Best Airbnbs in Montreal

Montreal is a city of unique intersections.

As the capital of Quebec, it’s an important political and cultural hub where the French-Canadian lifestyle comes into clear focus.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

All at once, Montreal is romantic, lovely, and historical, while also being home to diehard Habs fans and leagues of poutine lovers. From its architecture to its festivals to its fashion sense, the city is both non-pretentious and bold.

Here’s a pretty way to summarize the cool-chic nature of Montreal: It’s the birthplace of the world-famous Cirque de Soleil. It also hosts the world’s largest jazz festival (sorry, New Orleans).

Whether sipping hot chocolate at lovely cafes or slamming poutine after a late night, Montreal offers a European-style air without losing touch with its homegrown roots.

The best part? Montreal is deceptively affordable.

To get the most out of your trip, you’re going to want to stay close to the action. Below, you find the best Airbnbs in Montreal, including lux, historical, and budget picks.

Best luxury rental: Pristine Penthouse

Exposed brick, stately fireplaces, and wrought-iron spiral staircases that lead onto patios—need I say more? On top of its unique features, this beautiful penthouse has an industrial design that somehow feels warm thanks to its décor.

While I’m wholly sold on the design and atmosphere of this penthouse, it also has a wonderful location that’s only ten minutes from downtown and Old Port. Its open floor plan also makes it a great choice for families or friend groups that plan on spending a lot of time together at their home away from home.

Book here

Best location: Plaza10

This sleek and bright apartment has all the basics you’d want from a hotel stay. I mean that literally, as this apartment is fully serviced.

(Never heard of these types of stays? They’re called apart-hotels. I’ve stayed at them before—they’re great.)

Solid amenities and features aside, this rental is located right in the heart of La Petite Patrie—which is arguably Montreal’s coolest district. Restaurants, bars, and shops abound in this area, giving you direct access to the hippest streets and nightlife in the city.

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Best for staying on foot: The Urban Chalet

Along with La Petite Patrie, visitors also love to visit Montreal’s Central Plateau neighborhood. The Urban Chalet places you smack in the center of its eclectic and energetic streets.

No need to drive or even step foot into a taxi. Along with plenty of pedestrian fare, the Central Plateau area is also surrounded by metro stations.

The rental also offers all the kitchen basics, including options for making coffee, and a few resources for parents, including a crib with bedsheets. But my favorite feature has to be the balconies—there are two for visitors to choose from when they want to people-watch or unwind.

Book here

Best historical rental: Sonder Lambert

Sonder Lambert looks like a dream. The interior brings to mind the vast lofts common to New York City’s Soho neighborhood—and even the exterior, too.

The building dates back to 1874 with a newly restored (and original) stone façade. Even the streets are still cobbled, offering a unique look into Montreal’s Old City.

I’m fully sold on the apartment’s location and its textural, earthy design. But I’m also a fan of the rental’s super-fast Wi-Fi, which makes this option great for those who need to get some work done… or even take a few international video calls.

Book here

Best budget option: Entire Home

This charming home is surprisingly cheap at less than $100 per night. On top of that, it’s highly rated by guests with a sterling 5.0 rating.

Along with a sunroom-dining area, the apartment comes with a fantastic backyard that’s fit for grilling and dining. There’s even a colorful mural from a local artist.

Despite the rental’s affordability, it’s located by a metro station that heads straight into Old Montreal, Little Italy, and other popular spots. But you might not need want to venture out, as the Plaza Saint-Hubert area is already home to popular shops and cafes.

Book here

Best modern rental: 409 with Mountain Views

I’m not usually a fan of hyper-modern design, but this apartment sticks the landing. The construction includes French Doors made of glass that create a modular but breathable feel.

Its minimalist approach is clutterless, which draws attention to the windows and the view of Montreal’s surrounding mountains.

It feels larger than life and removed from the city—but it’s actually located right in the heart of the Plateau district. And despite its emphasis on clean, modern design, the apartment is located in a building that’s well over a century old.

Book here

Van Life: What Is It Actually Like to Live in a Van?

Van life is taking outdoor adventures to new heights.

In case you’ve missed out on the trend, the main benefit of van life is that it offers Americans the chance to live minimally, on the road, and with total freedom.

The van life movement was born partly from the lockdown period, which helped spur interest in other things like digital nomadism and living outside of cities.

Van life, similar to RVing, gives people the power of mobility. Compared to RVs, vans are a bit more rugged-ready, affordable, and customizable—with trade-offs related to space and convenience, of course.

Though I haven’t lived full-time in a van, I’ve spent stints living inside one; first in Australia in 2013 and then in Portugal in 2022. The van in Australia was pretty barebones—no water storage, no electricity. Just a tent strapped to the roof and a small kitchen setup.

My stint of van life in Portugal was a lot more comfortable. Its owners had customized the van to add water storage, a small sink, a comfortable bed, and even shelves. The modular storage was also helpful and intuitive.

Thanks to that setup, I could have stayed for a while comfortably.

It’s made me wonder about modern van life, especially for those who have a solid setup and a year or two of experience under their belts. What sorts of concessions are full-timers making? What sorts of comforts do they still have access to?

Let’s take a closer look at the basics of van life according to full-timers.

Sleeping

A person’s sleep is only as good as their mattress.

Most people living full-time in a van invest in a great mattress topper or mattress. Most people create slats that extend their bed at night, meaning space isn’t an issue for customized vans.

Instead, other factors like ventilation and insulation will go a long way in guaranteeing a good night’s rest.

Then there’s finding a good place to park. This can be a tough challenge for those heading into cities or towns. In remote places, the challenge might revolve around finding flat ground suitable for parking.

Then there are knocks in the night. One full-timer mentioned that finding parking in the wrong spot (like a parking lot or residential street) can lead to expected wake-ups from security at any hour of the night. Sometimes, they’re required to move their vans in the middle of the night.

Cooking

Cooking in a van is a lot simpler than you might think. Most sinks include slats that transform them into flat counter space.

And most electrical setups—especially those running on solar power—generate enough energy to keep a mini-fridge and its mini-freezer cold.

I’ve seen a few top-tier vans that also have electrical burners. However, most full-timers use propane tanks and portable stove-tops—which enable people to grill steaks next to rushing rivers or pop popcorn with views of the Grand Canyon.

The catch here is restocking on food and supplies. Most full-timers need to wander back into civilization to fill up their caches at least once every two weeks.

Washing & cleaning

Water is limited in vans. Even full-timers who have larger tanks or rain catchment solutions must be mindful of their water usage.

From sinks to showers to cleaning up little messes along the way, I imagine this is one of the tougher parts of living in a van.

Water filters are a good solution, as these can turn any potable source into fresher and healthier drinking water. But even with water filters, most full-timers head to a water source to refill their tanks at least once a week.

And what about bathing? Great vans might have showers, but starter vans probably won’t. In these cases, full-timers rely on rivers, creeks, camping sites, friendly neighbors, and more. The same goes for bathrooms.

In terms of water, I think the real catch is laundry.

Washing dishes and keeping yourself clean is one thing—but there’s no workaround for a sweaty t-shirt that’s already been re-used. The fine print here: If you live in a van, you probably spend a good amount of time planning out what comes next.

Driving

Driving should be the easy part, right? Well, not always.

Before setting off, most people spend a good amount of time perfecting their van’s layout and load. Overloading the van can degrade the vehicle and make driving dangerous on country roads.

Similarly, everything in storage needs to be strapped down, locked tight, and stuck in place.

Planning

Let’s circle back to the demands of planning.

The greatest benefit of living in a van full-time is the freedom of the open road. But that also requires some organization, including looking at gas prices, choosing specific routes, and paying for parking.

But the most important factor that I’ve seen mentioned time and time again is repairs.

Almost all full-timers have had their van go out of commission with a costly repair—which could happen in any city. That sometimes incurs high hotel fees in addition to repair costs.

While that shouldn’t be shocking to anyone who owns a vehicle, it’s still worth pointing out that these hiccups can make van life pricier than most think. Always plan to budget for maintenance and repairs, especially in the first few years.

The Top 3 Mystery Travel Companies

Mystery travel has been around for a while.

I first heard of this concept back in the early 2010s—when it was mentioned as a punch line for the future of travel.

I don’t remember where I read the line, but the gist was this: Travel has become so saturated with options that the only true frontier is a ‘mystery trip’ with an unknown destination and itinerary.

Whoever posited that notion was spot on, if slightly ahead of their time.

Over the last few years, mystery trips have gained popularity. They closely resemble the idea put forth over a decade ago.

To stoke a deeper sense of intrigue, excitement, and wanderlust, some travelers hand the reins over to experienced travel agencies that put together a trip for them.

Travelers just answer a few questions that lay out factors like their budget, group sizes, interests, phobias, and similarly important information.

After that, dates are solidified, flights are booked, and travelers pack their bags as best as they can with what information they have.

Who actually goes on mystery trips?

Mystery trips are sneaking into the mainstream more and more.

In 2023, Wizz Air launched a Mystery Trip social media campaign. A select group of adventurers paid a one-time fee to travel on an unknown adventure.

Wizz’s mystery trip saw passengers jet-set to Las Vegas where they were treated to a stay at the Flamingo. That sounds like a devilish trick to me since the Vegas Strip is at the very, very bottom of my bucket list.

But Wizz’s passengers seemed happy with the setup; unsurprisingly, most travelers were in their twenties. Full of energy. Undeterred by the things that they saw on the Strip.

Young and adventurous travelers are a great demographic for mystery trips—but that isn’t the only target market.

Most mystery trips rightfully come with a hefty price tag. Like any adventure, there’s a lot that goes into creating a great itinerary. And if you’re going on a mystery trip, you should be okay with investing more for a quality (and thorough) experience.

The coolest mystery trips I’ve seen offered are all squarely in the adventure and/or luxury travel spheres.

If you’re looking to venture out on a mystery trip, I’d suggest starting with one of the companies below. I would personally hand them thousands to ferry me away to unknown places.

Few & Far’s Unknown Experience

I already spent an entire article raving about how cool this trip looks.

But let me do a bit of summarizing—Few & Far is a luxury and sustainable travel company. Its founders have used their background in glamping and eco-friendly travel to roll out some of the coolest safari tours and remote, wilderness experiences I’ve ever seen.

Their goal is simple: Use eco-hospitality to not just protect fragile and gorgeous ecosystems, but actively support and improve these places. They do that through a robust community-led approach and cutting-edge sustainability practices.

The company offers an Unknown Experience that’s built on this ethos. If I’m handing total control to any travel company, Few & Far is my top selection by a long shot.

Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go is one of the very first companies to make mystery trips mainstream—which I think is helped by the website’s solid design. Their platform makes it easy to shop around for different types of mystery trips, which goes a long way in ensuring curious travelers that they’re experienced and legitimate.

Visitors can explore plane trips, road trips, and outdoor destinations. Trips include the basics of itinerary planning, lodgings, dinner reservations, and full-time traveler support.

Mystery trips can be as short as two nights or as long as ten. Depending on the program, solo strips can cost as little as $1,350—an affordable price point by any stretch.

That makes Pack Up + Go a solid choice for anyone who feels dissuaded by heftier bills. Additionally, I like that the platform offers plane-based travel or car-based travel. I’d probably start with a road trip as a first-time mystery tripper.

World Mystery Trips

World Mystery Trips is an international and far-reaching platform.

If you’re on the fence about whether a mystery trip is right for you, just visit the website—it’ll convince you pretty quickly with prompts like, ‘It’s time you put the thrill back into your vacations, don’t you think?’

Similar to Pack Up + Go, World Mystery Trips has a good decade of experience under its belt. It’s also a lot more geared toward international adventures, which can help travelers interested in cultural exchanges get even more out of their trip.

Uniquely, trips aren’t planned based on bookings.

Instead, travelers can sign up for a mystery trip. These opportunities are listed alongside the other trips offered by World Mystery Trips. (Even if unknown adventures aren’t your thing, the other offers look pretty cool!)

How to Beat Jet Lag According to Business Travelers

Jet lag is a deceptively serious issue for travelers.

The farther someone prepares to fly from home, the more excited they probably are for their trip. After all, carving out a week of vacation to head to a place like Dubai, Bali, or Tokyo is the stuff of travel dreams.

Thanks to the complex planning demands and high prices involved, travelers always want to get the most out of their trip. That’s doubly true when long-haul flights suck up a whole day (or even two) of the vacation.

Here’s where jet lag becomes a serious issue.

Jet lag carves precious time off your trip due to exhaustion and brain fog.

Even if you’re just feeling drowsy or not up for that longer stroll, jet lag can negatively impact your trip. We’ve all lived through that feeling—that our bodies are rebelling against us when it matters most.

After all, who needs shut-eye when there are dozens of adventures to be had?

To break down the nitty-gritty of jet lag, I’m following the money to see how business executives avoid jet lag. After all, business travelers aren’t there for fun. They have to show up looking fresh and speaking articulately. They might even be heading to a high-profile meeting from the airport… in a suit, nonetheless.

So, what do international entrepreneurs have to say about avoiding jet lag?

Here are the best tips and tricks I’ve collected from traveling businesspeople.

Prep beforehand

One of the most tried-and-true pieces of advice is to prep your circadian rhythm before takeoff. Many businesspeople recommend adjusting your sleep schedule one or two days before the flight.

Simply shift the time that you’re waking up and falling asleep by a few hours so that it’s more aligned with your destination. This helps prep the circadian rhythm for a specific time change. It should also help you avoid medications like Melatonin.

Use an app

Technology is revolutionizing travel in many impactful ways—and jet lag treatment is no exception. In fact, some hotels are working closely with jet lag solutions to offer their guests a better stay.

Timeshifter is one of the most well-known solutions, which is available for download on mobile devices. It works by creating sleep profiles for its users, which it compares to the latest neurological studies on jet lag and circadian disruption.

The app’s algorithm then creates a detailed plan for every user that should ideally help them avoid the worst effects of jet lag.

Most advice from Timeshifter and similar apps covers light exposure. Light informs our circadian rhythm—but our screens provide an ever-present sun. Jet lag apps can help you pin down when you should be avoiding natural or artificial light.

Maintain the health basics

Jet lag is a sign of distress. Similar to challenges like constipation, jet lag happens because our body’s rhythm is thrown off.

Jet lag usually gets mentioned around in terms of sleep schedule, but it can also impact our energy levels, ability to concentrate, appetite, and even mood.

Let’s get a little medical here. Jet lag is a sign that our body’s rhythm is off. Our organs aren’t sure when to work in overdrive and when to ‘power down’, while hormone release is also thrown off.

Even our ability to regulate our temperature can be difficult when our circadian rhythm is off.

So it pays to maintain the basics of a good diet, some exercise, and plenty of hydration. Keep your body moving and try to eat vegetables, fruits, and other high-fiber choices.

Hydration looks to be the most important factor when it comes to avoiding jet lag. So don’t try to reduce the amount of water you drink to avoid bathroom breaks on planes.

Day 1 habits

Prepping beforehand, using technology, and maintaining the basics of physical health are a great way to avoid the worst effects of jet lag. But you should also be focused on setting the right habits as soon as you reach your destination.

Forget your home time zone—you should be powering through the day, even if you arrive early in the morning.
During this first day, avoid alcohol, highly caffeinated drinks, and junk food—drink plenty of water and healthy foods to give your body a boost.
Get out in the sunlight to reprogram your mind—it’ll make you even more ready for sleep when the sun goes down.

Bathrooms Abroad: Squat Toilets, Water-Wiping, & More

Toilets are cultural.

Want to hear my most cultural toilet moment?

I was in Darjeeling in 2011 on the hunt for a public bathroom. I found one, to my great luck. And I had quite a few toilets to choose from. Unfortunately, none of the squat toilets had stalls. They were lined up on either side of the single-room bathroom… facing each other, I might add.

By the time I got to my squat toilet, everyone in the bathroom realized there was a foreigner amongst them, and no one was shy about checking me out. My second stroke of luck was that I only had to go number one, which I did with an audience.

I wiped with water, washed my hands thoroughly, and was on my way.

Just another day in India.

For me, at least.

Welcome to the squat toilet

The first country I ever visited outside of the US was Germany. After that, I stayed in rural Cambodia before heading off to India. The latter two gave me a crash course in toilet culture.

Never used squat toilets or even heard of wiping with your hand instead of toilet paper?

You aren’t alone.

After reading through a few travel stories, I realized that there are a stunning number of travel journalists, bloggers, and tourists who have no idea how to use a squat toilet or wipe with water. Or even if they know the basics of squatting, wiping with the hand might still be viewed as dirty or controversial.

It’s neither.

Squat toilets are more common than you think

Let me demystify these concepts quickly.

Squat toilets are common throughout the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia—from China to Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

Of these countries, some also prefer water wiping to toilet paper. This is the case in India, Indonesia, and even parts of Sudan.

In India, for example, everyone uses their left hand when they wipe. That’s why when you exchange money or goods with someone in public, it’s bad form to use the left hand. (Being left-handed is controversial in general.)

When eating, by contrast, it’s considered clean to use the right hand.

Sounds crazy? It’s not that weird if you think about bidets. In fact, many of my friends from the East find it outright baffling that some Westerners don’t use water when cleaning up.

If you’re heading to a country that uses squat toilets or are simply interested in how squat toilets work, let me treat you to a crash course.

How to use a squat toilet

A squat toilet is a flat piece of porcelain laid on the ground. Every squat toilet is different, but there are usually ] divots where your feet should go. Ideally, there are also a few bars for those who aren’t practiced at squatting and standing.

Just assume the position and make sure you’re aimed in the right direction. When the job is done (I’ll cover wiping below), you can use the water at hand to ‘flush’. There’s no button involved—so don’t bother searching.

Instead, you should see a faucet with a small hand bucket or even a small hose. Fill the bucket to wash the toilet clean—and always handle the bucket with your clean hand, if hand-wiping is the go-to.

Want to know a pro tip? You should also be cleaning any dirt or mud left on the toilet from your shoes.

How to wipe with water

Squat toilets may or may not have toilet paper available. Even in India where most people wipe with their hands, toilet paper is normally offered at tourist establishments. In other words, if someone sees you heading to the bathroom, they might go out of their way to offer you some TP.

But remember—even if you do have toilet paper in the squat toilet, it needs to go in the bin. Don’t try to ‘flush’ the toilet paper down the squat toilet.

If there isn’t toilet paper, fill the hand bucket with water. Remember—one hand will stay ‘clean’ and one hand will do the dirty work. Do not mix up these hands.

Keep the bucket in one hand and use it to wet your ‘dirty’ hand, then wipe.

Don’t pour the water anywhere aside from your hand, and keep your hand held above the toilet for any runoff. And don’t switch hands to refill the bucket. Place it on the ground, if necessary, and refill it with your clean hand.

When you’re done, set the bucket aside and clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

You’ll get used to it a lot faster than you think.

Modern Plane Etiquette: The Basics of Mile-High Manners

Plane travel isn’t quite how it used to be.

I wouldn’t say that plane travel was ever magical, per se. However, air travel used to demand more patience. Flight routes weren’t nearly as vast, while budget airlines were few and far between. Staff tended to be less overworked, and legroom wasn’t a pipe dream.

These factors helped create flights with fewer hiccups. At least, when it comes to etiquette.

Larger planes and better service helped make up for passengers who seemed to spawn from alien planets.

After all, most passengers knew intuitively not to put their bare feet onto armrests, not to bring on super-stinky foods, and to give middle passengers dibs on the armrests.

Most travelers also knew when to give a bit of grace. For example, kids kicking seatbacks might just need a little time to get adjusted to the flight.

But with more flight disruptions, worse airport experiences, smaller planes, and slashes to just about every service in the airline industry, etiquette matters.

How we treat one another in the airport and on the plane is the last line of defense for our sanity.

So what’s the modern take on plane etiquette? Let’s explore the most important factors according to travel bloggers, flight attendants, and other industry pros.

Plane etiquette 101

Airplane mode isn’t a suggestion

This really isn’t a question of etiquette—it’s an example of following the rules that are instated for safety purposes. Smartphones, especially those with 5G connections, can cause interference with aircraft navigation and communication tools.

Do you really want to make the job of piloting a commercial airplane any more difficult?

The overhead bins are precious

Every time someone stuffs their coat or handbag into the overhead cabin, another passenger loses the chance to store their full-sized carry-on. So, let’s reiterate: The overhead cabin is strictly for luggage.

Suitcases get priority over backpacks, so long as backpacks fit beneath the seat in front of you. If your backpack is your carry-on, then feel free to use the overhead bins.

Put your bag by your seat

Let’s make another specification when it comes to the overhead bins: You should use the space that correlates to your seat. When you put your bag above someone else’s seat, you’re taking the space set aside for their luggage.

On the other hand, if you notice that all passengers are seated in their row and see an open space, it’s fair game.

Always use headphones

I’m surprised to clarify this, but it seems to be a growing problem—especially when it comes to younger flyers and children. No matter who is watching content or listening to music, they should be using headphones. Remember that air travel is already stressful, and nothing compounds stress like obnoxious noises.

Watch the window blinds

Everyone enjoys taking a peek out of the windows. (And it’s considered good etiquette to make sure others in your row can see out of the window when landing.)

But be mindful when the sun is shining brightly. It could be uncomfortable for passengers sitting in direct light. Additionally, bright light can reflect off of glass screens to create a really painful glare for passengers seated in other rows.

Treat staff respectfully

Similar to using headphones, this type of etiquette probably seems more self-evident than it is. Even a smile can go a long way for flight staff who are having a difficult day. I hear it can even get you a few extras, like a bottle of water or a spare treat… or even access to the emergency rows and their life-giving legroom.

No chatting necessary

A bit of small talk is normal on most flights, especially as passengers get situated in their row. But there’s nothing worse than a busybody who wants to chat through a two-hour-long flight.

Respect the signs that others might not be open to small talk. And don’t feel bad that they don’t want to chat—who knows what kind of airport experience they’re trying to survive? On top of that, who knows why they’re traveling? Not everyone is on vacation, after all.

Recline mindfully

There’s no fast-and-easy rule when it comes to reclining. Overwhelmingly, the decision should be based on the person sitting behind you. After all, etiquette is about making things easier for those around us.

Here’s what seasoned travelers and flight staff advise: If someone is eating, don’t recline. If someone is trying to work on a laptop or paper, don’t recline. If someone is visibly uncomfortable in their seat, don’t recline.

If I had to put it poetically: Every time you choose not to recline your seat, an angel gets its wings.