Niagara Falls help

[clori]

We just got back earlier today. I stayed at Country Inn and Suite with my dh, dd8 and dd12. It took maybe 10 minutes max to walk from the hotel to Maid of the Mist. While it is on a hill it is long vs steep and easy to walk up even for me (overweight/out of shape) We used the People Mover which was included for two days with our Adventure Pass to go to all the major attractions not in walking distance. Hotels right on Clifton Hill would be a tad more convenient but probably too noisy for us when it came to sleeping. We didn't hear any noise at all while trying to sleep at our hotel.

I know Clifton Hill isn't for everyone but we enjoyed it. If you plan on doing the fun pass it is better to buy it online since you get a bonus ride on the ferris whee worth $10. For all attractions (Journey Behind the Falls, Maid of the Mist, ferris wheel etc) we never had to wait for anything besides our timed reservation for Niagara's Fury. We didn't do much on the American Side but loved Cave of the Winds. As a special treat for my girls we did one thing not really Niagara Falls related. We stopped at Great Wolf Lodge for about 3.5 hours to let them play Magic Quest (it is availible to non hotel quests) - we don't live near Great Wolf Lodge and it is something they wanted to do.

 

[lisaross]

How many nights did u stay for?

We just got back earlier today. I stayed at Country Inn and Suite with my dh, dd8 and dd12. It took maybe 10 minutes max to walk from the hotel to Maid of the Mist. While it is on a hill it is long vs steep and easy to walk up even for me (overweight/out of shape) We used the People Mover which was included for two days with our Adventure Pass to go to all the major attractions not in walking distance. Hotels right on Clifton Hill would be a tad more convenient but probably too noisy for us when it came to sleeping. We didn't hear any noise at all while trying to sleep at our hotel.

I know Clifton Hill isn't for everyone but we enjoyed it. If you plan on doing the fun pass it is better to buy it online since you get a bonus ride on the ferris whee worth $10. For all attractions (Journey Behind the Falls, Maid of the Mist, ferris wheel etc) we never had to wait for anything besides our timed reservation for Niagara's Fury. We didn't do much on the American Side but loved Cave of the Winds. As a special treat for my girls we did one thing not really Niagara Falls related. We stopped at Great Wolf Lodge for about 3.5 hours to let them play Magic Quest (it is availible to non hotel quests) - we don't live near Great Wolf Lodge and it is something they wanted to do.

 

[clori]

We stayed in Niagara Falls, Canada for 3 nights. We got there Sunday around 8pm so the only thing we did was walk down Clifton Hill and see the fireworks over the falls at 10pm. Monday we did all the adventure pass attractions and lunch which took us until say 4pm but with time for things like looking in gift shops. Tuesday we did things like see the floral clock, tour the power plant, and let the girls play magic quest. We did Clifton Hill at night when we weren't swimming. Wednesday morning we played dinasour mini golf to finish off our fun pass. Then we headed over the border which fortunately was just 10 minutes vs 1 hour when we crossed over into Canada.

We did Cave of the Winds and a round trip trolley tour plus a bit of walking around. It started to get a tad drizzly out so we decided to head out around 2pm. There were things we could have easily done if we stayed another day in Canada such as Bird Sanctuary and Butterfly Pavillion that we could have easily taken the People Mover to. There were other places we would have driven to such as a safari about 1 hour away and maybe Safari Niagara. Niagara on the Lake didn't really interest us. I think you can fill as many days as you have. However if time/money is a big factor you can see all the major falls attractions in one day.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Do you mean African Lion Safari?

My mother has horrible memories of that place. I was very young..maybe 3 or 4 because I vaguely remember this happening. Not sure if we were breaking the rules back then or not, but at some point the windows of the car were down and some large cow looking creature took interest in my mom. I know she was looking at something inside the car, a map maybe? when this critter stuck its head in the window and gave her a big lick across the cheek. She...FREAKED.

 

[Lucky4me]

I stayed at Wyndham Garden fallsview last weekend.
It is formerly Fallsview hotel on Stanley ave. It used to be a dump and has terrible online reviews.

They added a few floors and remodeled the whole place. Fresh, clean and brand new.
Beds were great. Didn't hear any outside noise. The room seemed smaller than most NF hotels, but it is rated 3 star, not 4.
I'd stay there again for $100 on a peak season Saturday night.
I noticed others checking in were paying around $150.

It's close enough to walk to the attractions, but far enough away to get a good nights sleep.

 

[cjnix29]

I was talking to my dad and he said something about there be an additional fee if you use your credit card in Canada. Is this true?! What a PITA. We use our credit card for everything, and I rarely carry cash, much less, Canadian currency!!

 

[GoofyMB]

Yes the credit card co will charge you a fee for the currency exchange.

 

[cyndik1111]

I was talking to my dad and he said something about there be an additional fee if you use your credit card in Canada. Is this true?! What a PITA. We use our credit card for everything, and I rarely carry cash, much less, Canadian currency!!

Not all credit card companies change the foreign exchange fee, call your card company to verify. Even if you use canadian cash, you still pay an indirect fee- when you convert the american $ to canadian $ at a bank or one of those shops, the exchange rate has a built in fee. You just don't realize it. So it is kind of a wash in the end. Call your local bank and ask what the exchange rate is.

Many NF businesses are doing american money at par- meaning $1 american = $1 canadian, and vise versa on american side. Not sure what currant exchange rate is. It fluctuates daily.

 

[clori]

The safari I do believe was the African Lion Safari. It was recommended by dh's boss and dh mentioned you can't roll down your window.

Both of my credit card companies charge 3% foreign transaction fee. We only used our credit card to purchase our adventure pass and fun pass online. In Canada we used our credit card to pay for the hotel and two lunches out. Since I'm from NH where we have no sales tax after paying I think it was 13% sales tax (hst or something like that) the 3% didn't sound too bad. Some places take American money and give back change in Canadian money. My dd8 was so excited to get a Canadian loonie and toonie.

We paid cash for all our other purchases such as souveneirs and power plant tour. Everything we paid cash for was equal in American and Canadian money. The toll for the rainbow bridge into Canada was $3.25 per car in either American or Canadian money. There was no toll from Canada to America.

 

[poohj80]

We recommend staying on the Canadian side as the rooms have gorgeous views of the falls and the prices were about the same.

We did not pay to get into Canada, we just drove across the border with our passports.

Outside of the typical Falls related activities, we took a whirlpool jet boat tour and it was AWESOME!! Be prepared to get wet, but in July it should feel good. Along the way to the jet boat tour we found quite a few wineries offering free tours and samples which was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

 

[skriegerjr]

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 live in NF, NY. There's a very nice Hampton Inn right down by the Falls. And not many know this, but you can walk across the Rainbow Bridge to cross over to Canada to see the American & Canadian Falls. The cost to walk across isn't much, but still require documents to travel. As long as the weather is nice, it's a great way to go, because you can take pictures of the falls as you cross the bridge, you get to stand on the point where you are in US & Canada...plus avoid traffic & having to pay to park once in NF, Canada.

Tons of fun stuff to do, Lundy's Lane, Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, but all touristy, so expect to pay. I know for a fact, that the prices Denny's in NF, Canada charges, are out of this world...seriously, like, group of 4 could spend $80!

Otherwise, check out Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, there's even a Jetboat tour of the Niagara River. If you are feeling adventurous and want to drive across, do more exploring...tons and TONS to do...

 

[skriegerjr]

We recommend staying on the Canadian side as the rooms have gorgeous views of the falls and the prices were about the same.

We did not pay to get into Canada, we just drove across the border with our passports.

Outside of the typical Falls related activities, we took a whirlpool jet boat tour and it was AWESOME!! Be prepared to get wet, but in July it should feel good. Along the way to the jet boat tour we found quite a few wineries offering free tours and samples which was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

EVERY Bridge in Buffalo/Niagara Falls area, charges a toll to cross from the US into Canada...no charge to return to the US, perhaps that's what you are thinking of. I've lived here since 1998, and there's ALWAYS been a toll, except on very rare days, like a holiday, where they might not have a charge that day, but most every day, the charge is there for sure.

 

[poohj80]

EVERY Bridge in Buffalo/Niagara Falls area, charges a toll to cross from the US into Canada...no charge to return to the US, perhaps that's what you are thinking of. I've lived here since 1998, and there's ALWAYS been a toll, except on very rare days, like a holiday, where they might not have a charge that day, but most every day, the charge is there for sure.

Sorry, I must have forgotten that part or it was just so neglible it just didn't register.

I do rememebr we had a much harder time driving back into the US, our home country, than we did driving into Canada.

 

[lisaross]

We are probably going to do the Jet Boat Tour -- glad to hear u thought it was Awesome - was it scary?? i know my boys 10 and 12 will love it -- hoping i do too!

We recommend staying on the Canadian side as the rooms have gorgeous views of the falls and the prices were about the same.

We did not pay to get into Canada, we just drove across the border with our passports.

Outside of the typical Falls related activities, we took a whirlpool jet boat tour and it was AWESOME!! Be prepared to get wet, but in July it should feel good. Along the way to the jet boat tour we found quite a few wineries offering free tours and samples which was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For anyone looking for a GREAT price on tickets to the Oh Canada Eh! dinner show, Groupon currently is running a fantastic special:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/oh-canada-eh-dinner-show-3?c=all&p=8

Food is great, and the entertainment is a lot of fun. We did this last year and had a wonderful time! Highly recommend.

 

[poohj80]

We are probably going to do the Jet Boat Tour -- glad to hear u thought it was Awesome - was it scary?? i know my boys 10 and 12 will love it -- hoping i do too!

I think they will love it! Make sure to book the Whirlpool Jet Boat tour!

 

[lisaross]

THANKS so much for posting just ordered tickets for my family!

For anyone looking for a GREAT price on tickets to the Oh Canada Eh! dinner show, Groupon currently is running a fantastic special:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/oh-canada-eh-dinner-show-3?c=all&p=8

Food is great, and the entertainment is a lot of fun. We did this last year and had a wonderful time! Highly recommend.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

THANKS so much for posting just ordered tickets for my family!

You are most welcome! Glad to help .

 

[loveysbydesign]

We did 3 nights in NF,NY 2 weeks ago and loved it! if anyone has any questions about the US side I would be more than happyto answer them for you!

 

[cyndik1111]

Here's a deal for Outback steakhouse canadian side, if anyone is going soon.
http://www.dealchicken.com/buffalo-ny/15096?source=IP|mod|odypromo