Last year, on my way to Montreal for Thanksgiving I spent the majority of my drive listening to NHPR’s excellent Outside/In podcast about the history of Hydro Quebec. I just happened to be staying in this magnificent cheese grater which was the first Montreal skyscraper designed by a francophone Canadian. Needless to say, I was a master in my own hotel room.

Things to know:

• I may have bribed my way up 9 floors with a $9 bag of Lindt chocolate.
• It is really easy to get in and out of the city.
• The elevator to the Bonaventure metro station is elegantly retro.
• The Provigo by the Bell Centre is nicer than the Desjardins IGA.