Montreal has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps it is because I went to school at UVM and Montreal was the closest major city to me, but I consider myself lucky to have been so close to a great international gateway. To this day, Montreal is a favorite, and a hidden gem of North America. In my opinion, it is the food and the people that make it extra special. It is like Europe without the jetlag. The US dollar does not hold the value it used to, but the overall value still makes you feel like you are getting a deal. I make it a point to stay in the old town at an auberge and this last trip I stayed at Auberge au Vieux Port . I found it on the Internet and could not have chosen better. I’ve stayed at other auberges before, such as Auberge Les Pessants du Sans Soucy and would recommend both, but the Auberge Au Vieux Port won my heart. I arrived to the hotel about 7 pm just when a playoff game was starting for the Canadiens (hockey team). So, of course the whole city was glued to the TV screen and had a great energy to it. However, when I checked in there were two ladies, who cared nothing about hockey, asking about where to eat. Frankly, in Montreal, you have to look very hard to find a bad restaurant. However, they took 15 minutes of the front desk’s time while I just stood there. The valet took notice right away and immediately brought me a complimentary glass of wine. I arrived to the room after and was blown away. It was gorgeous and was a standard room at a very reasonable price and even beat some 5-star hotel rooms I’ve been to. It had hard wood floors, 11-foot ceilings, flat screen TV, brand new bathroom and beautiful bed in an iron cast frame. The auberge also had a delicious restaurant on the ground floor and outdoor terrace to dine in during the summer months. It was a stunning country room in the middle of a great city. A true hideaway on a business trip, just 5 minutes by taxi downtown. Montreal is a must see city for a quick business trip, a weekend trip for the family or a romantic getaway. -Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher