BIENVENUE A MONTREAL / WELCOME TO MONTREAL
A different language, different measurements, and different money will greet you once you enter Canada's Quebec Province. Here, some points to keep in mind.The border: Be sure to bring an ID for each member of your family, and take note that as of December 31, 2006, U.S. citizens will need a passport to enter Canada (more details at state.gov).
The weather: From June through September, the thermometer will peak in the low 20s -- Celsius, that is. That's a comfortable 70 to 75 Fahrenheit.
The money: Canadian currency is also called the dollar, but Canadians have replaced their $1 and $2 bills with golden "loonies" (named for the loon on the coin's back) and copper-and-nickel "toonies." ATMs ("Guichet Auto-matique") are plentiful, or use your credit card to avoid exchange hassles. Note: All prices we've quoted are in approximate U.S. dollar equivalents at presstime. Go to xe.com for the latest currency conversion.
The refund: Keep your receipts. Nonresident visitors can get an instant refund on the goods-and-services tax paid on expenses totaling more than $180 at many duty-free shops. Go to ccra.gc.ca/visitors for more information.
