OT- Nice, cheap place to stay at Niagara Falls in the US...not Canada?

[loveysbydesign]

I also have to add that as much as I'm looking forward to finally going to NF...we do have 2 park days to WDW left from a previous trip and if I could talk dh into driving that far I'd pass up NF to do so....sad isn't it?? I can stay for 4-5 nights in Kissimmee for what it'll cost to stay 2-3 nights at NF!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Looks like we've narrowed our choices down to Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn The Pointe. There are 5 of us so it will be a tight squeeze being in one room. I'll have to buy a twin air mattress for my ds to sleep on since I can't find a place on the US side that has 2 beds and a sofabed. I guess the hotel's allowing us to book 5 since my youngest is only 2 y.o.!

 

[Mom3girls]

So am I understanding this right...We don't need passports to go to the Canadian side and stay on Canadian side, just our birth certificates??? Not that anything is wrong with US side it just seems like there is more to do over there.TIA

 

[loveysbydesign]

So am I understanding this right...We don't need passports to go to the Canadian side and stay on Canadian side, just our birth certificates??? Not that anything is wrong with US side it just seems like there is more to do over there.TIA

Adults need passports to get back into the USA and kids only need birth certificates to get back into the USA!

 

[DISdreamin']

Adults need passports to get back into the USA and kids only need birth certificates to get back into the USA!

Adults either need passports or enhanced drivers licenses, if your state offers them.

To the OP, you mentioned a hotel mid-way. There are definitely some hotels in Binghamton, but you might want to consider driving all the way to Syracuse to make the stop just a tad over mid-way. There are tons of hotels just off the highways in Syracuse and you should be able to Priceline something good - as long as you aren't traveling around graduation time. I'd worry about that bumping up cost in either town, actually! BTW, the LV to Syr drive is really reasonable - and almost equal time-wise to the drive to NF from Syr in my experience.

Oh, and while you are our in Buffalo/NF, try Andersons for roast beef sandwiches and custard. Yummy! I always make sure we stop there when heading through western NY...I miss it from my college days. LOL!

 

[mrsklamc]

Our state offers an enhanced license, I just can find anything specific to my state about going into Canada with it so it makes me a bit nervous.

 

[beansmom]

i would just take my passport. EVERYBODY needs a passport. What if you get a call for a free trip to Disney Paris and you can't go coz you don't have a passport!!!??

I just booked a room at the Oakes Hotel in Canada...it has a fallsview room. I'm very excited. It's not cheap...$227 a nite in July but it's worth it to me. I've never been and I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Adults either need passports or enhanced drivers licenses, if your state offers them.

To the OP, you mentioned a hotel mid-way. There are definitely some hotels in Binghamton, but you might want to consider driving all the way to Syracuse to make the stop just a tad over mid-way. There are tons of hotels just off the highways in Syracuse and you should be able to Priceline something good - as long as you aren't traveling around graduation time. I'd worry about that bumping up cost in either town, actually! BTW, the LV to Syr drive is really reasonable - and almost equal time-wise to the drive to NF from Syr in my experience.

Oh, and while you are our in Buffalo/NF, try Andersons for roast beef sandwiches and custard. Yummy! I always make sure we stop there when heading through western NY...I miss it from my college days. LOL!

Due to expenses we're not looking for a place to stay the night half way...just a place for the kids to get out and stretch their legs for an hour or so!

 

[mrsklamc]

I would recommend staying at the Casino on the American side. I think kids are allowed. It's brand new, well maintained, and right by the falls. The prices are pretty reasonable too!

Can you tell me what it's called?

 

[loveysbydesign]

Can you tell me what it's called?

It's called the Seneca!
http://www.senecaniagaracasino.com/

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

It's called the Seneca!
http://www.senecaniagaracasino.com/

I frequent the SenecaNiagara often (well the casino part) and just so you know it is full-range smoking in the building. We actually bag our clothes when we get home if it is late. The hotel area also smells of the smoke. It may not bother you, but with little one's I just wanted to mention it.

If you want, I could run up in the next few weeks and get some pictures of the hotels on the US side if you would like. Just need to make it through DD's prom this week, then I am clear for a few weeks. Let me know.

 

[mrsklamc]

I frequent the SenecaNiagara often (well the casino part) and just so you know it is full-range smoking in the building. We actually bag our clothes when we get home if it is late. The hotel area also smells of the smoke. It may not bother you, but with little one's I just wanted to mention it.

If you want, I could run up in the next few weeks and get some pictures of the hotels on the US side if you would like. Just need to make it through DD's prom this week, then I am clear for a few weeks. Let me know.

Wow that is such a generous offer!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Okay...so we haven;t made it to NF yet. BUT I had dh take off 3 days in June near our anniversary this year so we can finally go! Just gotta research reviews on hotels again I guess since things can change in a year!

 

[vickalamode]

DBF and I visited Niagara Falls for a night last October on our way home to Boston from Cincinnati since I had never been. We didn't have passports with us since it was a totally unplanned trip so we only did the US side and still had a great time! We got a good rate at the Crowne Plaza, which was within walking distance from everything we wanted to do.

We met up with my roommates from Buffalo who I lived with when I worked at Disney, and they were our personal tour guides since they are from the area We were within walking distance of everything in the area. It was less than a 5 minute walk over to the falls and the park and then once in the park we were able to walk through the whole thing and see both sides. We didn't have time to do any of the touristy stuff like Maid of the Mist, but it was still a great and worthwhile trip even without being on the Canadian side.

If you can find a good rate online for the Crowne Plaza, I would recommend it! The room was huge and very clean, and very nice and a nice comfortable bed. It was right across the street from the casino where we spent a few hours (not that you'd be going here with kids lol) and there was a Denny's across the street in the other direction that was open 24 hours. We also ate at the Hard Rock Cafe which was within walking distance.

Edit: It looks like the hotel we stayed in is now a Sheraton hotel, no longer Crowne Plaza. We stayed in October 2010

 

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks for the info. Trying to find a place that sleeps 5 and won't break the bank is proving to be difficult!

 

[tripplanner2]

We stayed at Embassy Suites on the Canadian side. The price was great but did not include the crazy parking fee. I think it was like $20 or $40 per night to park. Blew the budget. But I Hotwired a room for 1 night and we got Courtyard Marriot for $60 per night with parking included. That was great. But food and everything was expensive. Not as budget of a trip as we thought it would be.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I ended up booking the Days Inn in NF/Buffalo. Got a great rate of $89 a night plus taxes for a suite that has 2 kings and a sofabed, fridge, micro and it has a pool and free breakfast!