont Taxi (514-255-2815), and Taxi Excellence (514-322-0909). Make sure to call ahead to verify the company you wish to use is still in business and has wheelchair cabs for hire.

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SHUTTLE

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

Location Jean Legare: This company has wheelchair accessible mini vans equipped with a ramp for rent. We have not used this company, as we have always driven to Montreal in our own wheelchair accessible van.

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MONTREAL : Accommodations

HOTELS

Sofitel Montreal Hotel: On multiple visits to Montreal, we have always stayed at the Sofitel. We favor this hotel because it is centrally located downtown, and it is very accessible. The rooms are large, and the bathrooms are easy to maneuver.

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LUXURY RESORTS

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MONTREAL : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Casino de Montreal: The casino is a popular attraction in Montreal, and is situated on the Île Notre-Dame. The casino offers every standard game, including slot machines, craps, black jack, and roulette. We don’t believe that the casino has a poker room. We have found the casino to be very wheelchair accessible, and it even has lower tables to accommodate players in chairs. The casino also offers valet parking, which was free at the time we visited, making a visit very easy.

Montreal Botanical Gardens: The Botanical Gardens, located across the street from the Montreal Olympic Stadium, are a great way to relax and enjoy a summer afternoon. The gardens are largely accessible, but some paths are dirt, and there are areas with steps. There is also a Biodome, Insectarium, and Planetarium on the premises. We visited the Insectarium – despite it being two levels, it is wheelchair accessible, as it has an elevator.

Old Montreal: Old Montreal is a beautifully preserved section of town, with grand stone buildings and cobblestone streets. Surprisingly, some of the buildings and restaurants are wheelchair accessible. If you are in a scooter or a wheelchair, beware that the sections of Old Montreal paved with cobblestones can be very challenging to traverse. Despite its challenges, Old Montreal is still very worth the visit.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Montreal is a city comprised of buildings of different ages. As such, many of the restaurants and nightclubs are not wheelchair accessible. On more than one occasion, we either could not join friends at a location, or had to go through a maze of kitchens and back elevators for access. Crescent Street is one example of a Montreal hot spot that is great fun for people watching. We were able to find a table street-side at the Hard Rock Café, even though the restaurant itself was not accessible.

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MONTREAL : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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MONTREAL : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Montreal has been beautifully preserved, and as such, many of the buildings have steps. If you are unable to ascend steps, check ahead with the establishment you want to visit to verify it has an accessible entrance.