A C Zoom

If you are sure of the days you are going to stay in Montréal and are ok with non-refundable advance payments and are booking a week or more in advance (so as to get in multiple offers), try Priceline -- amazing deals are possible -- pay 40-60% of the prices normally charged at the hotel web sites, in some cases. A good discussion board for Priceline is BiddingForTravel.com. If Priceline does not work out, Hotwire hotels section is also worth a check. Note that both Hotwire and Priceline do not display hotel name until after you pay for it, and only a single double-bed is guaranteed though you can request options and sometimes the hotel will honor them.

For those visiting for a week or more, a great option is to rent a room or an apartment. This is a great way to live like the locals and explore neighborhoods. This is fraught with some risk in that the people renting may not be totally dependable - you may find that the person is not around at the agreed upon time, or if your plans change, then a new time cannot be agreed upon, or that the place may not be as promised. But the advantages are many, and this also is invariably less expensive than a hotel. There are large number of choices that can be browsed online - the two good sites are kijiji.ca short term rentals and craigslist vacation rentals. The number of choices is large if you are traveling without a car, but if car parking is necessary, look for places outside the downtown area where street parking is easier. Alternatively, you can leave your car in a parking lot but that can cost $25 or more during peak holiday times in the downtown areas.