I'm not sure about hotel prices, but in terms of location there is a good place downtown called Novatel which is about a 3 min walk from the Bell Centre.
I don't club too much anymore, but I really like Lamouche. It's a mixed crowed and if your a clean cut black dude, you won't be leaving the club alone. Most of the black clubs are in shytty areas and it's mostly bum ass nikkas and rachet ugly chicks that frequent them.
The only people that get knifed by Haitian gangs are people that look for trouble, you don't have to worry. Montreal is safer than Toronto, we don't have crazy Jamaican Yardies shooting up shopping malls like TO.
Best attractions are Mount-Royal, the Casino, Schwatz deli(best smoked meat in town), and the Old Port. If you got the money, try and catch a Habs game. Impact games are fun too.
Most cabbies can speak English, it's mostly cool Haitians and Algerians driving the cabs and not arrogant French CACs.