Niagara Falls on a Budget?

[billwendy]

Hi!
DH and I would like to take a trip to the falls the last weekend in Feb/1st weekend in March. We would like to bring our dog with us too! Any ideas at all of where to stay and what to do when you are on a budget?

Thanks so much!

PS - we live in philly, and will drive up...

 

[carrie1626]

Budget-wise I don't think I can help you. I did want to comment that enjoying the Falls is free. We spent an entire day just watching all that water. It was breathtaking. I was there a little over a year ago in late OCT. The tourist level obviously low. There was a trolley available to take you to all the different vantage points that was FREE. Could have been due to the Fall season. Unfortunately we missed taking the boat-tour by ONE day. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza, US side across from the Seneca casino. Probably not what you're looking for budget wise and with a dog but we did like it. The biggest perk- our car sat in the hotel parking lot all day FREE of charge. There is not a lot of public parking so it was convenient to be that close to walk to the International Bridge and places along the way.

 

[JoyG]

I wrote about our staycation to Niagara Falls this summer in my travel blog (link below).

 

[C&G'sMama]

Hi!
DH and I would like to take a trip to the falls the last weekend in Feb/1st weekend in March. We would like to bring our dog with us too! Any ideas at all of where to stay and what to do when you are on a budget?

Thanks so much!

PS - we live in philly, and will drive up...

I can't help with hotels either but here is the Niagara Falls USA website. It has lots of information

http://www.niagara-usa.com/

The Candian side is absolutely beautiful but I feel the American Side is overlooked and there are some great places to go if you do your research. I went to school in Niagara Falls and we only live an hour away. The only time we've gone with the kids we were Berry picking about 1/2 way between home and the Falls and went last minute. We had no I.D.s or birth certificates on us much less passports so crossing the border wasn't an option.

Good Luck and have fun!!

 

[billwendy]

Thanks Everyone - I'll check these out - and I just signed up for that guide book!! THanks so much!!

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Hello, I live in NF, NY... what exactly do you need to know? Have you booked a room yet? Are you staying on the US or Canadian side? What kind of stuff do you want to do? Post back here or PM me and I will help you best I can...
Just off the top of my head a couple of things that I would recomend are Old Fort Niagara (if you are the historic type) and the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. Fort Niagara is about 20-25 mins. north of NF in Youngstown (https://oldfortniagara.org/) it's $10 for adults, $6 for kids, the for was built by the French in the early 1700s and was used during the French and Indian War, captured by the British and occupied thru the American Revolution, and the war of 1812. Im a history major so this would be a must see for me, just some amazing local history. And between NF and Youngstown is the village of lewiston (I work in lewiston) its "main" street, Center Street has alot of little shops and resturants, it's quaint and worth a stroll... and free...
The Anchor Bar is the birthplace of the Buffalo wing (http://www.anchorbar.com/) 30 mins south of NF in downtown buffalo, honestly though not the best wings in Western NY... I could tell you a bunch more and recomend resturants and stuff but I don't know what kind of budget your on, if your really playing it cheep we got McDonalds and Subway and all the rest of course... okay tell me what you need to know!

 

[billwendy]

Hello, I live in NF, NY... what exactly do you need to know? Have you booked a room yet? Are you staying on the US or Canadian side? What kind of stuff do you want to do? Post back here or PM me and I will help you best I can...
Just off the top of my head a couple of things that I would recomend are Old Fort Niagara (if you are the historic type) and the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. Fort Niagara is about 20-25 mins. north of NF in Youngstown (https://oldfortniagara.org/) it's $10 for adults, $6 for kids, the for was built by the French in the early 1700s and was used during the French and Indian War, captured by the British and occupied thru the American Revolution, and the war of 1812. Im a history major so this would be a must see for me, just some amazing local history. And between NF and Youngstown is the village of lewiston (I work in lewiston) its "main" street, Center Street has alot of little shops and resturants, it's quaint and worth a stroll... and free...
The Anchor Bar is the birthplace of the Buffalo wing (http://www.anchorbar.com/) 30 mins south of NF in downtown buffalo, honestly though not the best wings in Western NY... I could tell you a bunch more and recomend resturants and stuff but I don't know what kind of budget your on, if your really playing it cheep we got McDonalds and Subway and all the rest of course... okay tell me what you need to know!

Hi THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!! This is great-

No, we havent gotten a hotel yet, but would love a view of the falls- either side really, but heard the views were better from the Canadian side, but dont know if this is true. DH would love to see historical stuff, Im more interested in looking at the falls and seeing some snow hopefully! We were toying with the idea of stopping at the corning glass factory as DH always watches the glass blowers at disney!!! We would prob do 1 nice dinner, but cheaper other than that. Might try to talk DH into a water park for an afternoon unless you think they arent worth it.

We were thinking of starting our drive friday after work and then stayin in niagara on sun/mon as the rates seem to be a bit cheaper? So whats in betweeen philly and niagara that we should see on Saturday????

Im so excited!! What do the falls look like right now? Do you have much snow????

 

[clearyds]

I know I just saw a blurb on Travelzoos top 20 deal for the Embassy Suites on the falls. It says jsut through Feb but maybe they have similar pricing going into March. Good Luck!!
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/international-hotels/520701

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Hi THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!! This is great-

No, we havent gotten a hotel yet, but would love a view of the falls- either side really, but heard the views were better from the Canadian side, but dont know if this is true. DH would love to see historical stuff, Im more interested in looking at the falls and seeing some snow hopefully! We were toying with the idea of stopping at the corning glass factory as DH always watches the glass blowers at disney!!! We would prob do 1 nice dinner, but cheaper other than that. Might try to talk DH into a water park for an afternoon unless you think they arent worth it.

We were thinking of starting our drive friday after work and then stayin in niagara on sun/mon as the rates seem to be a bit cheaper? So whats in betweeen philly and niagara that we should see on Saturday????

Im so excited!! What do the falls look like right now? Do you have much snow????

Well, if you click of that USA-niagara web site like that someone else posted you'll see what the falls looks like now, if you want a view of the falls from your room you'll need to stay in Canada. Corning is at least 3 or 4 hours away so I would say that would be your best bet for on your way here but it's a little east from both of us so it's kind of out of the way, I've never been but heard its pretty cool, Corning is more the Finger Lakes region, it really is beautiful over there. Jamestown is kinda on the way, Jamestown, NY is the birthplace to Lucille Ball and they have a museum there and festival every year (http://www.lucy-desi.com/)... I'll put on my thinking cap...
Oh yeah! We got snow, and it usually sticks aroud through march... so I hope you mean an indoor waterpark...

 

[seasonality]

You will have a great time in Niagara Falls! There is so much to do and the hotel rates are really great during the winter. They offer a lot of weekend packages that you may find are cheaper than you think. Many times the package will include dinner or a show.

We LOVE Canada and stay there 5 or 6 times each winter since we are big time hockey fans. We always stay on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and then drive into Buffalo for the Sabres games. If you guys like hockey at all you may want to check around on eBay for tix during the time you will be in NF. As a matter of fact, can't remember your exact dates but I know there is a Sabres/Flyers game coming in March! We'll be heading up for that one.

Some other fun things we like to do in Niagara Falls in winter is visit the Aviary: http://www.niagarafallsaviary.com/, the Butterfly Conservatory: http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden/butterfly.php, and Yuk-Yuk's Comedy Club http://www.cliftonhill.com/niagara_falls_entertainment/yuk_yuks_niagara/, not to mention the casinos if you like to gamble. The falls are breathtaking no matter how many times you have visited. Be sure to dress very warm though as the mist coming off the falls is not very refreshing during a Canadian winter! Another thing we enjoy is just finding a sports bar and parking ourselves for a little while. Especially if there is a good Buffalo vs any Canadian team game on. Lots of fun!! Be sure to try some poutine if you can afford the calories. I usually can't but always order it anyway!! (French fries with gravy and cheese...yum!)

We live in Painted Post which is the next town over from Corning. Hubby and I both work for Corning Inc which is a division of the Corning Museum of Glass. If your hubby likes the hot glass shows at Disney he (and most likely you too) will really enjoy the CMoG. They also have a hands-on glass studio across the parking lot where you can blow your own glass, take lessons, or create glass flowers etc. Here's the link to the website if you'd like to check it out: http://www.cmog.org/dynamic.aspx?id=152

Not too far from Corning are the Finger Lakes with MANY wineries...lots of fun! Tastings are generally quite cheap. Approx. $9 per winery to tast most any wines you want to. Rochester, which is on your way to Buffalo from Corning has a lot of fun things to do as well. You may like the Rochester Museum and Science Center. It is relatively inexpensive and quite interesting and also has a Planetarium. http://www.rmsc.org/

Have fun on your trip north!

 

[canadianmom2three]

If you don't care about a fallsview room, try priceline - not their regular site, but the name your own price site. We always book with them when we go to the falls, and it is waaaaay cheaper. Speaking only for the CAN side, the 4* hotels we have gotten are STUNNING, and the 3* are just fine as well - very appropriate for family vacation. It's pretty cold to enjoy the falls all day in the winter, but on the CAN side there is a ton of things to do. We have bought the package that gets you 3 or whatever attractions, my kids love the ripley's believe it or not museum, the lego place etc. There is also Great Wolf Lodge there for way more indoor fun, and they sometimes have deals on. Either way, your US$ would get you way farther in Canada with the exchange right now, so that might be something to consider?

 

[JoyG]

If you're staying on the Canadian side, type in Niagara Falls and check for rooms at ratestogo.com. Lots of good deals there.

 

[billwendy]

Has anyone stayed at the Sheraton Fallsview? Thoughts on any specific hotel recommendations? Doggie friendly is a plus!! Falls view too!!

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

You will not get a "falls view" on the US side because both the American Falls and the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls more or less face the Canadian side and on the American side the Falls and the Niagara River is somewhat blocked from the downtown area by Goat Island State Park, in other words you must enter the park to see the falls. In Canada on the other hand they have their heavy tourist area, casinos, hotels, etc. and then kinda down hill and literally across the street the water is right there. I am forced to be non-objective and recomend you stay on the States side just b/c we lose so much tourism to canada, there is alot to do in Ontario... prime example: when my DD4 told Princess Jasime in Epcot she was from Niagara Falls the darling princess said; "Oh, you're from Canada!" Just the fact that most folks dont know there is a Niagara Falls, NEW YORK is sad... but I degress... okay back I come...
I would recomend staying at the Red Coach Inn (http://www.redcoach.com/) on the states side if you choose to do so, you would not get a falls view but I do believe they have "rapids view" rooms on the second story where you can see the Niagara River, it is very charming there, my DW and I stayed there the night we got married before we left for our honeymoon... they may be a bit pricey though. The other good accomodations on the US side would be at the Seneca Niagara Casino hotel (which may be very expensive) or the Crown Plaza. Also the Barton Inn hotel and Spa in Lewiston is very nice and brand new(http://www.bartonhillhotel.com/) Any cheaper places I won't vouch for because I don't want to recomend someplace for you and then it be a rat hole but especially this time of year you can get some great rates, check out tripadvisor.com and you can look up NF, New York or Ontario and they will give you an extensive list of hotels and B&Bs listed from top rated #1 and down, and you can search several other sites from there at once (orbitz, hotels.com, travelocity, etc...) and find the best rates...
I would go to tripadvisor and read the reviews to find the best hotel in canada with a view, okay heres the link right to the NF, Ontario hotels: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g154998-Niagara_Falls_Ontario-Hotels.html

Good luck and if you have ANY questions I would love to help a fellow DISer make their non-disney vacation magical...