OT-Niagara Falls? Hotels??

[ktkerber]

We would to take a budget 2 night trip to Niagara Falls. I have been researching the area and the hotels on both the NY and Canadian sides of the falls.
Is it better to stay on the NY or Canadian side? Does anyone have hotel recommendations? We would preferably like to stay somewhere that has a complimentary breakfast and has no or minimal parking fees. One of the hotels I was looking at had a required valet parking fee of $20/day.

We plan on going to all of the Falls activities(Maid of the Mist etc) first and then adding any others we have time for.

The last time we visited was 15 years ago and things around the Falls sure have changed. We also didn't have kids then so we are also looking for things that an 11 and 7 year old would like to do.

Any feedback is appreciated!!!!

 

[disneybound08]

Great Wolf Lodge is on the Canadian side. It's amazing, more expensive than a regular hotel but you get waterpark access the day you check in at 1pm until it closes on the day you check out. You can get a fairly good deal if you go during non peak season and not on a weekend. There is no parking fee at GWL.

 

[aprilgail2]

I second Great Wolf Lodge--it is a bit further down from the falls though. We stayed at Marriott Fallsview (I think that was the name) and really liked it. Took the incline down to the falls area and could leave our car parked at the hotel.
We always stay on the Canadian side, don't care for the NY side!

 

[ChrisinNJ]

We stayed on the NY side last summer. We stayed at the Hampton Inn. You get a much better view of the falls from the Canadian side, but it is usually more expensive.

As for the kids, one of my kids favorite things we did was completely free, hiking the gorge trail (NY side). They still talk about that. They also loved the cave of the winds tour where they got drenched & the maid of the mist.

The Canadian side is more hustle & bustle, crowded, tourist traps like wax museums. We really enjoyed more of the nature aspects of the falls, hiking, views of the falls etc.

 

[gandycat]

Honestly, budget and Niagara Falls don't go together, lol. We always stay on the Canadian side and go off season. It's crazy during the warmer months and the prices double. I've stayed at The Sheraton Falls View (I think there was no parking fee but you had to park far away), The Oaks (free parking), Best Western Cairn Croft (not close to the falls but they have a shuttle, nice indoor pool and play area). I've stayed a couple more places that I've blocked out b/c they were so bad. The BW was the cheapest. Just a tip about food. If you eat near the falls, you'll pay 2-3x what you will pay if you drive 5-10 minutes up Lundy's Lane.

You can stay not in walking distance of the falls and drive there. There is a lot right along the main street by the falls run by the park service (if I'm remembering correctly). It's maybe $12? If you go off season and early in the morning, you can get a metered space.

Have fun!

 

[clearyds]

If you have AAA they sell a pass that gives admission for the top 4 attractions. It costs 40% less than what you pay separately. Also included is shuttle bus transportation and 50% off coupons for many other attractions. If you don't have AAA, maybe a friend can buy these for you beforehand. We spent our first night last year at a Hampton Inn by Niagara Falls, North of the Falls. It was across the street from one of the four attractions, the walk along the rapids, so while is it a bit further from the actual falls, the bus drops you off right at hotel. It was clean and breakfast was good. Plus free parking.
From there we moved to Embassy Suites, Fallsview. Definitely not budget ( we were on points) and upgraded to a Falls view room, so amazing, not only could we see the falls but we could open our window to hear them as well!!
I have seen some great picing advertised on Travelzoo, off season. Location is great (but parking is 20 a day) amazing breakfast, great snacks plus a free cocktail in the evening, and the pool was fabulous!!
I agree with others the food is expensive, and not very good, our best meal was the Hard Rock Cafe, so that can tell you something! Good Luck!!

 

[DebMcDonald]

Joining as we are planning a trip in August.

 

[Fire14]

If you have AAA they sell a pass that gives admission for the top 4 attractions. It costs 40% less than what you pay separately. Also included is shuttle bus transportation and 50% off coupons for many other attractions. If you don't have AAA, maybe a friend can buy these for you beforehand.

It's called adeventure pass and you don't have to be a AAA/CAA member to get it's just cheaper that way. I bought mine online because we went at start of season and AAA didn't have passes in yet.

 

[ntink]

Don't forget passports!!

 

[Gigi22]

DH and I visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls a couple of years ago. We stayed at the Sheraton Falls View which was very nice, we certainly had no complaints. Niagara Falls can be an expensive trip, and is very touristy (not in the good sense of the word). We really enjoyed going on the Maid of the Mist, I would rate it as a "must do".
We only stayed in Niagara Falls for a couple of days before heading to Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is a really beautiful town that has the Shaw Festival. It is also located in 'wine country'.
I just noticed that the OP is in PA. Please remember that if you wish to cross the border, you must have correct i.d.--we did not have our passports with us, so we were unable to visit the US side of the Falls.

 

[shoney]

Over Labor Day weekend last year, we stayed at the Marriott Fallview. The room had a spectular view. We booked the "family fun" package which included breakfast at the restaurant, an in room movie, snack basket, ferris wheel tickets and tickets to the famous magic show (forget the name). We had a great time. It isn't a budget vacation! The kids loved the clifton hill area, but you need to pick what you want to see because you will spend more than tickets to Disney!!! The hotel is right by the incline railway which makes getting down to the falls attractions quite easy.

 

[love3monsters]

We went last August and had a blast. We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites on the Canadian side. It was a great value but we love staying in CIS. We have 4 monsters now so finding a hotel with enough room for all of us can be a challenge. A great breakfast is included so that saves us at least 40 bucks.

We did Cave of the Winds on the American side with the adventure pass and that was fantastic. We also did the rest of the pass activities. It was a good value. Prepare to be wet.

Someday we plan on returning. We had a great time.

My dh had kidney stones in the middle of the night and CIS were great to work with. I had to get all 4 kids - then 12, 10, 8 and 2 up and drive dh to the hospital on the American side bc we weren't sure about what our insurance would do. They were great about helping, finding the closest hospital etc. We can usually get a 1 bedroom suite with 2 q's and a pull out sofa for 120 a night with breakfast. Clean and safe too.

Have fun!

 

[bokolo]

We went last summer and stayed on the Canadian side. We stayed at the Skyline Inn. The hotel was very convenient to walk to many of the attractions. It is connected to the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. We bought a hotel package (1 night) which allowed us to visit the waterpark (on check in and check out dates)---which my kids loved (ages 10, 8, 5). I agree with pp that when visiting Niagra Falls nothing is cheap. If possible research the attractions you want to see most, because you can get packages which include many of them at a discounted price.

 

[encinc]

You might watch travelzoo to see what deals they have available. During the offseason there has been a different hotel with a package deal every week. Not sure if that will continue through the heavier travel months in the spring and summer, but it's worth looking.

 

[aprilgail2]

Don't forget passports!!

You don't need passports if you are driving- I have the enhanced drivers license and that is just fine.

 

[fanamama]

I live really close to NF and travel there frequently.
First, what I think the others were trying to explain is that the law has recently changed regarding crossing the border. You used to be able to use regular driver's licenses, etc but no longer...You have to be able to prove your citizenship, for you and your children. NY state has enhanced driv. lic. which have citizenship but I don't know if PA or other states have the equivalent. Passports work...but if you don't have them, please check that what you have will work before your trip!
Second, I totally agree, it's very expensive. The chain rest. prices are about 25% higher than just miles away in Western NY.
If you can get past all that ----Both sides of the Falls are very different! Canada has grown amazingly and the skyline has really changed. I like both indoor waterparks - Great Wolf and Fallsview! I also agree that the Embassy Suites is great but they do charge for parking. Some have a shuttle which helps you get around. There's tons to do and I'm sure your kiddos will love it! Happy Planning!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

We are planning a trip in August and then onto Toronto to see the Red Sox. How many days to see Niagara Falls?

We are considering Great Wolf vs Fallsview hotel. I am concerned we might not get the full value of GWL if we are gone most of the day sight seeing. Any thoughts?

Any hotel recommendations for Toronto?

 

[antmaril]

My friend and I went to Niagara Falls last August (Canadian side) and stayed at the Embassy Suites Fallsview. Very nice hotel with a breakfast buffet and evening offerings. We had a spectacular view of the Falls from our suite. It was about $30 a day to valet park the car. Self-parking (which was quite a distance from the hotel) was $20 a day. There was a shuttle bus that took us down to the Falls and to other attractions (casino, Clifton Hill, etc).

You will need a passport or enhanced driver's license to travel to and from Canada by car.

Niagara Falls is very expensive. For example, we went to an Applebee's close to the hotel for dinner. One of my favorite sandwiches here in the States costs about $8.99. That same sandwich at the Applebee's in Niagara Falls was $15.99

Have fun!

 

[sk8jdgca]

I've had good luck with these two hotels on Clifton Hill. Both have free parking are in the middle of all the excitement. The comfort inn has free breakfast but the quality inn has the nicer pool if you have kids. Not 5 stars but clean, convenient and fun!

http://www.cliftonhill.com/niagara_falls_contact/

 

[elgerber]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites last June. It was a wonderful hotel, with an amazing view. But NF is very very expensive! Mozarella sticks at TGIFridays were $19.99. Embassy does also charge $30 a day for valet parking, as has been stated already. That said, we had a blast and I LOVE the Canadian side! I am all about neon lights and tacky tourist junk!!!
We spent a couple of hours on the US side before we went home, and it too was beautiful, but I think only a few hours on that side is all that is needed.