Montreal vs. New Orleans

In My Humble Opinion
1

I will probably get to go to the States/possibly Canada for the first time ever this Summer. Woo hoo! I’ll be visiting a good friend and we want to go on a road trip. I’m terrifically excited by this and therefore am spending ages just thinking about it and planning it. So after considering all our option we are trying to choose between the two citoes mentioned above. Of course I realise that one city cannot be “better” than the other (although maybe certain towns are just not all that terrific, but both of these seem to have potential) but I’d love to hear some arguments for/against going to one or the other.

Friend and me are into music (mainly traditional/folk of various kinds, but wouldn’t be against good rock or blues either) good food and shopping in quirky one off little shops. I’m presuming both can be done in either city, but if you are from on of them/had a great time in one of them/really hated on of them, please share it with me. Convince me to go there. Or stay away.

Any tips on what to go/where to go would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

2

I’ve been to Montreal, not to N.O. so my opinion is tainted. I didn’t care too much for Montreal. It was very clean and the people were nice enough, but there just wasn’t much happening. Granted, this was during the week (left Fri. at lunchtime) but just got bored of walking down the street, trying out different bars and such. I even asked a local to direct me to a “non-downtown/native’s” joint that was a little better but not really. I would have probably been better off meeting some people my age who lived there.

For the music aspect, I can’t imagine Montreal winning that battle.

Go to New Orleans.

Residents of Montreal, I mean you no harm! As stated, you were very gracious and kind. Don’t get pissy.

3

Well, unlike Bruce_Daddy, I prefer Montreal to New Orleans.

I find NO to be stinky, smelly and the like. I used to travel there a good deal for work, and I dreaded going there. It was problematic to get around, I certainly didn’t find the people very friendly and so on.
BUT, I should admit that my judgement may be clouded: I’ve only traveled to NO for work, while I went to Montreal on vacation, and there’s a big difference between the two.

One thing you may want to find out before you decide is what will be required to leave the U.S. and return - it could be far simpler to go to NO just for that reason, but I don’t know what’s involved for someone visiting the U.S. and visiting Canada, then returning to the U.S.

4

Unless you happen to be visiting mid-summer when festivals, including the world’s largest jazz festival, follow one another.

I can’t help you, as I’ve never been to New Orleans, but Montreal in the summer rocks.

5

Can’t speak about NO, but in Montreal there are festivals and events pretty much all summer, usually outdoors. Notably:

Formula 1 Grand Prix : June 11-13
International Jazz Festival : June 30 to July 11
Just for Laughs Comedy Festival : July 15-25
World Film Festival: August 26 - September 6

So you may want to plan your trip to coincide with one of those. Quebec City is about two hours away, if you feel like a day trip.

6

Forgot:

Franco-folies (French Music Festival): July 24 - August 2
Montréal International Fireworks Competition : Sat & Wed June-July

There’s an African Music and Dance Festival in July, and Sand Castle Competition in August, the list goes on…

7

Would the Franco-folies be about/include French-Canadian traditional music (as opposed to just music from France/classical music?). This would be a enormous bonus to me and my friend who love that stuff!

And thanks for all the suggestions/opinions so far. In a way it only makes it harder, but it’s a fun kind of decision to have to make too.

8

Nuits d’Afrique: July 11 - 21
International Festival New Cinema New Media: October 14 - 24 (The other film festival.)
Mutek: June 2 - 6 (Electronica festival.)
Fringe Festival: June 13 - 23 (Underground theater and dance.)
Fantasia: July 8 - 31 (Asian/Fantasy/Trash film festival. Hugely popular.)

Plus, there’s a number of “flea market” events, where major streets are closed to traffic for a weekend. Great place to go people watching and buy recycled jeans.

9

Ooooooh nice.

10

Alas! It’s mostly pop/rock/chanson/rap, you know, “new” stuff. You can check out the schedule at:

11

The FrancoFolies includes any kind of music sung in French - traditional, popular, fusion, everything. There are a few traditional French Canadian artists, but the best known (La Bottine Souriante, Volée d’castors) are not listed this year, unfortunately. But there are many other artists from various countries, including arab and african - the list is huge.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the week of June 24 - July 1 is dedicated to “national” celebrations. June 24th is “la Saint-Jean” (Québec’s “national holiday”) and July 1st is Canada Day.

12

Yeah, most of the artists are pop/contemporary. But they have a series of free concerts called “L’heure traditionelle”. I can’t comment on the quality since I don’t know most of the artists. In any event, I think there’s enough variety to please most people.

13

New Orleans native checking in here with some things to consider when making your decision.

The Bad:

If you’re coming in the summer, and don’t like heat, humidity, and the high likelihood of afternoon thunderstorms, then you probably aren’t going to enjoy New Orleans all that much. Beginning in April, our daily temps are in the high 80s to low 90s (fahrenheit, of course) and humidity anywhere from 70 - 80 percent. Night temperatures are lower by about five degrees. Getting out and moving around the city can be uncomfortable.

Despite being an old and having a number of somewhat affluent areas, we’re basically a poor city. Many non-tourist businesses have left the area, oil isn’t as big as it once was, shipping and trade have been curtailed by container ports in Houston. Due to bureaucratic inefficiencies dating back to French and Spanish colonial rule, basic city services can be lacking due to mismanagement. As a result our public school system is abysmal, roads are in poor repair, there is a high crime rate due to unemployment and drug dealing (but if you don’t try to buy any crack, you probably won’t become a statistic), and pubic transportation varies in quality. If you plan to get out of the French Quarter to sightsee, and don’t have a car, your options will be limited.

There’s a lot of trash. I don’t know why people litter the way they do here, but many parts of the city are just filthy. If you prefer things neat and tidy, New Orleans won’t charm you.

The Good:

There are very few bad restaurants outside the French Quarter since bad restaurants cannot stay in business. As a general rule, you will get larger portions of good food for a lower price than almost any other city in America. I travel a fair amount, so I’ve compared. If you come, ask the people you meet for tips, and/or search the board for New Orleans threads. My favorite places are Mandina’s, Dick and Jenny’s, Vincent’s (on St. Charles), Luigi’s Fine Foods (French Quarter) and the Bistrot at Maison de Ville.

There are lots and lots of great places to hear great live music. These range from well-known establishments like House of Blues, Tipitina’s, and Preservation Hall to holes in the wall like Funky Butt, the Maple Leaf, and Rock n Bowl. There’s music every night of the week, 52 weeks a year. Better bands play on the weekends, of course.

There is a well-established tourist network accessible from the streetcar lines - - St. Charles and Riverfront and the soon-to-be-opened Canal and Carrollton routes - - that is safe, fun, and friendly. I’m sorry that Lsura had tough times here, since in general the people are very friendly and try to be helpful.

So… if you decide to come down this way, drop me an email and I’ll be happy to recommend things that are fun to do.

14

It’s always Mardi Gras in Montreal. This is a party city. Anything goes, and does.

15

I’ve been to both, and for a vacation, would prefer New Orleans, but that’s just my personal preference. Montreal is OK but it’s a big city. If you like lots of frenetic activity and the kinds of things a big city can offer, then go to Montreal. If you want a more “funky”, smaller and more unusual and distinctive place, then go to New Orleans. No place else is anything like it. (But DON’T go in the late spring or summer!!!)

16

I’ve been to both more than once, and like them both. There are plusses and minuses for each. Montreal might be best in the summer, but New Orleans is definitely best in the winter. If you are looking for music, you should check on their websites what is available. For food New Orleans wins hands down. Nw Orleans is a lot more touristy, so you need to look out for that.

For day trips, I’ve only been to Quebec City once, but I liked it. From New Orleans, travel west on interstate 10 and you can visit lots of nice plantation houses, and even stay at them, and you can also hit Cajun country, with some more good food and music.

Food is #1 for me, so I’d pick New Orleans. If you go to Montreal, though, stay away from any restaurant associated with Celine Dion. :slight_smile:

17

I have been to New Orleans, and lived in Montreal for five years.

Both have excellent food. I’d give the food edge to New Orleans, although Montreal is much cheaper. Montreal is much cleaner. New Orleans has a better music during the spring and fall, but the music scene in Montreal is fantastic during the summertime, particularly the excellent Jazz festival. If you could go during the first week of July, I would strongly suggest Montreal but book your place to stay soon. Outside of the summer, I think both are reasonable destinations, with a definite edge to New Orleans in the springtime.

18

Best. Typo. Ever.

Seriously, though, I agree with everything in this post. I lived in New Orleans for 4 years. In the summer, it is so hot you will probably be made miserable. The combination of heat and humidity during the summer will seriously detract from your enjoyment, unless you happen to already be from a tropical climate.

The food is incredible and no description I could write would do it justice.

Because of the weather, if your trip has to be in the summer, my vote would go to Montreal. But if you do go to New Orleans, plan to take mid-afternoon “siestas” and focus your activities in the morning and after dark.

19

New Orleans, like many Southerners, is a character in of itself. Somehow the city always reminded me of that raunchy old whore who may be pockmarked and smells funny, but still gets out on the street corner and gives you a ride like no other.

There’s always something going on in New Orleans, be it great food, performance artists, street musicians, etc. People watching is great fun, the place is packed with tourists and you’ll hear jabbering in every conceivable language. Watch out for the roving bands of Japanese tourists – they travel in packs of fifty-strong, and have a tendancy to materialize from around a corner, surround you, and blind you with their flash cameras while yelling “Kawaii!”

Be prepared for anything – one time, on Memorial Day in New Orleans, I was chased down the street by a man wearing nothing but a black garbage-bag. It IS filthy, and the entire city stinks of cheap sex and piss. If you go, be sure to do all the requisite touristy things like eating beignets at Cafè du Monde.

20

Nichol_Storm, you ROCK Girl! That was a great post.

Nanci Griffith seems to prefer New Orleans:

I’ve grown pale beneath the streets of Montreal
Where voices ring like bells in French Canadian
And rivers stand imprisoned 'till the thaw
I am alone at night and dream of my own Ponchartrain

I’m going back where my garden blooms all year
Where winter time sleeps softly in the falling rain
I going back to my green-eyed lover there
We will dance upon the banks of old Lake Ponchartrain

From :“Banks of the Ponchartrain”