Niagara Falls help

[cjnix29]

We are making a quick, sort of last minute trip to the falls in about two weeks. Just decided today. Any suggestions on where to stay for one night, and what to do/best discounts?! Thanks!!!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Well obviously make sure you have your passport or enhanced liscense. You'll pay less for a hotel (more often than not) if you stay on the American side of the falls unless you find a good code/deal. The kink in that plan is you'd still have to pay and cross to get into Canada. Any hotel should have lots of pamphlets about stuff to do and usually there's coupons for some of the stuff. If you google, you might be able to find coupons or discounts on some of the attractions home websites. Just remember to pay attention to what the exchange rate is. Granted I haven't been up there in like..10 or so years but even then I remember it can be very very overwhelming and get expensive quick!

 

[cjnix29]

yeah, we have passports. Didn't realize we would have to pay to go into Canada?!

 

[sixkristy6]

I love Niagara Falls State Park (in NY). I love Goat Island and walking around the park. It's free aside from parking and any food you might buy. There's all sorts of attractions, just look around online and you will find discounts. I love NF State Park in NY, but for everything else in NF, we go to Canada.

I agree that you will save money if you stay in NY. We used to stay in Ontario a couple of times a year for the night before we had DD, and NY is generally less expensive.

If you want to save money on food, stay away from the chains, they are so expensive!!! Antica Pizzeria has amazing and inexpensive food!
http://anticapizzeria.ca/?page_id=14

 

[sixkristy6]

yeah, we have passports. Didn't realize we would have to pay to go into Canada?!

Yes, you do. I think it's $3.50 USD.

 

[cjnix29]

where is a good place to stay on the US side? The searches I come up with mostly are on the Canadian side, unless it is some two star hotel.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Go to Groupon and or livingsocial, both have Niagara Falls Hotel deals right now. Put in Buffalo as your city.

With the prices on those sites and the extras included, it is the best deal you will get.

I do enjoy the Casino on the American side though. Much cheaper to eat at Four Sisters and or the Buffet.

Other than that, once you hit the falls there are coupons in books at all the sites and hotels.

Have a great time.

 

[sixkristy6]

where is a good place to stay on the US side? The searches I come up with mostly are on the Canadian side, unless it is some two star hotel.

I have never stayed on the US side. I am sure the hotel at the casino is great (might be pricey though). I would stay away from any motels. Honestly, I would just search hotels for NF, NY and compare reviews. Just stay right in the Falls area. You can walk to most places from those hotels. Do not stay on NF Blvd., it;s too far.

http://niagaraviews.com/Niagara-Falls-NY/Accommodations/Accommodations.htm

 

[sixkristy6]

Go to Groupon and or livingsocial, both have Niagara Falls Hotel deals right now. Put in Buffalo as your city.

With the prices on those sites and the extras included, it is the best deal you will get.
.

Just make sure you read the fine print. We almost bought one for a special anniversary night trip but it excluded Saturdays. This was 2 months ago so these are obviously different deals, but still read the fine print.

 

[cjnix29]

yeah, unfortunately, the Groupon excludes July 5, which is when we want to go.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Try livingsocial - July 5th is not excluded, here's the link.

http://www.livingsocial.com/escapes/369420-niagara-falls-hotel

 

[momof2twinboys]

The recent tightrope walking publicity included a write up on NF, NY - said how depressed the area is - industries have left and incomes have dropped

I would feel much more comfortable on the CA side - we've been there 3 times. You can walk anywhere and there is so much to see and do - I wouldn't want to walk around a depressed area where there's nothing to do.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I don't think any of us were suggesting that the US side is the place to spend the vacation, just that it's cheaper to get a hotel there.

I think most Buffalonians or WNY folk in general would agree that the Canadian side is more touristy and nicer to see, but if you're on a budget it's worth looking into hotels on this side then just driving over during the day.

I've heard of people getting great deals on hotel rooms and doing a weekend trip up there but not when OP is going.

 

[sixkristy6]

The recent tightrope walking publicity included a write up on NF, NY - said how depressed the area is - industries have left and incomes have dropped

I would feel much more comfortable on the CA side - we've been there 3 times. You can walk anywhere and there is so much to see and do - I wouldn't want to walk around a depressed area where there's nothing to do.

There's not nothing to do, there is not as much to do. You just need to know where to go. The CA side has more of your touristy shops and activities and restaurants (clifton Hill) in addition to some of the same types of tourist attractions you would find on the US side (Maid of the Mist, jet boat). Yes, there is more to do on the Canadian side. I have never felt unsafe on the US side of the Falls, because I don't go in the areas where it is unsafe, which is not the touristy areas. I prefer to view the Falls on the US side because I love NF State Park and Goat Island. At the same time, I like the tacky touristy part of the Canadian side.

I agree that the US side is depressed and needs a LOT of improvement. I think too many people around WNY (I am not referring to you momoftwinboys) have the attitude that NF, NY is an awful place to go. If I were spending a few days in NF, I would check out both sides, they each have something to offer.

I watched the wire walk and I did not like how they painted NF, NY in a negative light at one point in the show.

My little vent has nothing to do with you momoftwinboys, more irritation that the US side has little to offer.

I don't think any of us were suggesting that the US side is the place to spend the vacation, just that it's cheaper to get a hotel there.

I think most Buffalonians or WNY folk in general would agree that the Canadian side is more touristy and nicer to see, but if you're on a budget it's worth looking into hotels on this side then just driving over during the day.

I've heard of people getting great deals on hotel rooms and doing a weekend trip up there but not when OP is going.

I agree with this

 

[merrily]

Try Comfort Inn The Point on the American side. Free parking, free breakfast, close to the American Side of the falls and close to the bridge to Canada. It was clean and comfortable when we stayed there several years ago. We walked over the bridge to the Canadian side and walked to all attractions on the American side. Check out tripadvisor for reviews.

 

[WVMomof3]

We just went last weekend. Honestly, if you only have 1 night, I would say stay on the American side and do the Park stuff, Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, walk around the island. We enjoyed this much better than the touristy stuff of the canadian side. We stayed 2 nights on the canadian side, but really only had 1 day in Canada. We did the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds on the American side before heading over to Canada. We got to the area around 2 and left to cross the bridge around 7 and it took over an hour to just cross the bridge. On our Canada day we spent most of the day in the Clifton Hill area. We bought the Clifton Hill fun pass. Then we went to Niagara on the Lake. Wish we would have done Niagara on the Lake first so we could have spent more time there. My 10 yr old son enjoyed the Clifton Hill touristy stuff, the rest of us wish we spent more time at Niagara on the Lake. It is a beautiful little town.

 

[cjnix29]

We just went last weekend. Honestly, if you only have 1 night, I would say stay on the American side and do the Park stuff, Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, walk around the island. We enjoyed this much better than the touristy stuff of the canadian side. We stayed 2 nights on the canadian side, but really only had 1 day in Canada. We did the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds on the American side before heading over to Canada. We got to the area around 2 and left to cross the bridge around 7 and it took over an hour to just cross the bridge. On our Canada day we spent most of the day in the Clifton Hill area. We bought the Clifton Hill fun pass. Then we went to Niagara on the Lake. Wish we would have done Niagara on the Lake first so we could have spent more time there. My 10 yr old son enjoyed the Clifton Hill touristy stuff, the rest of us wish we spent more time at Niagara on the Lake. It is a beautiful little town.

Where did you stay on the American side? Can't you get to the Maid of the Mist on the Canadian side?! I haven't been there since I was about 10, and someone else did all the planning. Thanks!

 

[WVMomof3]

Where did you stay on the American side? Can't you get to the Maid of the Mist on the Canadian side?! I haven't been there since I was about 10, and someone else did all the planning. Thanks!

We actually stayed on the Canadian side, Embassy Suites. I was just telling you if you only had 1 day, I think I would just stay on the American side. If more than 1 day, than yes, Canadian side has more things to do, but you can easily fill a day with the things on the American side. The Maid of the Mist runs on both the American side and the Canadian side, same experience from either side. We did the American side Maid of the Mist because we wanted to do Cave of the Winds also and they are both right in the park.

 

[clori]

We are going soon. I have a 1 bedroom suite reserved at Country Inn and Suites in Canada for $101 a night which has fee breakfast and an indoor pool. It doesn't have a fallsview. I booked it directly from its website. We plan on doing a few things on the US side such as Cave of the Winds, the hydropower plant for dh, maybe discovery center and 1 Niagara observation tower before entering Canada.

The US side has a discovery pass and the Canadian side has an adventure pass. We are going to do the Canadian pass (both include maid of the mist). Since I have two girls 8 and 12 we will also do the Clifton Hill fun pass. If we have enough time we also want to do the Spanish Aerocar, floral clock, and power plant. The adventure pass includes some coupons so we will see if that gives us any discounts.

Here are some coupons I've run across. http://www.niagarasupersaver.com/discounts/
http://www.niagarafallslive.com/discount_coupons_page_link.htm

 

[sixkristy6]

Here is a free activity that is occurring on the Canadian side.

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/ontario/wire-walker-to-hold-stunts-in-the-falls