I visited Montreal for the first time with nothing booked. Locals helped me plan my 24-hour trip.
I went to Montreal for 24 hours without booking anything beforehand. Recommendations from locals helped me find a hotel, restaurants, and more.
A travel writer and content creator, who typically meticulously plans her trips, decided to visit Montreal for the first time without any bookings. She sought out local recommendations instead. As she waited for her flight, a man at the gate suggested she stay in Old Montreal, the city's heart, bordered by the Old Port and historic landmarks like Notre-Dame Basilica.
Upon arrival, her Uber driver offered more local insights, recommending Ye Old Orchard Pub for hockey games, smoked meat, and poutine. She also received advice from a cashier at Schwartz's Deli, who suggested La Banquise for poutine. Exploring the city on foot, she visited key sights, shopped at Montreal's Hockey team store, and indulged in Montreal's culinary delights, including smoked meat sandwiches and poutine.
This itinerary-free approach saved her time and allowed her to learn about the city from locals. While itinerary-free travel might not be suitable for all trips, it proved beneficial in this case due to the city's size and the author's limited time.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
