I'm off to Montreal this weekend, staying at the Sheraton Laval. I arrive 13:15 thursday, leave 8:40 tuesday

What should I see and what should I avoid?

Is it worth me hiring a car?

Any advice gratefully recieved.

Hiring a car would be useful as Laval is not that well connected to Montreal unless you are close to the bus/train line.

Tourism wise, don't know that there's that much going on in Laval, but i could be wrong!

Downtown montreal is definitely worth visiting, as are the laurentians (in the opposite direction). Thus, you will need a car for sure!

Avoid? travelling in rush hour is an obvious answer, and potholes if you can. I was in laval the other day and at one intersection the COMPLETE corner had subsided by about 1/2 metre!! and there were NO warning cones! Be careful!

What exactly does this mean?

As i was in the right turn lane at an intersection, there was a newly-formed ditch 1/2 metre deep, about the same in width, in front of the right side of my car. The hole extended all the way around the corner of the lane. Pretty dangerous. Potholes as deep as this are not rare occurences in Greater Montreal, unfortunately, although this is the worst i've ever seen.

What you should see, is really depending on what your interests and purposes for this trip, are. Fill us in a little, and we can possibly give you some good advice.

Carrefour Laval is Canada's second biggest mall, if I'm not mistaken, and is two minutes walk from the Sheraton. Apart from that, I don't think there's much to see or do in walking distance from the hotel.

I'd definitely rent a car, since it's the easiest way to get around when you're not familiar with the bus system, but do avoid rush hour - it's horrible... And yeah, be aware of potholes, and the way the quebecois approach stop-signs - they generally mean "slow down a wee bit so you don't get that old lady's blood on your car".

(And be nice to the minibar-guy at the hotel, he's a friend of mine! )