Freaking Out....I just realized I have to cross the border on Black Friday!!!!

[MaMudduck]

It just dawned on me that our flight from BUF to MCO are on Friday Nov 29 aka BLACK FRIDAY!!!
Yes I knew it was black Friday when I booked it, I was even joking with everyone that I was going to be in FL on black friday.....but it didn't concern me because I don't like/do shopping with mobs of people anyways
Then I realized we have to cross the border with ALL those other crazy Canadians that want to shop in Buffalo for Black Friday.
Help, anyone ever gone over then? How long is line? Which is the shortest crossing that day, Lewiston, Rainbow, Peace? What about getting a hotel the night before? Our flight is at 9am, so we normally would be crossing at 6:30am, but now I'm unsure if the night before is better or worse?

 

[star72232]

If you can, I'd book a hotel and go over the day before. It isn't worth the headache of trying to make sure you can get across the boarder that morning.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would book a hotel the night before. You might have a hard time getting one now and it's going to be expensive. I think the expense will be worth it VS the stress of not know how the border traffic will be in the morning. BTW, the traffic the night before will be insane unless you can cross midday.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would highly recommend heading to Buffalo the day before and allow for a lot of bridge time.

My experience with holiday crossing was July 1, 2010. I've NEVER seen bridge traffic like I did that day and you may find it similar on black Friday.

The 'shortest' wait (and I use the term LOOSELY) was the Rainbow Bridge and it was AWFUL! Shortly after we exited the QEW the traffic came to a stop. It took us 4.5 hour to travel the 2kms. to the bridge. Sadly this is not exaggeration. We did-not-move. There were many people outside their cars walking around just stretching their legs. At one point I stopped and fed my DD a bottle standing on the side of the room because I had the time to do so. There was one time I was waiting to go through a traffic light. I was the front car at the light and it took 5 changes before there was enough room for me to cross the intersection and that was without any cars turning in from the opposite direction!

Needless to say we missed our flight by a number of hours but thankfully SW rerouted us without cost.

I have since learned to err on the side of caution and never book to fly on a holiday either Canadian, or US.

 

[dsneygirl]

I would absolutely go the night before for a 9am flight. Lots of people will get up at 4am and be crossing early that morning.

On the plus side you can probably shop all night long on Thurs

 

[Tortuga Rob]

Do you have nexus? Was just thinking about the crossing up river road that is a nexus only crossing? I don't have a nexus pass but it never looks that busy when I go by it. Just a thought.... Rob

 

[tone.def]

Cross the evening before. Don't even think twice about it.

 

[Toad0423]

We took this flight last year and crossed the night before. I heard from some people in the departure area that their friends who were crossing that morning were going to miss the flight. I dont know if they did, but thats a worry I would rather do without.

 

[iluveeyore]

First of all, cross at the Peace Bridge - I live beside it in Fort Erie, and the airport is literally 10-15 min drive from there, very straight forward and avoid driving through Niagara Falls
Secondly, my sister and I do the Black Friday shopping every year and go for two nights, leaving on the Thursday - they have started the sales earlier now, some at 8pm to midnight Thursday night, so everyone should already be over there shopping by then. If you are staying over, there is a Sleep Inn and Suites right across from the airport that is nice, but hopefully they still have rooms since most are booked way in advance for us Black Friday shoppers. If you are crossing Friday, just be at the border by around 4:30-5am for your flight, and you should be just fine.

 

[KeroKero]

We cross Queenstown/Lewiston every US Thanksgiving weekend to go shopping in Amherst. We go over on the Thursday evening and there is close to zero traffic at the border (usually cross in less than 10 mins).

I would suggest going over from the Thursday ... and I would get to making that hotel reservation as soon as possible, cause rooms fill up fast for that weekend.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Do you have nexus? Was just thinking about the crossing up river road that is a nexus only crossing? I don't have a nexus pass but it never looks that busy when I go by it. Just a thought.... Rob

Unfortunately Nexus will only save a little time when the lines are long as it can take a long time to cross the bridge with everyone else in order to be able to access the Nexus line.

Does Nexus allows drivers to use the trucks lane? Not sure about that?

 

[Tortuga Rob]

The crossing I am talking about is a Nexus only crossing by the whirlpool. It never seems to be busy when I go by there. Like I said I do not have a Nexus card so I don't know much about the program.

Rob

 

[stefanospops]

Since you have to park your car anyways, you may as well pay the extra $30 or so for the room the night before and have the hotel park your car for free during the trip. They have free shuttles to the airport. As most everyone else is saying, I wouldn't take the chance. It is just easier to go the night before and not worth the stress.

We head out in a week and while I typically drive in for an 8am flight we almost missed our flight the last time because my son's nose wouldn't stop bleeding. We found ourselves at an emergency room in Burlington because his nose was bleeding for almost an hour straight. We barely made it, but the stress wasn't worth it. And now with the US Government shutdown I am thinking we head there the night before too.

 

[alohamom]

WOW-I would go the night before for sure! We love Trinity Reservations that Camillo on these boards suggested a while back. They show The Staybridge Suites package for $130 including the 14 days parking and breakfast for the night of the 28th http://www.trinityreservations.com/hoteloptions.php Also, on www.parksleepfly.com there is a bunch of stuff avaliable http://www.parksleepfly.com/buffalo-airport-hotels-with-parking-buf.html?searchID=8716266 but I would seriously book something now because I know they will fill up on that thursday for sure

 

[MaMudduck]

Still freaking out....but I started booking stuff as soon as you all replied, the quest wasn't easy because, 4 of us leave on the Nov 29/13 (flight) and DD & BF return Dec 9 and DH&I return Dec 15, this meaning we were parking 2 cars.

So anyone of the good P&F hotels I couldn't get Nov 28/13- (duh I wonder why) & a room for DD on dec 9, so 2 separate ressies to park 2 cars at the same hotel.

After all that being said we are booked at the "wonderful" "elite"
Super 8 Buf airport.

now you know why I'm still worried

 

[keaster]

Still freaking out....but I started booking stuff as soon as you all replied, the quest wasn't easy because, 4 of us leave on the Nov 29/13 (flight) and DD & BF return Dec 9 and DH&I return Dec 15, this meaning we were parking 2 cars.

So anyone of the good P&F hotels I couldn't get Nov 28/13- (duh I wonder why) & a room for DD on dec 9, so 2 separate ressies to park 2 cars at the same hotel.

After all that being said we are booked at the "wonderful" "elite"
Super 8 Buf airport.

now you know why I'm still worried

It's okay it's only for one night so the amenities of the hotel don't matter

Did you try the Millenium hotel? It is not the fanciest either, but does include free parking for 14 days.

 

[MaMudduck]

It's okay it's only for one night so the amenities of the hotel don't matter

Did you try the Millenium hotel? It is not the fanciest either, but does include free parking for 14 days.

yup, sold out for nov 28/13. I've stayed there numerous times, as you said not the fanciest but at least I know what to expect there. I've usually ended up with Millennium from Priceline, but I've also never paid more than $45 dollars for it.

 

[djamesdisney1st]

Did you try the Sleep Inn? We are staying there the night before our flight. $107 for the night with 7 nights of park and fly. They have free breakfast too.

Also I would avoid Queenston-Lewiston bridge like the plague. We always cross right downtown Niagara Falls Canada. I am not sure which bridge that is but there's never a line and I think people forget it exists.

 

[MaMudduck]

Did you try the Sleep Inn? We are staying there the night before our flight. $107 for the night with 7 nights of park and fly. They have free breakfast too.

Also I would avoid Queenston-Lewiston bridge like the plague. We always cross right downtown Niagara Falls Canada. I am not sure which bridge that is but there's never a line and I think people forget it exists.

I need 17 days of parking quote from Sleep Inn was 159.00 +tax.

Normally I get a priceline hotel (cheap) and then just park at airport. The price is usually about the same as a sleep&park but I hate having to get a hotel shuttle back to get my car and then drive home,I'd rather have my car at the airport so I can just leave. But this trip had way too many variables, the crossing on black friday was the thing the messed the normal plan up.

 

[CristianoSantos]

Try La Quinta inn. it is a nice and clean hotel and has great service. Only downside is that the car must be parked at the super 8 lot while you are travelling. But they have shuttles to take you back to La Quinta.