Niagara Falls, Ontario

[Ngwira]

I'll be exchanging some us for Canadian on Tuesday. I bank with Chase. I'm gonna get $100 and get some more at the falls view casino. Also gonna use my Amex card with no forex fees.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I could use some advice on currency exchange. My local bank doesn't do exchange so I'm going to have to find a bigger one that will. But I don't know in terms of the hotel booking how the exchange rate works. If I put the hotel on my credit card and it's $150 CAN a night, does the credit card company do the math and just charge my card the U.S. equivalent? If I understand the way it works, that's roughly $105 U.S.
And if I have hotel points is it better to use them in Canadian hotels, or just pay for the room and use our hotel points on American sites?

 

[Ngwira]

I could use some advice on currency exchange. My local bank doesn't do exchange so I'm going to have to find a bigger one that will. But I don't know in terms of the hotel booking how the exchange rate works. If I put the hotel on my credit card and it's $150 CAN a night, does the credit card company do the math and just charge my card the U.S. equivalent? If I understand the way it works, that's roughly $105 U.S.
And if I have hotel points is it better to use them in Canadian hotels, or just pay for the room and use our hotel points on American sites?

I believe your credit card company will do the exchange for the hotel rate. I bought passes on Costco Canada's website using my capital one visa and AMEX. They charged me the exact rate based on the going exchange rate.
In terms of currency exchange, I would look at Wells Fargo or Chase or even Bank of America.

 

[Ngwira]

I'll be exchanging some us for Canadian on Tuesday. I bank with Chase. I'm gonna get $100 and get some more at the falls view casino. Also gonna use my Amex card with no forex fees.

Ugh.. I am only getting 1.20 for 1 US dollar through chase..so don't think I'm going to exchange there. I will call AAA and see what their rate is.

 

[buffalogirl]

Narnia_girl- Yes, the credit card company will do the math for the hotel. On your statement in the transaction description it will say "Hotel Name, Niagara Falls, Canada, $150 @ 0000.766368 CAD and then in the amount column $114.96"
The exchange rate I used is the current one, so it's now about $115 US. Also, be sure to notify your credit card company that you will using your card in Canada.

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to the hotel points question.

Have fun!

 

[Ngwira]

Ugh.. I am only getting 1.20 for 1 US dollar through chase..so don't think I'm going to exchange there. I will call AAA and see what their rate is.

I just checked AAA and the rate is similar..I guess the 1.30 rate was last week?

 

[Ngwira]

I could use some advice on currency exchange. My local bank doesn't do exchange so I'm going to have to find a bigger one that will. But I don't know in terms of the hotel booking how the exchange rate works. If I put the hotel on my credit card and it's $150 CAN a night, does the credit card company do the math and just charge my card the U.S. equivalent? If I understand the way it works, that's roughly $105 U.S.
And if I have hotel points is it better to use them in Canadian hotels, or just pay for the room and use our hotel points on American sites?

I am using points for our 4 points Sheraton stay. You don't pay anything (including taxes) if you use points. In Toronto, I will use cash and points. I was quoted a rate in US dollars.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Thanks for the info!
Another question(s): we are thinking of two nights in Buffalo rather than right at Niagara Falls simply because we can get our hotel for 10,000-15,000 points per night, rather than the 25,000 it would cost us at Niagara. Just wondering if that's an easy drive? It looks like it's only 20 miles. And where would be park at Niagara? Are there city lots?

 

[Eureka]

I could use some advice on currency exchange. My local bank doesn't do exchange so I'm going to have to find a bigger one that will. But I don't know in terms of the hotel booking how the exchange rate works. If I put the hotel on my credit card and it's $150 CAN a night, does the credit card company do the math and just charge my card the U.S. equivalent? If I understand the way it works, that's roughly $105 U.S.
And if I have hotel points is it better to use them in Canadian hotels, or just pay for the room and use our hotel points on American sites?

Yes, you'll get whatever exchange rate they're using that day. We've bought tickets for our summer trip that get converted automatically. Don't be surprised if you have a foreign transaction fee too. It's generally about 3% of purchase price.

 

[Eureka]

Ugh.. I am only getting 1.20 for 1 US dollar through chase..so don't think I'm going to exchange there. I will call AAA and see what their rate is.

I think it's still around $1.30

http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=CAD

 

[Eureka]

Questions for those who have used the Niagara Adventure Pass. You need to go to the welcome center and get actual tickets for the attractions right? So, in other words, the voucher we will buy online must be turned in for timed tickets, correct? And where would you recommend eating for lunch in between attractions? We will be staying at Niagara on the Lake and driving to the Falls for the day....I assume there is plenty of parking?

...and I also have questions regarding Toronto public transportation if anyone can help me with that. Please let me know and I'll ask my questions. Thanks!

 

[Ngwira]

Thanks for the info!
Another question(s): we are thinking of two nights in Buffalo rather than right at Niagara Falls simply because we can get our hotel for 10,000-15,000 points per night, rather than the 25,000 it would cost us at Niagara. Just wondering if that's an easy drive? It looks like it's only 20 miles. And where would be park at Niagara? Are there city lots?

Where are you staying that requires so many points? Is it Marriott? The 4 points is 4,000 spg points per night.

 

[Ngwira]

Questions for those who have used the Niagara Adventure Pass. You need to go to the welcome center and get actual tickets for the attractions right? So, in other words, the voucher we will buy online must be turned in for timed tickets, correct? And where would you recommend eating for lunch in between attractions? We will be staying at Niagara on the Lake and driving to the Falls for the day....I assume there is plenty of parking?

...and I also have questions regarding Toronto public transportation if anyone can help me with that. Please let me know and I'll ask my questions. Thanks!

My voucher says we have to exchange vouchers for timed entry.

 

[Ngwira]

Looks like I'll be waiting to get to Canada before exchanging funds..

 

[Eureka]

My voucher says we have to exchange vouchers for timed entry.

Thanks, that's what I thought too. DH wanted to try to get tickets that were already the actual ticket. I told him I didn't think that was possible for the pass.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Where are you staying that requires so many points? Is it Marriott? The 4 points is 4,000 spg points per night.

It's mostly Holiday Inn hotels. We have 60,xxx points with IHG.
The two Holiday Inns closest to the falls are actually 35,000 points!
Actually, the locations in Buffalo are 20,000 but St. Catherine is 15,000 so we might stay there.

I'll look at the Four Points but I don't think we belong to that loyalty club. I do have about 10,000 with Marriott.

 

[sk8jdgca]

I can answer your Toronto transit question.

 

[sk8jdgca]

Here is an idea for currency exchange. If you are going to stop at a grocery store or a Walmart once you get to Canada you can usually get upto $200 cash back if you pay with debit. Most places you will go to will take credit cards or debit cards. Just check with your local bank to see if you will get any fees when you use debit. We rarely use cash up here.

There are currency exchanges at the duty frees at the border too. You should be getting close to 1.30

 

[sk8jdgca]

If you are staying in Buffalo you have to deal with the border ( which can be slow) everytime you go to NF ont. I guess you could park at NF NY state park, explore there then walk over to Canada. But that would be a pain if you are going to do more than one day there. Also where is it in Buffalo? I recently stayed I downtown Buffalo and while there are beautiful buildings, it was pretty sketchy and not safe
to walk at night.

St Catherine's would give you a bit of a drive and the QEW can sometimes be backed up. Then you are paying probably $20 to park in NF. The cool thing of staying in NF is that you can walk around all day then at night go back out and explore Clifton Hills, watch the fireworks or if you dare do Nightmares. If you tried to just stay out all day, you will be exhausted....that hill kills!
Restaurants would be cheaper in St Catherine's though.

Also just in case it could be a problem, you have to drive over a really really big bridge between St Catherine's and NF. Some people just dread it.

 

[Eureka]

I can answer your Toronto transit question.

Thanks. Basically, is there a day or multi day pass that covers both the trolley and the subway? Or do we need to buy two passes? I looked at the TTC website area about passes but unless I am missing something, it's not clear to me.