First Impressions of Montreal

First Time Visiting Montreal

We took the VIA train from Toronto to Montreal. I talked about the train journey here: . The Central Train station is located right in downtown Montreal; it felt like Toronto’s Union Station. However, it looked too old and feels like it needs a renovation.

We were hungry and McDonald’s was the only restaurant we found enticing. The menus were very similar to Toronto’s, but we felt the prices were slightly more expensive. We had no issues ordering, despite my concern that they may only speak French.

We had to go to the Courtyard Marriot, which we knew was in very close proximity. We asked someone for directions and there were no issues with English there either. Once we were out on the street and started walking, we felt right away that Montreal looked cleaner than Toronto.

The lower level of traffic was noticeable, although it was a Friday afternoon. Also, there weren’t many people on the street like Toronto. We started to like Montreal right away. It must have something to do with our vacation vibes, but we liked every aspect of Montreal compared to Toronto.

We thought we were going to have language difficulties, as we spoke no French, but we never had any issues. Everyone we interacted with spoke English and were very friendly.

We visited China Town and the Waterfront aka Old Port of Montréal, which is nestled between the downtown district and the St. Lawrence River. We liked this area a lot. It was much better and bigger compared to Toronto’s waterfront.

We especially liked the old charm feeling, like the cobblestoned streets. Montreal feels like a European city and there are many spots that can kind of reflect somewhere in Europe.

Overall, we liked Montreal a lot more than we were hoping for. We definitely won’t mind visiting Montreal many times again in the future.

VIA Rail Economy Class Trip Report: Toronto to Montreal

VIA Rail Economy Class First Impressions: Toronto to Montreal

This is my first VIA Train ride, so I have been waiting for this day for some time. We went to the Union Station in downtown Toronto a lot earlier, as we also do for our plane travels.

The boarding and efficiency of VIA Rail’s check-in process was smooth and efficient. We had assigned seats, so once aboard we settled down in our seats. This was pre-assigned – VIA Rail charges extra to change or modify seats.

I found the Economy Class seating to be spacious, clean, and equipped with ample legroom and tray tables, making it ideal for both work and relaxation. I had a peek in the business class and found nothing there to spend more money on. I was glad I chose economy.

As the train glided out of Toronto, we were treated to sweeping views of Ontario’s countryside. Rolling fields, quaint towns, and stretches of forest flashed by the window, offering a peaceful backdrop to the journey. I captured the essence of train travel in my video—unhurried, scenic, and serene.

I took a tour to the washrooms; there were 2 – one spacious for all genders and family and another a single washroom. I was shocked to see them so clean and nice; they were far better than aircraft washrooms.

We had the newer VIA Rail's Siemens Venture Train. The coach was really noise-proof; we didn’t feel like we were on a train. Due to track limitation, the speed limit was capped at below 160 km/h, but it felt like very good speed.

Unlike the VIA Rail/Amtrak train that goes to the US, the Montreal corridor trains do not have dining cars. But the train attendants came with food carts serving snacks, light meals, and drinks often. I found the prices were reasonable and not overpriced at all.

Overall, my first VIA Rail journey from Toronto to Montreal exceeded expectations. The comfort of Economy Class, the quiet ride on the new Siemens Venture train, and the scenic views made for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. With clean facilities and reasonably priced onboard service, it’s a great alternative to flying. I’d definitely recommend this route to anyone looking to travel between these two cities in comfort and style.

BIG Packing Mistake - Why You Should Not Overpack Your Carry-On

Stop Overpacking Your Carry-On and Travel Smart, Travel Light

Traveling with carry-on luggage saves time and avoids hassle. However, the most common mistakes many travelers make lead in the opposite direction if you get flagged by airport security for a secondary screening.

Physical Burden

Besides the physical burden of a heavy carry-on, such as hauling cumbersome luggage through bustling airports, public transit, or flight stairs, the other main disadvantage is that a piece of heavy luggage is more likely to get flagged at the airport for screening and even at the flight gate.

Security Screening

Bulky luggage is hard for scanning machines to inspect, thus security officials need to pull them for secondary screening. This might open the door for longer delays and missing your flights. Also, security officials might get suspicious just by looking at an oddly-shaped, chunky bag and flag you to open and manually inspect it.

Gate Check

Another drawback of carrying a bulky carry-on backpack or suitcase is the possibility of gate check. I have seen this a lot; airlines are forcing passengers to gate check when they conclude that overhead storage will not be able to handle all the carry-on luggage. However, this has never happened to me because I always travel light.

Travel Light for a Better Experience

The joy of not carrying immense weight on your back and not maneuvering through the airport with cumbersome luggage is priceless. Traveling should be an enjoyable experience and not an experience in which you worry about how you are going to make it to your destination.

Packing Tips

Here are some quick tips: 1. Plan Ahead: Make a list of essentials and stick to it. 2. Use Packing Cubes: Organize your belongings and maximize space. 3. Roll Your Clothes: Save space and reduce wrinkles. 4. Limit Shoes: Try to limit yourself to two pairs. 5. Toiletries: Opt for travel-sized items.

Conclusion

Travel smart and travel light to avoid the common pitfalls of overpacking. Your journey will be smoother and you'll have more time to enjoy your trip.

What Are The Different Types Of GMT Watches? Caller GMT vs. Traveler GMT

Caller GMT vs. Traveler GMT: Understanding the Differences

GMT watches are handy for tracking multiple time zones. Two popular types are Caller GMT and Traveler GMT. Let's break down how they work and who they're best for.

Caller GMT:

The Caller GMT watch is ideal for people who stay in one place but need to know the time in another location. It has a GMT hand that you can set to show the time in a different time zone. Meanwhile, the main hour hand stays fixed to your local time. This way, you can easily see the time in another part of the world without changing your local time. This is great for business professionals or anyone with friends or family abroad.

Traveler GMT:

The Traveler GMT watch is perfect for people who travel frequently. With this type of watch, you can adjust the main hour hand to the local time wherever you are, while the GMT hand continues to show the time in your home time zone. This makes it easy to switch between time zones without losing track of home time. It's especially useful for globetrotters and frequent flyers.

Key Differences:

The main difference between Caller GMT and Traveler GMT watches is how you adjust the hour hands. The Caller GMT keeps the local time fixed and adjusts the GMT hand for the second time zone. The Traveler GMT lets you adjust the main hour hand for local time, making it easier for frequent travelers.

In summary, choose a Caller GMT if you need to keep track of another time zone while staying in one place. Opt for a Traveler GMT if you travel often and need to adjust your local time frequently.

Buying a GoPro in 2025? Read This First!

Why I Might Skip 2025’s GoPro 14

I have been using a GoPro Action camera for a decade. This is the only action camera I have known and ever used. It is unthinkable for me to switch to any other kind of action camera. I really need to update to a newer version of GoPro for the past couple of years, but I have been putting off buying a new one.

Last time I upgraded to a new version was in 2021, with the GoPro HERO 10. However, in 2025 I may not upgrade yet. I won’t buy a GoPro anymore unless GoPro upgrades their sensor size—a critical feature that competitors like DJI and Insta360 have already improved.

Every year GoPro keeps doing unnecessary upgrades that do not matter at all. For some strange reason, they don’t upgrade what everyone keeps waiting for – increasing its sensor size. GoPro’s tiny sensor hurts low-light performance and excludes much better-quality videos, while competitors keep upgrading and outperforming GoPro with better hardware.

DJI and Insta360 caught up on upgrading their sensors some time ago. Many GoPro hardcode fans abandoned GoPro, and the question remains whether they want to remain in business, as it looks like GoPro doesn’t care what consumers need and this is necessary to stay in business.

My reason for not abandoning GoPro yet is that I like their colour profile and video quality. In my opinion, this is something no other company can beat GoPro at, however DJI and Insta360 came very close.

Also, I Subscribe to GoPro (formerly Plus) for unlimited cloud storage, which I will lose if I leave GoPro. GoPro recently got sneakier and stopped giving unlimited cloud storage to all clips, which was previously free. Now only GoPro clips can be saved as unlimited.

My Verdict: Until GoPro prioritizes real improvements, save your money! Stop buying new GoPros in 2025 and beyond. If GoPro doesn’t change their sensor size, I will have to take drastic action—even if that means abandoning GoPro unlimited cloud and losing all my saved files.