Montreal/Quebec TO Boston

[Yellowsmartcar]

Hi

 

I am looking for a tour of some sort - From Montreal/Quebec to Boston, we are getting off the Legend of Seas on Monday 11 Oct 14 in Quebec and need to be on Boston for the 18 Oct to get on the Brilliance of the seas on the 19 Oct.

 

I have goggled it but having no luck there seems to be plenty of tours Boston to Montreal...but can't find the reverse. So if any of you locals can help that would be great.

 

We are not comfortable driving, so thought a tour so we can see the sights in between, Maybe Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara etc or any other places we might not know about.

 

After the Brilliance we will stay in Boston for 3 days until Wednesday 29 Oct before taking the Amtrak to New York so hubby can run the NY Marathon on 2 Nov, then flying back to Australia on the 3 Nov.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Vicky:)

Edited January 28, 2014 by Yellowsmartcar
grammar

[mking8288]

Greetings to you "down under" - it is a lot of distance (900 km or about 9 hours of non-stop driving, one way between Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa & Toronto) to sightsee during your "break" between sailings, especially when you do not want to rent a car and driving, which I can understand. From Toronto to Niagara Falls (staying on the Canada side, the views is nicer & better, especially at night) is another 130 km or 1 hr 30 minutes.

 

Most motorcoach or bus tours generally depart from NYC, Boston or Toronto and go counter-clockwise, up thru PA/NY to Niagara Falls, onward to Toronto, then Ottawa, Montreal (some extending to Quebec for 1 extra day) & then Boston and/or NYC (for 5 to 7 days) - we have had out-of-state/oversea relatives & friends going on these "deluxe" tours & spend 1/3 of their time in the slim coach seat - not exactly a fun way to leisurely see these cities with so much to offer.

 

Tried looking a # of well-established Canada-based tour operators and even the AAA/CAA sites to see if there is anything similar to match your needs & found none - including this operator - prices aren't exactly low either. http://ottawavalleytours.com/QuebecCity.html The weather starts turning cold from mid to late October in Quebec & Montreal and it's been known to start snowing.

 

You might want to ask in the Canada section of Ports of Call to see if someone north of the us (US) have better suggestion of know of a tour.

 

Here's what the itinerary would look like - (without working out the exact transport details)

Tues. 10-14 *** Disembark in Quebec, clear immigration/custom & off the ship by 10 AM, transfer to bus/rail terminal by 11 AM - lunch ?? - leave for Toronto/Niagara Falls - dinner ?? - arriving near or after midnight, hotel check-in for 2 nights.

Wed 10-15 *** Breakfast, mid/late morning tour & lunch over the Falls. Rest of day in Toronto w. dinner - back to hotel.

Thu 10-16 *** Early breakfast/checkout & leave for Ottawa (late 1/2 day trip) - dinner & continue to Montreal for late hotel check-in

Fri 10-17 *** Breakfast/hotel checkout & 1/2 day tour of Montreal - leave for Boston - late hotel check-in (dinner plans ??? - fly/drive/bus)

Sat 10-18 *** Breakfast/hotel checkout & short ride to Cruise Terminal for sailing

 

Given the time constrains, tempted to advise you to skip visiting Toronto & Niagara Falls, and just explore Quebec, Montreal & Ottawa for 3 full days on a more leisurely pace without rushing. It is "doable" if you drive but probably impossible to find a tour that resemble anything close to it, sorry.

 

Let's see if our veteran & Boston-based expert CC like 138east have ideas or suggestions that I obviously overlooked ...

[138east]

I'm not quite sure what to advise. A similar question came up last year from some fellow Australians who were on the Brilliance TA with me. I have emailed them to ask if they would share their experiences. Niagara Falls was a priority for them. Unfortunately, it is not a vacation destination for most Americans.

 

Please email me at cc138east at gmail dot com

[Yellowsmartcar]

Wow, thank you mking8288, you certainly put a lot of effort in providing me with great info.

 

Also thank you Carol (east138) I will email you shortly.

 

I have spent today trawling the net and asking Aussie friends what they have done as well.

 

Hubby got all the info today about his planning part re New York Marathon so we will have to make a few things to discuss and make some decision there as well.

 

It was also discussed that maybe we fly from Quebec/Monteral straight to Boston and start a tour there, as there seems to be more options...but also note that there are a lot of bus travel miles between each location.

 

Also thinking maybe extra few days in Quebec to explore and then flying to Boston and covering more in the Boston area - both area's seem to have tonnes to keep us busy.

 

The joys of doing it yourself and not having a decent travel agent that knows there stuff.

 

Many Thanks

 

Vicky:)

[mking8288]

Hi, look up a few options including Greyhound & Mega Buses, Via Rail Canada/Amtrak, and, of course, flying between the cities - since renting & driving a car, one way from Canada (whether it's Quebec, Montreal or Toronto to Boston) is out of the question and/or cost a small fortune. Re-reading your original post - you will be in Quebec on Sat. 11th of October and should be back in Boston by Friday for your Sat. 18th of October sailing on the Brillance of the Seas, my bad - there is a little bit more time to "play" with.

 

From Quebec, Via Rail Canada has several daily train runs to/from Montreal - trip time is about 3 hours & comfortable - driving is about 2 hours (similar for bus trip, if it is non-stop.) Between Montreal & Quebec, choice of train, bus & flying.

 

Saturday - Disembarkation in morning, rest of day in Quebec, explore & walk around historic town, dinner & overnight.

Sunday - Checkout, train or bus to Montreal, rest of day in city. Hotel for 2 nights

Monday - Full day in Montreal, explore on foot & public transit.

Tuesday - Checkout, train or bus to Toronto, evening arrival for dinner. Hotel for 3 nights.

Wednesday - Full day in Toronto, explore on foot & public transit.

Thursday - AM in Toronto, pickup rental car for 24 hours for do it yourself Niagara Falls tour for afternoon & evening. Or, join a Day Tour ****

Friday - Checkout, dropoff rental car at YYZ airport. Non-stop (90 min.) flight to Boston. Dinner & hotel overnight.

Saturday - Checkout. Embarkation at Boston Pier

 

Note - Skip a day trip or overnight stay for Ottawa. ** Rent a compact car for a day from downtown, do lunch & then 90 minutes drive to the Niagara Falls for early afternoon (daylight) and see its beauty at night.

Or, it should be easier to find a day tour to the Falls from Toronto, without booking in advance - perhaps from one of the Chinatown-based travel agencies in downtown or from nearby Scarborough. Otherwise **** http://niagaradaytour.com/prices-niagara-falls-tour.htm

 

Some links for you:

http://www.viarail.ca/

https://www.greyhound.ca/

http://ca.megabus.com/Default.aspx

 

For both rails & buses, the key is to book as early as possible for lowest fares & best discounts - especially when your cruises are already booked & no change of dates are expected.

There are no direct bus/rail or train services between Quebec & Boston, there are more options & more frequent services from/to Montreal - including flying. Lowest (non-stop) airfare between Montreal & Boston is about $285 per person one-way, between Toronto & Boston is $185 p/p OW on Air Canada Express (smaller regional jets.)

[sebas030]

Hi,

 

What kind of things are you into ? historic ? sport ?, etc...

 

Not knowing, if I were you I would do :

 

In Quebec : http://www.canyonste-anne.qc.ca/ it's a suspended bridge

 

then http://www.sepaq.com/ct/pcm/ ... super falls ( taller then Niagara )

 

then http://www.sanctuairesainteanne.org/index.php?lang=en they now have the ONLY holy door out of Europe.

 

of course lower Quebec city and Chateau Frontenac, either on a tour bus or even better http://www.calechesquebec.com/fr/our-services/horse-drawn-carriage-tours.php

 

Then 1 and 1/2 days later Montreal :

 

Many bus tours, walking tour of old Montreal ( a must )

 

http://parcolympique.qc.ca/en/the-park/the-montreal-tower/ ( many things to do )

 

A LOT of must go restaurant to visit...you will have to pick and choose :(

 

2 days later... If you are really into cultural/political things then go to Ottawa to http://www.parl.gc.ca/ ... that's about it in Ottawa.

 

Or straight to Toronto :

 

http://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/home.html

 

I did a few years ago a double deck bus tour that brought me to an old fort/castle...very good

 

http://www.torontozoo.com/ has a very good reputation

 

At that time of the year you should be out of season for Niagara ( I went again last year late October and paid crazy low price in a hotel right by the falls with falls view, corner suite with Jacuzzi and all :D

 

Visit http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/ , visit the falls, do the maid of the mist, take a bus tour that brings you to Niagara on the lake, visit a vineyard, plenty of wax museum and other museum in Niagara falls.

 

You can spend 2 days there easily.

 

Then you can arrange transportation from Niagara falls to Buffalo and Buffalo to Boston.

 

Ok....my fingers are sore ;)

 

 

I'll try to help !