Niagara falls..anyone been?

[gracie1]

I am planning on going to niagara falls in may 2010. I have been looking on expedia, travelocity, etc. and I am shocked at how much more ex*****ive the hotels are on the US side.

I am planning on staying on the US side because when I was going to book on the canadian side it gave a long speel about different taxes due upon arrival. I like to know how much everything is in advance.

Where have you stayed that was nice??? I am looking into staying at the comfort inn the pointe on the us side for four nights.

Any advice or recommendations will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[pyrxtc]

I have only stayed on the Canadian side and didn't pay much. Be mindful that some of those taxes and fees are refundable when you cross back over. It was a great vacation and I hope you find sompleace nice. If you want my place rec, then let me know. I only paid $500 for a week and the trailer slept 8 people with a full kitchen for meals.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks! I think I will go ahead and book the hotel. I can always cancel if need be. But I would rather book it and try to get a good rate now. I guess the end of may is busier and more expensive

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

IMO, the Canadian side of the falls is much better than the US side and would be worth some extra hassle to stay on that side (getting taxes refunded or whatever).

Why is the word expensive getting bleeped out in your post? Sure, that would be a dirty word on the budget board, but this is the community board.

 

[gracie1]

IMO, the Canadian side of the falls is much better than the US side and would be worth some extra hassle to stay on that side (getting taxes refunded or whatever).

Why is the word expensive getting bleeped out in your post? Sure, that would be a dirty word on the budget board, but this is the community board.

LOL. I have no idea why that was deleted out! What kind of taxes do you pay on the canadian side? I figure to me it doesn't really matter to stay on the canadian side since we are only going to be sleeping in the hotel. We can spend our time on the canadian side and just go back over to the us side to sleep! Unless I am missing something

 

[Nickimouse]

Why is the word expensive getting bleeped out in your post? Sure, that would be a dirty word on the budget board, but this is the community board.

I think there was an i before the s by accident.

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

I practically go to Niagara Falls every week, haha.

The only thing about the Canadian side is you could either get a hotel room with a view of the falls, or get a themed hotel. But if you just want a cheap hotel, they exist on both sides of the border.

Most things on Clifton Hill on the Canadian are quite expensive, as well as the hotels.

Further down clifton hill there are progressively cheaper hotels.

Plus, if you stay on the Canadian side, you wont have to pay duty on anything you buy if you're there for more than 48 hours, you can have 400$ or something worth of merch. If you keep crossing the border, they are going to make you pay duty almost every time.

 

[Shutterbug]

Some other threads that also might be helpful


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2194485

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25812914

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2235108

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2224216

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=223332

 

[gracie1]

I practically go to Niagara Falls every week, haha.

The only thing about the Canadian side is you could either get a hotel room with a view of the falls, or get a themed hotel. But if you just want a cheap hotel, they exist on both sides of the border.

Most things on Clifton Hill on the Canadian are quite expensive, as well as the hotels.

Further down clifton hill there are progressively cheaper hotels.

Plus, if you stay on the Canadian side, you wont have to pay duty on anything you buy if you're there for more than 48 hours, you can have 400$ or something worth of merch. If you keep crossing the border, they are going to make you pay duty almost every time.

How much is the duty?? We don't plan on doing any shopping. If we do it would be on the american side. Do they take us money on the canadian side? I don't like any unplanned expenses when going on vacation...so since the comfort inn the point on the us side is within walking distance to everything I thought that would be a reasonable place to stay.
Thanks so much for the help! I had also thought about looking into staying at the comfort inn clifton hills. But like I said, will the total be what I reserve on the internet on comfortinn.com or when I get there will there be a whole bunch of extra costs?

 

[gracie1]

Some other threads that also might be helpful


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2194485

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25812914

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2235108

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2224216

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=223332

Thanks for the information! These sites provided some good information. I think I have decided to stay on the american side. I won't have the hassle of crossing the border in a car and having to pay the touristy rates on the canadian side!

 

[DawnM]

Do you all have passports?

Dawn

 

[gracie1]

Yes, we have passports

 

[toystorymom]

We went last month and had a great time. We stayed on the Canadian side in a hotel with a view of the falls, which was beautiful. It was our first time and we were only staying for 3 nights so we decided to spend the extra money and be close to everything.

We did spend some time on the US side, Cave of the Winds was awesome! The surrounding areas (stores, restaurants, hotels, etc) didn't seem as nice as on the Canadian side, but again our time there was brief. I'm sure you can find something nice. I always check out tripadvisor.com for reviews on tons of hotels.

Take into consideration if you will be going back and forth that you will have to stop every time you cross the border. This can be quick or can take quite some time.

Every place we went to accepted US Dollars or you can use Visa/MC, which to us was the easiest way to do things.

Good luck with the planning and have fun!

 

[Shmily1]

We love the Canadian side. Even though they talk about taxes, we found it to be SOOOO much cheaper on the Canadian side and it was beautiful. I will always remember my stay in Canada!! The only bad part was the Kraft Foods plant we passed by..... The smell was awful but it was interesting! We stayed at a little hotel in a housing area (but we didn't have to pass the factory to get to the hotel) and there was a donut store out front in the same parking lot! (On a side note, our tradition is to have donuts at the hotel when we are staying in a hotel so this was perfect!!!)

Also, I had never traveled out of the country before so when we pulled up to the border and we were asked do we have anything to declare, I didn't know what they meant. DH did and he told them no. I said "I declare I want to see the falls!!!" That border agent is still probably still laughing at me!!! DH told me later what it meant and I was sooooo embarassed!! Good thing the man didn't know me!!!

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[gracie1]

We love the Canadian side. Even though they talk about taxes, we found it to be SOOOO much cheaper on the Canadian side and it was beautiful. I will always remember my stay in Canada!! The only bad part was the Kraft Foods plant we passed by..... The smell was awful but it was interesting! We stayed at a little hotel in a housing area (but we didn't have to pass the factory to get to the hotel) and there was a donut store out front in the same parking lot! (On a side note, our tradition is to have donuts at the hotel when we are staying in a hotel so this was perfect!!!)

Also, I had never traveled out of the country before so when we pulled up to the border and we were asked do we have anything to declare, I didn't know what they meant. DH did and he told them no. I said "I declare I want to see the falls!!!" That border agent is still probably still laughing at me!!! DH told me later what it meant and I was sooooo embarassed!! Good thing the man didn't know me!!!

Enjoy your trip!!!

What does it mean when they ask if you have anything to declare?

I found the comfort inn in clifton hill to be only $65 a night. Which was cheaper than the american side.

But what is it like having to drive across the border? Do they make you get out and search the car...etc? Is it confusing when leaving? Since a lot of the stuff we wanted to see is on the american side I thought it might just be easier to stay at the comfort inn the pointe. Supposedly everything is within walking distance and it's only a 10 minute walk to cross the border. But any advice would be helpful! I get nervous making reservations for stuff like this without being able to see the big picture!

 

[Shutterbug]

We crossed into Canada by Buffalo, there were basically no wait lines at all.

My gf and I were grilled by the Canadian customs agent at the gate.
Where are you staying, name of hotel, how many nights, business/pleasure and other questions. Then spent about 5 minutes going over our documents.

Coming back into the US we at the gate for all of 30 seconds.

 

[pparm]

Dh and I just went 2 weeks ago and loved it! Since you have your passports, I recommend staying on the Canadian side. There are a lot of taxes added on, but it was still worth it. Just from checking around on the internet, I found a great deal at the Howard Johnson's By The Falls. On their website, I found a Great Gorge package deal. We had a kingsize bed room for 3 nights, 2-$25 vouchers towards breakfast at Denny's (right next door) 1 $45 voucher for dinner that could be used at Denny's, TGIFriday's or The Keg. Also included were Great Gorge Adventure Passes for both of us. These included admission to Maid of the Mist, Niagara's Fury, Journey Behind the Falls, and Whitewater Walk, as well as 1/2 price coupons for about 6 other attractions and use of the shuttle bus for 2 days which goes to all of these attractions. The cost for all of this (hotel included) was a whopping $451.00 US dollars, all taxes included. We were very pleased! The hotel was very clean and was only about a 10 minute walk to the falls. I would go there again in a minute. Hope this helps.

Paula

 

[merryweather20]

We love the Canadian side. Even though they talk about taxes, we found it to be SOOOO much cheaper on the Canadian side and it was beautiful. I will always remember my stay in Canada!! The only bad part was the Kraft Foods plant we passed by..... The smell was awful but it was interesting! We stayed at a little hotel in a housing area (but we didn't have to pass the factory to get to the hotel) and there was a donut store out front in the same parking lot! (On a side note, our tradition is to have donuts at the hotel when we are staying in a hotel so this was perfect!!!)

Also, I had never traveled out of the country before so when we pulled up to the border and we were asked do we have anything to declare, I didn't know what they meant. DH did and he told them no. I said "I declare I want to see the falls!!!" That border agent is still probably still laughing at me!!! DH told me later what it meant and I was sooooo embarassed!! Good thing the man didn't know me!!!

Enjoy your trip!!!

Alright you have me baffled. I used to live by there and I used to make a point of driving by the factory because it smelled delicious and sweet. I actually live close to another Kraft factory now but it doesn't smell at all

Your comment wasn't anything to be embarrassed about! I think it sounded cute

My Dad used to work at the border and he has some stories! He had one where this couple thought they had driven South by accident and were at the Mexican border because it wasn't snowing on the Canadian side

 

[toystorymom]

We went miniature golfing one night at Clifton Hill and the Comfort Inn was right there, people on the balcony overlooking some of the holes. You will definitely be close to all of the activity of Clifton Hill if you stay there.

When we crossed into Canada, they took all of our documents and made us open the sliding door of the van, matched up the kids with their IDs. Like the PP said, they will ask a few questions, where are you going, how long you staying, if we had any weapons, etc. Coming back into the US was very quick but a few of the cars in front of us had to pull over - maybe they didn't have proper documentation, not sure.

Personally, I vote for staying on the Canadian side, it's cheaper and you get to travel to another country!

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

The Canadian side gets my vote!!
IT has a much better view and more to do. You won't want the hassle of having to continue to cross back and forth.
Crossing the border is no big deal esp if you have passports. Yes they ask ?s but it is only for security. (like op mentioned- length of stay, open door to see who is in the vehicle, any firearms alcohol etc. , what you are declaring(bringing back))
The Falls is a very beautiful place. Definitely do the Maid of the Mist boat that comes up close to the falls, the IMAX movie is interesting for first time visitors, if you have small children Marineland is appealing, Journey Behind the falls takes you up "behind" the falls for a look. Really amazing. My favourite time to visit is early Fall. (all the things I mentioned are on the Canadian side)
Have fun. Check travelzoo for specials on hotels. (Forgot to mention- there is also a newer indoor waterpark smack on Clifton Hill) It is nice also. Great Wolf Lodge is also at Niagara but not as close to all the action. There are fireworks nightly in summer and I believe weekends in Fall. They also light the falls at night which is really a beautiful sight. Have a Great time!!