Transportation - Reproductive Endocrinology and ART: A Celebratory Congress

Thirty Years of Advances in
Reproductive Endocrinology and ART: A Celebratory Congress
Centre Mont-Royal, Montreal, Canada, May 27-31, 2011

Transportation

Travel from the Airport

Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is west of the city center on Highway 20. Please note that travel time to the airport from the city center can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic. The airport is served by all major Canadian and U.S. airlines. The taxi fare to and from downtown is a fixed price of C$38 (a sticker on the window behind the driver gives the boundaries of the zone where the flat fare applies; for origins and destinations outside this zone, you will have to pay a metered fare). STM Airport Express bus 747 offers 24-hour service between the airport and downtown Montreal. A single fare costs C$7 including unlimited use of the STM bus and metro network for the rest of the day. It stops at Lionel-Groux metro and a number of downtown stops.

Alternatively, public bus number 204 leaves from outside arrivals every half hour to Gare Dorval. From Dorval, you can use your transfer ticket to catch bus number 211 or express bus number 221 to the Lionel-Groulx metro. Your transfer will then allow you into the métro. This costs only C$2.75, but exact change must be provided to the first driver.

The Montreal region is also served by Burlington International Airport in South Burlington, Vermont. Burlington is served by JetBlue, USAirways, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines and United Airlines, with direct, non-stop service to numerous U.S. cities including Orlando, Florida. Burlington International Airport is approximately 90 minutes drive from Montreal. In addition, Plattsburgh International Airport, in Plattsburgh, New York, is about one hour away by car. Domestic US flights to Burlington and Plattsburgh can be cheaper than international flights to Canada.

Travel within the city

By Metro
For speed and economy, nothing beats Montreal's Metro system. The stations are marked on the street by blue and white signs that show a circle enclosing a down-pointing arrow. Information is online at www.stm.info. Fares are per ride, not by distance. Single rides cost C$2.75 (£1.40), a strip of six tickets goes for C$12 (£6) and a weekly pass for unlimited rides will set you back C$19 (£9.65). Sales are cash only and tickets can be bought from the booth attendant in any station or from a convenience store. Tourist Cards can be a good deal if you plan to use the Metro more than three times in 1 day. You get unlimited access to the bus and Metro network for 1 day for C$9 (£4.50) or 3 consecutive days for C$17 (£8.50). The Metro runs from about 5:30am to 1:00am. If you plan to be out late, check the website at www.stm.info or call tel. 514/786-4636 for the exact times of each line's last train.

By Bus
Bus fares cost the same as those for Metro trains and Metro tickets can be used on buses too. Exact change is required to pay bus fares in cash. Although they run throughout the city, buses don't run as frequently or as swiftly as the Metro. If you start a trip on the bus and want to transfer to the Metro, ask the bus driver for a transfer ticket.

By Taxi
There are plenty of taxis run by several different companies. The initial charge is C$3.15 (£1.60). Each additional kilometer (2/3 mile) adds C$1.45 (75p) and each minute of waiting adds C55¢ (30p). A short ride from one point to another downtown usually costs about C$6 (£3). Tip about 10% to 15%.