NiAGRA Falls - Canadian Side

[ccgirl]

We stayed at the Best Western Fallsview a few years summers ago and it wasn't bad at all! Not fancy but clean and I'm all about getting points for wherever I stay. The location was great, about one block to the falls.

We payed about $200 CA / $175 US
For stays in the summer, expect to pay about that much for anything good.

The Howard Johnson's pool had a slide . . . that was taken from a tiny swing set and then hammered to the side, and it was sadddd and unsafe and almost funny! (we stopped there for a peek for the next potential trip)

We've also stayed at Quality Inn Clifton Hill in the middle of the madness. The kids love Loved LOVED it! Indoor and outdoor pools, game room, and less than one block to the falls. Walked out the front door and VOILA there we were. Doubt we'd stay there again though!

PLEASE NOTE! The Niagara Falls Holiday Inn is NOT part of the Holiday Inn chain.
For some reason, they got the name yearssss ago and were able to keep it but they are NOT AT ALL affiliated.

And THAT is a place I would never stay, YUCK. We checked it out for our next potential trip (again thinking about getting points until I found out they're not related) and eeewwww

I believe it was the Fallsview we stayed at. Just goes to show you how different two people's opinions can be. There was no outside pool even though one was advertised. It is also a pet friendly hotel and our hotel room smelled like wet dog. I no longer stay in pet friendly hotes for that reason. The funny thing is, even though it is called Fallsview there is no view of the falls. There is a Denny's right around the corner but it was always packed! I remember getting the room pretty cheap and my DH said, "you get what you pay for."

 

[lisaross]

i checked for August..

When are you going? Thats a good price. Summer is always much more expensive. We were there summer of '09 and it was definitely around $200 CA.
Maybe it isn't as nice now.

 

[lizabu]

When we stayed at the Best Western Fallsview we had a clean basic room. Definitely no view of the falls as the casino across the street blocks out everything. Our room faced the parking lot anyways. We never used the pool and weren't interested in that. Just needed a clean basic place to stay in Niagara Falls. We went in summer and it was under $100/ night. I think it depends on what your expectations are. If you want something that actually has a Falls View or amenities you find in fancier hotels such as indoor pools etc in summer you can expect to pay at least $200 per night. There are only a couple ways I know to get around that. You could get a job at a hotel chain or hit up a friend or relative with an employee discount. The other option I'm aware of is Player's reward cards offered through casinos. If you don't have one someone you know may have one. These reward cards often give members free or hugely discounted rooms at their casinos.

When it comes to food anything in that area is a tourist trap basically. They have all the chains you recognize such as TGI Fridays, iHop, Denny's etc but they are way more expensive than anywhere else. Think of it like an amusment park in some ways. Everything on Clifton hill and area is going to be overpriced. Drive a few blocks to their "Downtown" or to Lundys Lane and you will see normal prices.

 

[gracie1]

We stayed at the Best Western Fallsview a few years summers ago and it wasn't bad at all! Not fancy but clean and I'm all about getting points for wherever I stay. The location was great, about one block to the falls.

We payed about $200 CA / $175 US
For stays in the summer, expect to pay about that much for anything good.

The Howard Johnson's pool had a slide . . . that was taken from a tiny swing set and then hammered to the side, and it was sadddd and unsafe and almost funny! (we stopped there for a peek for the next potential trip)

We've also stayed at Quality Inn Clifton Hill in the middle of the madness. The kids love Loved LOVED it! Indoor and outdoor pools, game room, and less than one block to the falls. Walked out the front door and VOILA there we were. Doubt we'd stay there again though!

PLEASE NOTE! The Niagara Falls Holiday Inn is NOT part of the Holiday Inn chain.
For some reason, they got the name yearssss ago and were able to keep it but they are NOT AT ALL affiliated.

And THAT is a place I would never stay, YUCK. We checked it out for our next potential trip (again thinking about getting points until I found out they're not related) and eeewwww

For the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls is this for the one on the US side?? If so, they have some really great reviews on expedia.

 

[mafibisha]

For the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls is this for the one on the US side?? If so, they have some really great reviews on expedia.

No. I'm referring the the one in Niagara Falls, Canada.

 

[mafibisha]

i checked for August..

Wow thats great! Maybe its not as nice anymor. Or the economy has forced them to lower prices!

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

Hi!

That was our trip last August--we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott as well. Very nice hotel, very clean (I'm picky), great location close to Clifton Hill (good area with kids), they have an indoor & outdoor pool (with waterslide). They do charge for parking (most places do) & do not include breakfast unless you have a package (which you may want to check into). My first choice for hotels was the Country Inn & Suites but the prices jumped while I was in the planning stages so I went with Courtyard--both are in the Clifton Hills area. Definitely check out tripadvisor for reviews & they also have a forum for Niagara Falls that is helpful.

Whatever you do make sure you get the Niagara Falls Parks Pass when you go there--great package price for all the main attractions including a 2 day pass for their shuttle buses which are priceless with all that walking! Some of the parks attractions such as the Whitewater walk have free parking so we parked there & took the shuttle from that point--worked out great!

Great recommendations here for heading to Lundy Lane area for eating. Lots of choices. We ate at Swiss Chalet when we were there & the prices were great & good food. We loved Kelsey's right on Clifton Hill--good choices for kids meals which is hard to find. Highly recommend eating at Tim Hortons on Clifton Hill since that is the only place that doesn't inflate their prices because of the location--very impressed with that!

Any questions, feel free to PM me--you won't regret your trip there, lots of great memories for my family! Definitely make your hotel reservations now to get the prices as low as possible! Good luck!

 

[gracie1]

No. I'm referring the the one in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Thanks!! I just wanted to double check! I am leaning towards the Holiday Inn on the US side. We won't be able to go to the canadian side because my nephew doesn't have a passport, and trying to get his parents to get it will be a nightmare
But atleast we can see it still!
I take it you can see the fireworks as well on the US side, right?

 

[lizabu]

Thanks!! I just wanted to double check! I am leaning towards the Holiday Inn on the US side. We won't be able to go to the canadian side because my nephew doesn't have a passport, and trying to get his parents to get it will be a nightmare
But atleast we can see it still!
I take it you can see the fireworks as well on the US side, right?

Yes, you will see them perfectly from either side. I believe they are only in summer and last I checked (couple years ago) it wasn't every night. Mainly weekends I believe. The falls will be illuminated every night and its absolutely beautiful. If you are visiting in the US side be sure to go to Goat Island and bring a picnic lunch. It's a lovely park. There is also a road that runs along the rapids and I remember picnicing in a lovely park there as well. I think it's called Whirlpool State Park.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We went last summer and stayed at the Embassey Suites on the Canadian side, nice room, absolutely beautiful view, but and there are lots of buts.....We paid almost $300 a night and only stayed for one night (I made my reservations close to the date, not way in advance. Our car was parked off site, so we were forced to do the overpriced food in the area, which was not impressive. long walk to the maid of the mist, upselling when checking in, breakfast buffet, which was one of my selling points was absolutely AWFUL.

 

[disney11fan]

This is incorrect - Americans do not require a passport to enter Canada, but they do need it (or NEXUS) to return to the US.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/whti_bg/

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-securite/admiss-eng.html


Taken straight from Canada Border Services Agency (2nd link, above) - " If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification."

don't cross the border without passports. stay in amherst ny...you can drive and park near the rainbow bridge on the american side...if you want to walk over the rainbow bridge...its beautiful. clifton hill is a hop skip and a jump. see the attractions and walk back. very little wait at the border if you walk . as far asf food goes very high in canada. better eats and cheaper on the american side. i would advise eating away from nia. falls. getn an enterainment book for the area. it will save you alot of money.

 

[disneygirl 17]

This is incorrect - Americans do not require a passport to enter Canada, but they do need it (or NEXUS) to return to the US.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/whti_bg/

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-securite/admiss-eng.html


Taken straight from Canada Border Services Agency (2nd link, above) - " If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification."

I was thinking this - we have been many times and my Mom goes to the casino's often (they live in Western NY) and never needed a passport. I have always crossed the border myself...to be honest I like the Canadian side better.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I was thinking this - we have been many times and my Mom goes to the casino's often (they live in Western NY) and never needed a passport. I have always crossed the border myself...to be honest I like the Canadian side better.

Your mom may have an "enhanced" drivers license that can be used as a land border crossing document (eg if driving/walking to another country vs flying.) I think NY is one state that offers them.

We most definately were asked for our passports last year.

 

[sk8jdgca]

The comfort inn of clifton hill is a fairly nice. nothing special but you are right in the middle of the action and you get breakfast-it has fairly nice indoor and outdoor pools. I just stayed at skyline hotel- the hotel itself is great- the staff are excellent, the room is nice but oh my kids are running and screaming at the top of their lungs all day long and well into the night. We had a courtyard room and perhaps a non-courtyard room may have been quieter-you have to pay 9 per day for parking here but the location is good.

There is a peach festival in Niagara on the lake in august that is lovely to go to.

There is a clifton hill pass which gets you a ride on the ferris wheel, mini golf and movieland pass-it is a fairly good deal.

I will second the niagara parks pass-it is also a great deal

 

[sk8jdgca]

The breakfast is good at the UFO restaurant and pretty cool to be in a "real UFO"

 

[CTdiznymom]

Last May we stayed at the Sheraton. Every room has a view of the Falls. I believe we were on the 7th floor and it was perfect. Of course the higher you go the nicer it is! They offered us an upgrade for a few more $$ a nite to go on a higher floor, but we were fine with the 7th. I just noticed you can book the Sheraton thru Travelzoo for around $164/night. This is what we paid. However, our package included a buffet breakfast each morning. That alone was $45 and it included dinner for 2 in the hotel restaurant. That would have cost us at least $90. Food is extremely expensive. Our room had a jacuzzi in the bathroom that had a window that opened into the room. My advice is to book thru the hotel site directly. Oh, and don't buy the attraction combo tickets in the hotel. Much more expensive than purchasing at the Falls.

 

[treehugnmama]

We have stayed at the sheraton many times and if you are thinking of the one on the candian side not every room has a view of the falls some have city view which is really nice too as you see clifton hill and at night you can get some great pictures. I am NOT one to pay for a view. We never paid for a view at Niagara falls as we felt we live 15 minutes away and have seen it many many times....then we were upgraded to a fallsview and we are hooked lol I always try to get falls view when I can swing it. If you are NOT travelling with kids check out the steerling inn. We stayed there last weekend for 3 nights. only complaint was that the room was a bit stuffy smelling but it is the off season the rooms was like an apartment

 

[cheesekate2005]

I am also looking to book a night or two in NIagara Falls for September. I think I would like to stay on the NY side, probably closer the Falls than Amherst...please keep the good information coming!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

This one is not within walking distance but there is a bus stop right outside the hotel.

http://americananiagara.com/

We stayed there about 4 years ago and it was nice. The water park is a nice attraction as well.

We took the bus everywhere and we only had to wait about 5 minutes for a bus.

 

[beansmom]

we stayed in a Fallsview room at the Embassy Suites last summer...best hotel money EVER spent. Being able to look out your window at the magnificence of the falls thundering over...to sit in your room and watch the lights at night...to wake and your first view is of the sunlight glinting off the falls...absolutely PRICELESS.

And it was about $140 per nite...again...worth every penny.