I'm considering heading to Montreal for a weekend next summer for the GP and to check out the city. I decided to start trying to look at hotel prices downtown (I really want to be in the middle of everything and don't mind the extra cost) how early should I look to book to escape the markups for the weekend?

You cannot escape the mark-ups! Hotels here will not give a rate for June weekends until they have the GP date confirmed! You can try and it may save you a little bit but by that I mean a hotel room that is $150 any other time of the year and is $500 for GP weekend you might get for $450 by booking now. Still, I would recommend booking ASAP because before you know it all hotels will be sold out.

Have gone for the past 3 years. It's bloody expensive.

I wanted to go previous years and didn't because of the hotels. This year I was lucky to get the Omni at rack rates; I guessed the correct weekend way before it was announced
A big part of the problem is that the F1 teams themselves now take hundreds of rooms

McGill University rents out dorm rooms at about $50 a night GP weekend, they are perfect! Ask FucF1, I know he stayed there one year.

http://www.mcgill.ca/residences/summer/

Yeah the dorms look like a good option if you can sleep without AC. And next year the race is two weeks earlier so it's less likely to be such a steambath

I dont know if you guys are giving canadian dollar or us dollar quotes but the rates I've been given haven't been anywhere near $500 a night. I've been seeing around $200 USD being offered me but the problem has been every nice hotel is sold out already!. SHeraton and a bunch of non boutique ones are still available though.

NExt question how good is General Admission and which is the best grand stand seating (from the site I would suspect Start/Finish and Senna Curve seating), I dont mind the $400 for 3 days but damn $100/3 days is damn tempting (more $$$ for partying)

GA is crap, get grandstand seats.

GA used to be good 10 years ago but agree, they are crap now. Start/Finish I never liked either, fence blocks your L/R viewing and cars are going too fast right in front of you. Senna Curve are best, IMHO. GS #11 I think is the best.

I'm debating whether I should get 11 or 12, anyone knows?

I've been to both - not really any difference, both are excellent. I like being mid ways and upwards in the seats --- better view. I always ask for aisle, which certainly makes life easier then being crammed in the middle.

Ok it looks like my friends and I will be renting out an apartment for the weekend. When it comes down to seats though none of us are willing to shell out $400 for 11 or 12. We're interested in the 22,31,33 and 34 price points (195 - 225CDN), what are you guys opinions on them?