Great Wolf Lodge and cross-border shopping (USA)

[biggroofy]

Hi there,

I'm planning for a quick trip to Great Wolf Lodge around end of June. DW wants to cross border to buy some baby stuff from Walmart (she claimed those are not available in Canada).

I guess in order to get tax exemption ($50?) we have to stay overnight in US. Any good hotel suggestion? Any fun places to go with DD4?

My Canadian passport will expire in Jan 09 but I guess it is still OK if I drive to US?

 

[OntFamily]

You don't need a passport to drive to the USA (if you are a Canadian citizen), only a government issued photo ID (drivers license) + proof of citizenship (birth certificate).

Yes, in order to claim $50 tax and duty free, you must be in the USA at least 24 hours. However, unless you have more than $75 - $100 per person, usually the Canadian Border agency guard will let you through without paying taxes or duty.

I would bid for a hotel on Priceline (you shoudl be able to get a 3 * for approx $40 - $50). Otherwise, you'll pay about $100-$140 per night, for a decent hotel.

 

[shoppgirl]

We took the family to Great Wolf back in April. We checked out on a Saturday morning and then headed to the Queenston Lewiston Bridge (which is SO CLOSE to GWL!) to cross. We had our passports to make the crossing easier, but they are not necessary. Any photo ID is fine with proof of citizenship. And if your passports are still valid, then it's fine.

I personally would not spend money on a hotel room to save on taxes (no duties-they never ask for it, just tax, and then if you separate your children's clothing and shoes, those are taxed only GST!). When we went we claimed around $100 on childrens clothing, and they just let us right through. When we declare purchases over $150, they have made us go in and pay the taxes. But still, it would amount to a lot less than a night's hotel on the US side! If you spend $500 US, the most they can tax you is $65 (GST+PST). So it's cheaper to shop for the day and then declare your purchases and pay the nominal taxes IF they even charge you.

There is a WalMart at the exit we take to get to the really amazing Outlet Mall nearby!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

If you spend $500 US, the most they can tax you is $65 (GST+PST). So it's cheaper to shop for the day and then declare your purchases and pay the nominal taxes IF they even charge you.

I agree. Just have your receipts ready when you come back home at the border, seem agreeable and be willing to pay any duties they ask. If it is mostly baby/kid stuff there isn't much duties to pay on those things.

Keep in mind that should you have to pay duty that the "duty clerk" does not itemize each item on a receipt. Should you go to a store like target and buy some kids clothing and some adult clothing the duty clerk will ask you what most of the items on the receipt are for. I would reply "kids clothing" as there is less duty on kids clothes than adults.

But I do like to get away for the weekend with my girlfriends and go shopping once a year. We stay at the Millenium Hotel (it's beside the galleria Mall and accross from the Olive Garden and Krispie Kreme). They have an indoor pool. However if you have just been at Great Wolf Lodge their pool would seem rather bland. But you did ask for advice on hotels.

 

[SherylWrites]

in the way of "gear". Strollers, playpens, carseats, etc. etc. have different standards in the US from Canada. And if you have to return it, it's going to be a pain.
But clothes and such are just fine! KMart often has some great Sesame Street clothes and for a great price too!

 

[biggroofy]

thank you everyone. i will take the suggestion about returning on the same day (especially not much attractions on the US side of the Falls).

A question about food/drinks restrictions. IF we leave from Toronto and go straight to US for shopping, and then return to Canada on the same day (stay at GWL for the night) - we might have some food/drinks from home in a cold pack + baby formula etc.

I understood that US/Canada has restrictions about food. Would it be an issue if we are driving? If that's a concern I might have to alter our route (GWL first).

 

[maryrego]

They usually dont care if you brings snacks / food across the boarder
The only thing they may say something about is fruit.
Ive never had a problem though

 

[biggroofy]

But I do like to get away for the weekend with my girlfriends and go shopping once a year. We stay at the Millenium Hotel (it's beside the galleria Mall and accross from the Olive Garden and Krispie Kreme). They have an indoor pool. However if you have just been at Great Wolf Lodge their pool would seem rather bland. But you did ask for advice on hotels.

Hi Diamondintheruff,

DW and I are still negotiating. Planning to stay 2 or 3 night somewhere (i.e. maybe 1 night US + 2 night great wolf lodge, or just 2 night GWL). Our goal is to visit WalMart in the US (to buy some baby items that are not available in Canada), plus Gymboree outlet (kids clothings).

We will have a party of six (me, DW, DD4, 10-month-old baby, dad, mom) - so $50 x 6 = $300 exemption would be more than enough.

Is Millenium Hotel in Buffalo? How far away is it from Niagara Falls? We might consider staying overnight to visit some attractions in Buffalo - looks like there are some amusement parks and zoo (although not sure how they are, compare to Marine Land in Canada)

 

[Diamondintheruff]

The millenium airport hotel is at 2040 Walden Ave, Buffalo. On their website they have listed some local attractions. For me, the only attractions I've been interested in is the shopping (Niagara Outlets 15 minutes drive and Walden Galleria next door and my favorite Target) so I can't comment. You would have to get two rooms for your group.

Really when you factor in a hotel room is the babystuff at walmart really cheaper?

Why not take a day trip into the states just the two of you and leave the kids with the grandparents at GWL? Lots of Walmarts in the states are 24 hours. Google them and find out if the ones in niagara are.

 

[shoppgirl]

I totally agree with this poster's comment! Your kids will have much more fun hanging at GWL while you shop. It is so close and if you only want to hit WalMart and Gymboree (I ALWAYS shop here and it's fabulous!), you wouldn't be gone long. WHen I took my 6 and 4 year old outlet shopping, they were complaining the whole time (especially since they were getting off a "high" from all the excitement at GWL!) and I did not enjoy my shopping experience at all!

 

[biggroofy]

Thank you shoppgirl and Diamondintheruff. It make sense to just cross the border for a few hours. So when we are back, we just tell the Canadian Custom that we just hopped over for some shopping, and hand over our receipts?

I don't think we are going to buy too many stuff - the two main things (not available in Canada) are:

1 - Pampers disposal bibs for babies
2 - DHA (something) rice cecreal

and then we may visit the Gymboree outlet for some baby clothings.

So if we depart from GWL, should we take Rainbow Bridge? Our primary destination is Walmart

 

[shoppgirl]

You are much closer to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge than Rainbow bridge if you're coming from GWL in my opinion as it is all highway driving. The Rainbow would be through the city and would take longer. As soon as you cross here, you travel along the highway until you get to Porter Road (I believe!) and it's on your right. It's about 16 Km from GWL to this particular Walmart. Then from here we travel through the city to the outlets (Gymboree) which is only about 1.6 miles away. I would google map for exact directions to make sure.

And yes, when you get to the border, just have your receipts ready to go and be honest about what you spent. It's only a few dollars in taxes if they even tax you. Sometimes if you're honest and give the true amount, they won't tax you, but if you give a low ball amount because you are hiding something, they will search your car if they don't believe you. We have had that done before, and we had nothing to hide anyways.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Shoppgirl, I couldn't have phrased it better! I also have been searched when they thought we were hiding something. But usually if you are honest and pleasant (I mean we are Canadian after all) it all goes smoothly.

 

[shoppgirl]

biggroofy
I just saw in my Walmart flyer tonight that Pampers disposable bibs are for sale here for $4.97 a box....you don't need to drive all that way to the US Walmart for those! However, it is still worth the drive to the outlets!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

However, it is still worth the drive to the outlets

You can always come up with a reason to shop the outlets.

 

[Kurby]

This is very true.

we went across a few weeks ago and spent over $400 in about 4 hours (ya got slowed down by a sleeping child LOL)

when we crossed back i handed the guy my receipts and he told me to have a nice day and back across we came.

not saying everyone will get off that easy - he might have just been having a great day or maybe he just got back from lunch

You don't need a passport to drive to the USA (if you are a Canadian citizen), only a government issued photo ID (drivers license) + proof of citizenship (birth certificate).

Yes, in order to claim $50 tax and duty free, you must be in the USA at least 24 hours. However, unless you have more than $75 - $100 per person, usually the Canadian Border agency guard will let you through without paying taxes or duty..

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

Thank you shoppgirl and Diamondintheruff. It make sense to just cross the border for a few hours. So when we are back, we just tell the Canadian Custom that we just hopped over for some shopping, and hand over our receipts?

I don't think we are going to buy too many stuff - the two main things (not available in Canada) are:

1 - Pampers disposal bibs for babies
2 - DHA (something) rice cecreal

and then we may visit the Gymboree outlet for some baby clothings.

So if we depart from GWL, should we take Rainbow Bridge? Our primary destination is Walmart

We just go across the boarder for a few hours 2-3, all the time. They ask how much you spent, and they never want to actually look at our receipts. We always have them in our hands, but they never look at them. We find like another poster said that they will let you go with spending around $100 each. Have fun shopping!!! And if walmart is your primary destination, have lots of time, we are always in there forever

 

[angelkk]

Hi there,

Wanted to ask, where is the Gymboree outlet in US? We will stay at Sheraton on the Falls this weekend, and would like to hop over for some shoppings on Monday. Do you guys think we can be back (to hotel) in 4 hours (including traffic)?

Planning to check out hotel around 11am and drive there. Wanted to be back latest by 3pm since I don't want to stuck in the rush hour traffic in QEW and 401 (heading back to Toronto).

Also, any good lunch places in the outlet area, or just food court?

 

[biggroofy]

biggroofy
I just saw in my Walmart flyer tonight that Pampers disposable bibs are for sale here for $4.97 a box....you don't need to drive all that way to the US Walmart for those! However, it is still worth the drive to the outlets!

thanks everyone & shoppgirl I will let my wife know about the disposable bibs - she brought a few boxes from Orlando in March.

I think we will go for a day trip now. It is true that we will be so close to the border and should go for a few hours of shopping, especially I wish to get some snacks from Walmart.

Another question (a dumb one though) - when we drove back to Canada, do they ask how much (in total) the whole family spent, or they need a number per person? If you recall, the declaration form (via Air) requires us to separate the spending per person.

 

[Vijoge]

Hi there,

Wanted to ask, where is the Gymboree outlet in US? We will stay at Sheraton on the Falls this weekend, and would like to hop over for some shoppings on Monday.

We just got back from Niagara Falls on Tuesday and now I find out about the Gymboree outlet! DH is laughing his rump off.