Niagara Falls, Ontario

[NinaBella]

I sure hope my Garmin works. I was planning to use it since the cell coverage/costs are so high.

Check your country lists now. You should be able to change the country to Canada. On our list if countries, Canada was not an option. Ours is about 10 years old and DH keeps saying he needs to update it. We ended up setting ours to the bridge, then used our smartphone after that for directions. I should have printed directions... and checked the ciunties in advance.

We went ti Belle River, Ontario a few years ago to visit DH mom gravesite but neither of us remember if GPS worked. I think not because we did stop at the local police station to ask directions to the cemetery. It was just a short visit while we were in Detroit visiting other relatives.

 

[Eureka]

Ordered my cash from the bank today. The rate they gave me was not as good as the actual rate I'm seeing, .82 versus .77 but oh well. Also let them know we will be using our debit cards so as not to raise red flags. Just a few weeks now until we leave.

 

[garrsmom]

We leave next Friday. I got our bank to convert $100 for starters, husband has Verizon and I have ATT, his plan is much better so we are using his and turning mine to airplane mode. We ordered our Adventure Pass, just the basic one. I am researching places to eat too. We are staying at Embassy Suites and near by are Applebee's, TGIF, Denny's, Tony Romas, we may just stick with chains that we know. Has anyone purchased a waterproof case for their phone to take pictures?

 

[NinaBella]

We leave next Friday. I got our bank to convert $100 for starters, husband has Verizon and I have ATT, his plan is much better so we are using his and turning mine to airplane mode. We ordered our Adventure Pass, just the basic one. I am researching places to eat too. We are staying at Embassy Suites and near by are Applebee's, TGIF, Denny's, Tony Romas, we may just stick with chains that we know. Has anyone purchased a waterproof case for their phone to take pictures?

I don't think a waterproof case for your phone is necessary. My daughter took pictures with her phone (iPhone6) and me with mine (Samsung Note 3) and both were fine. We also have a Nikon camera we used and I would have been more worried about the Nikon as the more expensive item but it was fine as well. The only possible place it would get wet is on the boat and maybe the Journey behind the falls observation deck (but not much here). On the boat, everyone was using phones without cases. You do get wet, but the phone is not being emerged in water. Just the wind blowing sprays of water.

 

[clori]

I did order a waterproof case for our digital camera and it worked great. I just got a cheap one from ebay. I was happy because twice I saw someone's camera get drenched to the point I would be doubtful they would be in usable order. I think Cave of the Winds gives the items the most chance of getting water on them. My dh had fortunately printed out directions to the hotel since he brought the gps inside to update then forgot it but we only needed it once at the border to get to the hotel. At the time of our trip it was easier just not to use cell phones so we went from Sunday night to Thursday morning without having our cell phones on. I ended up thinking that added to the trip for us. We just used our laptop once or twice a day to check email and family had the hotel info for an emergency.

 

[sk8jdgca]

We leave next Friday. I got our bank to convert $100 for starters, husband has Verizon and I have ATT, his plan is much better so we are using his and turning mine to airplane mode. We ordered our Adventure Pass, just the basic one. I am researching places to eat too. We are staying at Embassy Suites and near by are Applebee's, TGIF, Denny's, Tony Romas, we may just stick with chains that we know. Has anyone purchased a waterproof case for their phone to take pictures?

You will find the costs way higher than you are used to. Normal Canadian dining costs are higher than US and it seems like everything is then increased by $2-3 per item. Do not go to Denny's or IHOP they are not the same, very poor quality and high costs.
Tim Hortons doesn't inflate its prices and you can get basic sandwiches, bagels, breakfast sandwiches....plus it is quintessential Canadian.
For chains, we did Boston Pizza, Shoeless Joes and canyon creek.
If you have no kids the buffet at the Casino is good and reasonable.
With your adventure pass you should get Wego passes (bus pass), try the Syndicate on Lundy's LAne.
Picadilly Restaurant is a short walk and offers great English Style fish and chips ( not much more though)
Queen Anne's Tea house is lovely but you will need a ride there
Niagara Brewing Company is in the tourist area and worth the stop.

 

[Narnia_girl]

You will find the costs way higher than you are used to. Normal Canadian dining costs are higher than US and it seems like everything is then increased by $2-3 per item. Do not go to Denny's or IHOP they are not the same, very poor quality and high costs.
Tim Hortons doesn't inflate its prices and you can get basic sandwiches, bagels, breakfast sandwiches....plus it is quintessential Canadian.
For chains, we did Boston Pizza, Shoeless Joes and canyon creek.
If you have no kids the buffet at the Casino is good and reasonable.
With your adventure pass you should get Wego passes (bus pass), try the Syndicate on Lundy's LAne.
Picadilly Restaurant is a short walk and offers great English Style fish and chips ( not much more though)
Queen Anne's Tea house is lovely but you will need a ride there
Niagara Brewing Company is in the tourist area and worth the stop.

This is so helpful. Thank you!

 

[Narnia_girl]

Can anyone give me guidance on where I would need cash? We are trying to meet a spending requirement on a new credit card so we will be using that wherever possible, but I do wonder if some places require cash?

 

[NinaBella]

Can anyone give me guidance on where I would need cash? We are trying to meet a spending requirement on a new credit card so we will be using that wherever possible, but I do wonder if some places require cash?

No where we visited required cash. We did get cash from the hotel ATM but didnt need it as everywhere took card. Check your cards foreign transaction fees.

 

[sk8jdgca]

You will need cash for some tips (bellman, taxi driver for example) if you happen upon a street festival ( say you are going to Niagara on the Lake). If you don't have a Wego pass and want to take a bus. You need cash if you are walking across the bridge to USA. ( but it takes USD )

 

[Ngwira]

I don't think a waterproof case for your phone is necessary. My daughter took pictures with her phone (iPhone6) and me with mine (Samsung Note 3) and both were fine. We also have a Nikon camera we used and I would have been more worried about the Nikon as the more expensive item but it was fine as well. The only possible place it would get wet is on the boat and maybe the Journey behind the falls observation deck (but not much here). On the boat, everyone was using phones without cases. You do get wet, but the phone is not being emerged in water. Just the wind blowing sprays of water.

I second this. I was able to use my phone no problem.

 

[Ngwira]

You will find the costs way higher than you are used to. Normal Canadian dining costs are higher than US and it seems like everything is then increased by $2-3 per item. Do not go to Denny's or IHOP they are not the same, very poor quality and high costs.
Tim Hortons doesn't inflate its prices and you can get basic sandwiches, bagels, breakfast sandwiches....plus it is quintessential Canadian.
For chains, we did Boston Pizza, Shoeless Joes and canyon creek.
If you have no kids the buffet at the Casino is good and reasonable.
With your adventure pass you should get Wego passes (bus pass), try the Syndicate on Lundy's LAne.
Picadilly Restaurant is a short walk and offers great English Style fish and chips ( not much more though)
Queen Anne's Tea house is lovely but you will need a ride there
Niagara Brewing Company is in the tourist area and worth the stop.

We did Boston Pizza and Tim Hortons. I prefer Starbucks to Tim Hortons.

 

[Ngwira]

Can anyone give me guidance on where I would need cash? We are trying to meet a spending requirement on a new credit card so we will be using that wherever possible, but I do wonder if some places require cash?

Rainbow Bridge. Tipping. Everywhere else took card. I loved my capital one quicksilver for no forex fees.

 

[sk8jdgca]

We did Boston Pizza and Tim Hortons. I prefer Starbucks to Tim Hortons.

Starbucks is much better than Tims but don't tell Canadians that! But Starbucks is way more expensive!

 

[Ngwira]

Starbucks is much better than Tims but don't tell Canadians that! But Starbucks is way more expensive!

Tim hortons is similar to dunkin donuts!

 

[rramsr]

Hi, we went to Niagara Falls last Thursday to Sunday, drove from MA. We stayed at the Howard Johnson's on Victoria Ave, great location. We parked the car when we got there Thursday and didn't use it again until we left on Sunday. Walked everywhere. We ate at Boston Pizza, Hard Rock, Ihop, Perkins. Everything is very expensive. We used usd the whole time but when they give you change back it is Canadian. They converted all our bills to usd. I had purchased the classic adventure pass and the Clifton hills pass for 5 attractions. All worth the money but after one day of doing 5 4d rides my stomach had enough

 

[Ngwira]

Hi, we went to Niagara Falls last Thursday to Sunday, drove from MA. We stayed at the Howard Johnson's on Victoria Ave, great location. We parked the car when we got there Thursday and didn't use it again until we left on Sunday. Walked everywhere. We ate at Boston Pizza, Hard Rock, Ihop, Perkins. Everything is very expensive. We used usd the whole time but when they give you change back it is Canadian. They converted all our bills to usd. I had purchased the classic adventure pass and the Clifton hills pass for 5 attractions. All worth the money but after one day of doing 5 4d rides my stomach had enough

Sounds like you had a great time! We loved the roller coaster 6D ride in the Great Canadian midway. We thought the wax museum was really cheesy. Yeah everything was super pricey. We will return in another 5 years. I don't think we will drive again, though. We plan on catching a bus from NYC or NJ and then riding on a motorcoach since you don't really need a car in NF.

 

[NinaBella]

Its

Hi, we went to Niagara Falls last Thursday to Sunday, drove from MA. We stayed at the Howard Johnson's on Victoria Ave, great location. We parked the car when we got there Thursday and didn't use it again until we left on Sunday. Walked everywhere. We ate at Boston Pizza, Hard Rock, Ihop, Perkins. Everything is very expensive. We used usd the whole time but when they give you change back it is Canadian. They converted all our bills to usd. I had purchased the classic adventure pass and the Clifton hills pass for 5 attractions. All worth the money but after one day of doing 5 4d rides my stomach had enough

It is interesting to see different perspectives. We thought everthing was average pricing. Says about the same price as eating at an Outback steakhouse. We did not eat at Clifton Hills resturants. We ate at our hotel and Queenston Heights. Popcorn at the table top falls food court, chocolate from the chocolate place in Galleria adjacent to casino hotel.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I waited too long to exchange my currency. Went to the bank yesterday and it turns out they have to order Canadian currency in. Dumb me! Oh well, I noticed that there is a currency exchange right after crossing the bridge in Sarnia. It says it has no fees and pays $1.25 per $1 USD. I don't know if we should bother stopping there or not. We are spending the first few days of our vacation near the National Park on Bruce Peninsula, so seems we might need Canadian bills some.

Hi, we went to Niagara Falls last Thursday to Sunday, drove from MA. We stayed at the Howard Johnson's on Victoria Ave, great location. We parked the car when we got there Thursday and didn't use it again until we left on Sunday. Walked everywhere. We ate at Boston Pizza, Hard Rock, Ihop, Perkins. Everything is very expensive. We used usd the whole time but when they give you change back it is Canadian. They converted all our bills to usd. I had purchased the classic adventure pass and the Clifton hills pass for 5 attractions. All worth the money but after one day of doing 5 4d rides my stomach had enough

Sounds like you had a great time! We loved the roller coaster 6D ride in the Great Canadian midway. We thought the wax museum was really cheesy. Yeah everything was super pricey. We will return in another 5 years. I don't think we will drive again, though. We plan on catching a bus from NYC or NJ and then riding on a motorcoach since you don't really need a car in NF.

Are you riding the these rides at Clifton Hill? I had written that off, thinking it was too tourist trap like, but our teen kids would love some 4D Rides--I'm not even sure what a 6D ride is? I asked my daughter and she thought with that many "Ds" that you are on an actual rollercoaster.

 

[Sugar Jones]

Are you riding the these rides at Clifton Hill? I had written that off, thinking it was too tourist trap like, but our teen kids would love some 4D Rides--I'm not even sure what a 6D ride is? I asked my daughter and she thought with that many "Ds" that you are on an actual rollercoaster. [/QUOTE]


Clifton Hill is a tourist trap, but it's awesome! lol It's the ultimate in cheesy touristy area, I love it!! You must not miss it. It's great, even if you don't do anything but just walk it. There are haunted houses, fun houses, wax musuems, 4D rides, mazes etc....