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May, 2025

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Safe place to park&sleep

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-Dan
Posts: 7189 - Karma: 53,458
So my brother and I are coming up for IF3, but we don't have money for a hotel. Is there any place that we could park the car for the night and sleep without worrying about cops giving us trouble or someone robbing us? Either in montreal or within reasonable distance of IF3 activities.

On another note, how do i go about exchanging my money for Canadian Dollars?

Thanks for your help.
16 years ago
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
you can usually exchange your money at the bank and sometimes they don't charge a fee like an exchange bureau does, but otherwiser, in downtown montreal there are exchange bureau pretty much all over downtown. but i'd suggest asking your bank.
16 years ago
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m@tty
Posts: 332 - Karma: 89

Here is the thing ... a cop can (not saying they will) arrest you for DUI if you fulfill all of the following requirements.

1. in / around your car or motorized vehicle

2. are intoxicated

3. have your keys on you

Considering you will most definately be partying at IF3, sleeping in your car after getting nice and toasty on the magical nectar that is alcohol, can potentially be a problem.

If you are willing to risk it, there are parking lots all around montreal that are cheaper than a hotel and can house your car for a full 24h. Also, not directly downtown but in the vicinity, you might able to find a 24h Tim Hortons or McDonalds (or something similar) where you could crash in the lot.

Last suggestion would be to park at the Casino de Montreal. The parking lot is large, is free and 24h. If you guys aren't attracting attention to yourselves sleeping in your car (building a campfire, etc.) I don't see why security would find or even hassel you. You could go park there and just hit up the metro nearby to take you to the festivities. The only problem I see there is that the metro stops running at around 1am (give or take), so getting back to your car / sleeping spot might include a lift, taxi ride or damn long walk.

You could always just park at the casino to sleep and drive yourselves around the festivities as parking on the street downtown is free after 9pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends. But try not to drive when you're on the "sauce".

16 years ago
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
if you want to leave your car somewhere, i'd suggest on the main campus at mcgill. i work there, so even if after a few days of parking there, just move your car one day or something, no one will really care or notice, and you can just say you lost your ticket on your way out, that way it will only cost you 16$ to park all weekend, but you can't sleep there. we do have hostels in montreal for about 20$ a night for shared rooms, and 40$ a night for pirvates.
16 years ago
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DaveM
Posts: 2936 - Karma: 1,562
yea i wouldnt suggest crashing in your car unless you find a really isolated location.. otherwise just find a cheap place to stay or chip in to rent a hotel room with budies
16 years ago
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Malcolm
Posts: 15953 - Karma: 9,501
champlain college where i go to school has a pretty big parking that you could go in for free at night. its on the south shore but right next to the jaques cartier bridge that goes to montreal.
16 years ago
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
probably the best bet. it's quite safe and silent, so you'll sleep well

and a lot of people do it in the week ... crazy azns going to champlain
16 years ago
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
soo you want him to get to his car how at 4am when hes hammered in the middle of downtown...?

that's a good 30 minute walk if not more.
16 years ago
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
^if not much more
16 years ago
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Malcolm
Posts: 15953 - Karma: 9,501
oh shit yeah i forgot that the metro stops at 12:something.... you could always take it at 5:30 when it opens haha
16 years ago
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
taxi, splitting the fare is not that much

people livin in st-lambert could team up for the taxi, we were a bunch last year, him and his bro could team up w/ us

16 years ago
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-Dan
Posts: 7189 - Karma: 53,458
I found a hostel to stay at for 23$ a night. Definitely sketchy, but better than sleeping in the car with NY plates on in the middle of the city. Plus it makes my parents a lot happier. Thanks everyone for the help!
16 years ago
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
i mean, if you can hide your shit in your car over night theres no worries in getting a hostel to crash! besides, maybe you can find like 4 or 6 ns users to share a room with!
16 years ago
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