Montrealais! How do I get from the Dorval airport to downtown?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m flying into Dorval airport, Montréal, from Toronto on the evening of Saturday July 12th, and arriving at 21:13. (Why fly? A wedding* on Saturday afternoon and a conference starting on Sunday morning; otherwise, I’d take the train.)

I’ve booked a bed at the Auberge Jeunesse downtown. I know there’s a train station, definitely VIA, possibly commuter, at Dorval. Is there a train downtown around 22:00? Shuttle bus from the airport? Regular bus? I’d rather not take a cab, because if the airport cabs in Montréal are anything like the ones in Toronto, they are ridiculously-expensive.

[sub]*Not mine. If it were mine, we’d be staying someplece a little different than a youth hostel. Say, Fiji. [/sub]

2

There’s a shuttle bus: http://www.admtl.com/passager/acces_et_stationnement/_aerobus.aspx

I’ve never taken it but I’ve heard it takes a long time.

3

Responses to my previous query on this subject- matt_mcl post #2 did the trick for me- public bus right out front of the airport, transfer to another and you’re downtown an can access your hotel via cab, on foot, or subway, depending on the hour and locale, and cost a couple of bucks instead of $C35 for a cab.

4

Based on my recollection of when I used to live there over 10 years ago, at that hour on a Sat night, public buses are likely to be fairly widely spaced. 30 minutes and 1 hour between buses was the norm in the West-Island. The airport bus may be more frequent, but your connection is likely to make you wait. Also at that time, traffic is likely to be flowing freely, so my own bet would be on a downtown hotel shuttle. Even if your hostel is not on its run of approved stops, there is bound to be one hotel where it stops relatively near your destination. Since you pay the shuttle driver, there is no obligation to stay at one of the hotel where it stops, and it will be significantly less than a cab. But if you’re a night owl and/or on a budget, transit will get you there for less than $5.00.

Hope you have fun!

5

Exactly- being a cheapskate I was more than happy to wait thirty minutes on a bus to save thirty bucks. :slight_smile:

6

Thanks, everyone! The linked thread is very helpful, too. (I think matt_mcl is a Secret Master of the Universe[sup]TM[/sup], but he just doesn’t tell us. :slight_smile: ) I think I’ll check the hostel’s website too, on the off chance that they have a shuttle.