Staying at Au Git'Ann truly is like staying with a friend--a friend with an impeccably tidy home, funky but homey decor and a flair for cooking fabulous breakfasts!

The rooms can get a little tight, because of the floor plan of the house, but the decor is cosy and homey, and the hospitality can't be beat. From the moment you arrive, Anne is there to greet you with a friendly welcome, show you around and help you navigate through the complexities of the free street parking on the street outside of the building (and it is indeed, rather complicated). Though we drove in, we also noticed, while walking back one day, that it's not far from the main greyhoud bus depot either--a 5-7 minute walk. Since we didn't use our car during our several days-long stay, we'd definitely consider bussing in next time.

For all but the suite, the bathrooms are shared (there's a total of four smaller rooms, and one suite)--again, the decor is lovely, with earthy tiles in the showers. Because they're shared, this can sometimes get a little tight, especially if you're used to having a bathroom to yourself, as at a hotel. But, if you're used to staying in hostels, then sharing with just one other couple is a luxury. And the inconvenience is more than compensated for by the other advantages.

There's a nice common area, with stove and fridge--plus the fixin's for tea and coffee, if you should want some at other times of the day. There are plates and cutlery, if you should want to cook dinner or make your own lunch on some occasion that you're there.

The internet is cable/ethernet, not wifi (to my chagrin, I discovered my laptop does not have an ethernet port, so I couldn't make use of the cable Anne provided for web access). BUT, she also has a computer set up that's exclusively for guest use, so if you have to/want to check your email, or want to look up some place to stay at your next destination, then it's a great convenience.

The breakfasts are sumptuous and rotate over the course of several days. Generally, there's a small bowl of fruit, lovely yoghurt, three different kinds of pastries (e.g. a cookie, a muffin and a tart--usually several or all are home made), plus a hot entree, which can be anything from quiche or crepes to fresh waffles. There are also preserves (really interesting ones, e.g. a pear and ginger preserve), plus tea or coffee.

The location is also great--we were around for the Jazz Festival, which was about a 20 min walk/stroll away (Anne said it's 10 mins, but I'm no power walker, so it took me longer). Most of the other key areas and sights are within a reasonable walking distance as well (sometimes longish--but I usually expect to walk a fair bit when sightseeing anyway), and for those that aren't, one of the subway junctions is just at the end of the street.

Anne keeps a supply of maps and Montreal tourism guidebooks on hand as well, and is happy to take the time to show you how to get to different places, as well as giving an indication of how long it takes to walk/take the bus/subway (as I say, for me, it was a matter of adding some time to that, but was a useful ballpark).

She has suggestions for how to spend the day if your'e at a loose end, but if you have your own plans, she's happy to help without being insistent (again, as it would be if staying with a friend). Similarly, she has recommendations for interesting restaurants in the area if you're interested.

In all, it was the ideal blend between personability and friendliness and a dedication to professionalism and the top standard in hospitality. It amazed me the way that Anne did it all (cleaning, cooking, hosting, etc.) with a ready smile and a bountiful supply of Montreal charm.

Oh, and it's a great city to visit as well--quite unique in Canada, I'd say, in blending a certain European cosmopolitanism, a North American big city sophistication and a French-Canadian flavour all its own.