I never stayed at the Gault, but I've stayed at Le Square Philips and loved it. I would highly recommend that place, especially if it's in your budget.

You are comparing apples and oranges.

Le Square Philip, is an all-suite hotel with kitchenettes located in the downtown/shopping district.

Gault is a design, minimalist high-end boutique hotel located on a quiet street in the western part of Old Montreal. It is not that far from your other choice, but the location will make it feel much further away.

Unless you are staying with small kids, I would go for the Gault.

Jusr wondering if both are walking distance from the main areas and attractions?

Thanks for your suggestions.

It depends on what you mean by walking distance - how far. Please note that walking from Old Montreal to downtown is slightly uphill.

Well how long would it take to walk from Old Montreal to downtown? And is it safe to walk? Hubby isn't into shopping (no surprise there!) and so would I be ok walking to Downtown by myself?

I can walk from one of these hotels to the other in about 12 minutes, but I walk fast. I would say its more like 20 minutes for regular folks. Do a google map and you will visualize the distance. You can always take a cab, it will cost you like 7-10$, if you don't like walking.

Montreal is probably the safest city its size in North America. I have no issue about walking at any time of day or night.

hotels I like:

Expensive

St-James - OM

Gault - OM

Vogue - Downtown

Sofitel - Dowttown - a much better hotel than European Sofitels.

The Ritz is now closed for refurbishement

Crystal - opened in January, haven't really been yet.

Less Expensive

Hilton Bonaventure

Square Phillips

XIX siecle

Thanks!

Oh thats ok. I like walking so that distance is no problem. Really looking forward to visiting Montreal. I've only ever heard good reports about it. Thanks again for all your help.

There are *a lot* of Irish people in Montreal. It mainly started in the 1840s when Irish people left for Montreal because of the famine. They were quarantined upon arrival. Because they were catholics, it is essentially the French Canadians (also catholics) that helped them out. Many Irish children that became orphans at the time were adopted by French families, but the French families generally refused to change the Irish kid's surname. The end result is that there are many french speaking quebeckers with an Irish surname, yet many of them speak little or no English, let alone Gaelic.

Montreal has, after New York, the oldest St. Patrick's parade in North America.

Oh wow I didn't realise that!

I wonder why they refused to change the Irish childrens surnames? Was it out of respect for their history (as in the childrens) or was it that the children where not seen to be a 'real' part of the family and so the name was like a divide? Its really interesting.

Respect for their history.