How bad is driving up to Montreal during the winter?

[Rusty Staub]

If I was thinking of driving from either Boston or New York City around January 1st, would I be better served trying to find a cheap flight or a (dreadful) bus?

I have done the commute during the summer/spring without problems but I just envision myself sliding all around the place and that seems like needless stress. Are the winters that bad or am I over-reacting?

Thanks

 

[lgna69xxx]

its a crap shoot for sure, just watch the weather a day or so before you wanna go, thats why hotwire for hotels is nice, you can wait till the last minute and get a great deal

 

[CWipes]

Driving in Winter is pretty crappy

Driving to Montreal in Winter is pretty crappy, and once in Montreal, well they've spent millions building an underground mall passage system just because the weather gets that crappy.

I wouldn't suggest it.

- CWipes

 

[AllOverHer]

I know that in the adirondacks they usually get lots of snow. Exceptionally last year Montreal had more than they can handdle. Wonder how it was in the Adirondacks last year.

I love it when a 2 hours ride turns into a 8 hours snail marathon!

 

[metoo4]

There's no snow here in Canada! Last year, I made 6000km in about 2 month, 4000 of them in snow storm...

Seriously Rusty, with good snow tires, caution and patience, winter driving isn't that bad! But when you're not used to it and have 4 seasons tires, it can be a nightmare... If you get a cheap flight and rent a car once here, this car will have snow tires (new Québec law! ) so you'll be one step ahead already from coming here with a car without winter tires.

 

[ck_nj]

If you get a cheap flight and rent a car once here, this car will have snow tires (new Québec law! ) so you'll be one step ahead already from coming here with a car without winter tires.

If you do fly into Montreal, you're better off taking a taxi downtown. Much cheaper than renting a car, especially if you're only staying downtown and do not intend on driving anywhere else except to your hotel.

As for me, I have been to Montreal twice in the winter. Both times, I flew in.

I usually drive as well during the non-winter seasons.

 

[jackyo8193]

I've driven up there in the winter and it gets pretty hairy particularly climbing those mountains (or are they really hills?) in Vermont.

Nailbiting kind of scary.

There are a lot of nuts out there with four wheel drive who have no fear and will cut you off without regard to whether you can stop and/or manuever in time to avoid them.

I can easily picture sliding off the highway.

Nie wieder. Plus jamais. Never again.

Better to fly or take the bus and leave the driving to someone else.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Listen, pal, if you're not man enough to drive in a little snow, you're not man enough for the Montreal women.

Seriously, if you have a decent car, front or four wheel drive, and snow tires and IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE, you should have no problem. The roads in Montreal can be a bit of a mess and they are quite slow to clean them, but you'll probably survive.

The one thing I should caution you on, however, is to watch out for any moving thing with a Massachusetts plate. These people do not know what the fuck they're doing on the road. They hand out driver's licenses in vending machines down there and, once they're in hand, the people who possess them are oblivious to other vehicles around them.

 

[joelcairo]

The one thing I should caution you on, however, is to watch out for any moving thing with a Massachusetts plate. These people do not know what the fuck they're doing on the road. They hand out driver's licenses in vending machines down there and, once they're in hand, the people who possess them are oblivious to other vehicles around them.

You're right on this one Rumples - truer words have never been spoken.

 

[Merlot]

The one thing I should caution you on, however, is to watch out for any moving thing with a Massachusetts plate. These people do not know what the fuck they're doing on the road. They hand out driver's licenses in vending machines down there and, once they're in hand, the people who possess them are oblivious to other vehicles around them.

Hey Rumples,

You are such a pussy...waaaaaaaaa. Still crying about how hard it is to drive in Massachusetts huh. No wonder. I have been on the roads of Vermont many times now so I understand why you are afraid to be in Boston without your training wheels. After all you did get your driver's license as a bonus with that huge value pack order of weed...or was it hash. Yeah, those Vermont roads don't make men when all you have to deal with on the road are squirrels, rabbits, an odd lost cow, and grandmas stoned on Ex-Lax. The only problem I have faced there is utter boredom and the dire threat of falling asleep, so surely the sight of other cars on the road must be terrifying for you. Real drivers can handle Boston without whining and wetting themselves over the experience. If you can't handle it then go back to riding stoned on your tricycle in the back yard...if you can get over your fear of low flying sparrows...lol.

And I have driven safely in Montreal in November during a snow storm without snow tires. It just takes SMART DRIVING...try it. Unfortunately, a local young female Montrealer wasn't smart and rear-ended me (lightly) at a stop light. I think she had snow tires.

Right back at ya,

Merlot

If I was thinking of driving from either Boston or New York City around January 1st, would I be better served trying to find a cheap flight or a (dreadful) bus?
Thanks

Seriously Rusty,

I have had the idea of celebrating New Years with a special Montreal treat too. But from what I have been told by my Montreal friend those rare White Outs we get in Massachusetts can be frequent in Montreal. So unless you own a top notch winterized vehicle...or...are lucky?

Too risky,

Merlot

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Still crying about how hard it is to drive in Massachusetts huh. No wonder.

Listen, pal, I drove a hack in Boston for four years. While I understand that you people think driving is a contact sport, I prefer to see it as a mode of transportation.

And I have driven safely in Montreal in November during a snow storm without snow tires. It just takes SMART DRIVING...try it.

You may have driven safely in Montreal without snow tires, but in the future you'll be doing so illegally. Now I know that you're from Massachusetts where the rules of the road are optional, but you will have to pay a fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Drivers-Handbook-Streets-Almost/dp/0306813262

 

[Rusty Staub]

Thanks guys, it sounds like driving is a bad idea for someone without 4 snow tires or a 4WD car

NOTE TO A POSTER WHO PRIVATE MESSAGED ME YESTERDAY: Your mailbox is full and I could not respond.

 

[IamNY]

If I was thinking of driving from either Boston or New York City around January 1st, would I be better served trying to find a cheap flight or a (dreadful) bus?

I have done the commute during the summer/spring without problems but I just envision myself sliding all around the place and that seems like needless stress. Are the winters that bad or am I over-reacting?

Thanks

Try a cheap flight over driving anytime! I drove up from NY a few times last year and each time I ended up getting stuck in a dreaded snow storm. One time I left Montreal on a bright sunny day only to get stuck in white out conditions trying to navigate through the mountains. I thought I was safe when I got close to Albany, but that was when cars just started spinning out of control on to the side of the road because of the ice. Fly over driving in the winter to Montreal, it's the only way to go.

 

[voyageur]

If you do fly into Montreal, you're better off taking a taxi downtown. Much cheaper than renting a car, especially if you're only staying downtown and do not intend on driving anywhere else except to your hotel.

That's not necessarily true. Taxi fare from the airport to anywhere in the downtown area is $39 (plus tip). Hertz have a special weekend rate that is 50% of their usual weekend rate of about 30 a day (for a smaller car). So if you're here for 3 days, car rental plus airport fees can be as low as $80. This obviously only works if you decline all insurance, so make sure your credit card covers the insurance. You have to add gas to that, but if your hotel offers free parking it may be less hassle to do that than take cabs both ways.

 

[Merlot]

Listen, pal, I drove a hack in Boston for four years. While I understand that you people think driving is a contact sport, I prefer to see it as a mode of transportation.

Hey Rumples,

Cab Driver...geeeeeez...did you know the Japanese have a photo of a cab in their dictionary under the word "BANZAI!"

This is for you:

The Cab Driver Goes to Heaven

A cab driver reaches the Pearly Gates and announces his presence to St. Peter, who looks him up in his Big Book. Upon reading the entry for the cabbie, St. Peter invites him to pick up a silk robe and a golden staff and to proceed into Heaven.

A preacher is next in line behind the cabby and has been watching these proceedings with interest. He announces himself to St. Peter. Upon scanning the preacher's entry in the Big Book, St. Peter furrows his brow and says, "Okay, we'll let you in, but take that cloth robe and wooden staff."

The preacher is astonished and replies, "But I am a man of the cloth. You gave that cab driver a gold staff and a silk robe. Surely I rate higher than a cabbie."

St. Peter responded matter-of-factly: "This is heaven and up here, we are interested in results. When you preached, people slept. When the cabbie drove his taxi, people prayed."

Hugs,

Merlot

 

[Special K]

The one thing I should caution you on, however, is to watch out for any moving thing with a Massachusetts plate. These people do not know what the fuck they're doing on the road. They hand out driver's licenses in vending machines down there and, once they're in hand, the people who possess them are oblivious to other vehicles around them.

I won't even start on this horseshit.

Listen, pal, I drove a hack in Boston for four years.

I almost forgot. Horse and buggy are no longer the mode of transportation like when you were driving Rumples.

 

[bond_james_bond]

That's not necessarily true. Taxi fare from the airport to anywhere in the downtown area is $39 (plus tip). Hertz have a special weekend rate that is 50% of their usual weekend rate of about 30 a day (for a smaller car). So if you're here for 3 days, car rental plus airport fees can be as low as $80. This obviously only works if you decline all insurance, so make sure your credit card covers the insurance. You have to add gas to that, but if your hotel offers free parking it may be less hassle to do that than take cabs both ways.

True.

But you must also factor in the cost of parking everywhere, if you drive around downtown. If you just keep the car in the hotel, and you don't go to any suburbs, then it would be pointless, imo.

Another option is L'Aerobus from the airport, which is $25 round-trip ... better if you're not carrying a lot of junk.

 

[ExoticSpirit]

During my five years there, I drove a lot in the winter, all over the city as well as a few times to the ski resorts. And yes, sometimes the driving is a bit hairy. I once did two 360s on the highway! Good thing it was only 6:30 am in the morning north of the city when nobody else was around.

In the city itself, many of the locals can't drive either. The last winter I was there, some idiot hit my car while we were in a shopping mall parking lot! He wanted to blame me but based on where the damage was on my side door and the interviews with the insurance adjusters, it was determined that it was his fault of course. All this because of snow in the parking lot.

So if you are going to drive in Montreal during the winter, make sure that you have four winter tires and drive slower than usual. Be more conservative in your time required for getting around. Then you should be okay.

 

[Joe.t]

And I have driven safely in Montreal in November during a snow storm without snow tires. It just takes SMART DRIVING...try it.

I have to agree with my temperamental friend, I have driven many many times in the winter in Montreal and I never even come close to a accident, I have never owned snow tires also, if you know how to drive you should have no problem driving in Montreal.

 

[bond_james_bond]

May also want to check with your insurance company as to what the coverage is in Canada.