If you're visiting Montreal, I have one big tip for you, one that will make a difference in your time there: where to stay.

While Montreal is filled with many great accommodation options, I highly recommend the Montreal Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. Here are 6 reasons why:

1. Location

This is, possibly, the most central place you can stay in Montreal. Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth is located right above the Gare Centrale train station, and has direct access to the underground city and shopping mall. When you utilize the valet parking, you exit right out to getting around easily, on Avenue McGill College. A few blocks north and you're at McGill's campus (and plenty of art museums and great places to eat). 

2. History

While many notable people have stayed here (including, of course, Queen Elizabeth), the hotel is most famous for John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Bed-In for Peace, where the song Give Peace a Chance was recorded in 1969. You can visit the Bed-In suite, if no one is staying in it (or reserve it for yourself). 

3. The lobby and flowers

I love the flowers in hotels - they are creative, and inspiring. This hotel is no different - take a look!

Look at that cozy lobby seating area!

4. The Breakfast (!!!!!)

There's a breakfast buffet at the hotel's Le Montréalais bistrot-bar. It's one of the best breakfast buffets we've ever experienced, and includes an enormous bread station that will transport you to Paris, crepes, a slew of fresh juices, fresh fruit, eggs in a variety of ways, plenty of hot meats (we loved the chicken sausage), and a European-style layout of cold meats, cheeses, and yogurt. The waiters are hilarious, the setting is beautiful, and you'll want to linger over breakfast and coffee, planning your day. 

Yes. I want it all.

Montreal bagels, chicken sausage, crepes, meats and cheeses, eggs, and coffee? The perfect breakfast! 

Tip: If you can, snag a window so you can look across to the Cathedrale Marie-Reine du Monde - it will inspire you to head inside and explore this beautiful, often-overlooked cathedral.

5. The Rooms

The rooms are clean, well-lit, and comfortable. We loved the sitting area as well as the desk. You do have to pay extra for internet access (when will hotels learn that this is important to provide as an amenity?). I loved the coffeemaker, as well as the bathroom amenities. 

Note: The hotel will be closed for a year - from June 2016-June 2017 - for renovations. I can't wait to see what it will look like next year. 

There is a pool and workout facility. 

6. The People

I've written about this before, many times. My favorite part of staying in a hotel is the staff. The staff here at the Fairmont is lovely - very helpful, very kind to weary travelers, and quick to help. I did wish that the Concierge was a bit more up on handicap accessibility and parking in the city, but that is also rare to find (note: this was the most inaccessible city we visited in Canada). Whenever I needed help, the staff were ON it, from the front desk to the concierge to the parking guys. The smiles you see here are real, and heart-felt.

Have you stayed here? What was your favorite part?