flyme2themoon

Scored 3 FF open jaw tickets on Labor Day weekend in Sept. We will be originating from Calif to Toronto (YYZ) back thru LaGuardia to Calif. Im now in the planning stage of divvying up the days between Toronto, Niagara Falls and the travel to Manhattan NY.

We've never been to Toronto or NF, the falls is a must-see for us. We like culture, enjoy nice scenery and like both big city and small, quaint towns. We will be travelling with our daughter who's home on summer break from college. Here's what I have on the drawing board, and definitely not set in stone yet. Please help us with your critique and suggestions on our itinerary.

1. Arriving in YYZ Saturday morning. Staying at the Hilton in Toronto for 2 nights.
2. Monday - From Toronto, spend 1 night in NF, Canada side, debating between
Embassy Suites and Hilton on NF. ( Your input here is appreciated, which of the 2
is better. I've read awful reviews for both on T/A)
3. Tuesday - Leave NF for NY. Haven't arranged for our transport on this segment. We
might fly ( if fares are reasonable ) or rent a car from Buffalo NY and drop the car off
in Manhattan. This is going to be a long drive, about 8 hours. Our preferred mode
is to fly but we don't want to spend a lot for a one way ticket to LGA or JFK. Any
suggestions as to how best to do this long commute with the least amount of time
and cost? ( that sounds like an oxymoron)
4. Tuesday night to Sunday - Manhattan. With a possibility of a day trip to Boston just to
have a look ( this might be too ambitious )

Once in NY, daughter wants to see the filming sites of some of the shows she watches on TV, hit the flagship stores of Barney's, Henry Bendel, etc. She's saving up this early for a little shopping. Our daughter has never been to NY so she's really excited to see the famous landmarks. We will also be in NY on Sept 11, does anyone know if there are planned memorials or celebration for this important date in NY? We will be staying at the Hilton in Times Square.

Thanks in advance for all your input.

garyt22

You should check ViaRail and GO train schedules from Toronto to Niagara Falls... there are also tour bus trips but i'm not sure if you can choose a one way...

Flights from Buffalo to NYC are usually very inexpensive and 1 hour... there's also Amtrak trains and MegaBus(9 Hours)... driving is way more with Car Rental, $20 in Tolls, plus $3 gas...

The Hotels in Niagara are swamped with Families and all about the view of the Falls... either is fine... its a very busy weekend...

If you fly, I would spend 2 nites in Niagara and leave for NYC on Wednesday morning... that gives you 5 days in NYC and skip Boston...

Have fun!

OceanBreeze1

Try www.jetblue.com for cheap flights Buf/JFK

flyme2themoon

thanks for your input, gary and ocean. after reading some older posts on this board, we will stay 2 nts in toronto and 2 nts in NF-1 day at the falls and 1 day at NOTL. gary, you're right - we"ll do boston some other time. ocean, checked jetblue's OW fares from BUF to JFK, they"re around $85. this is a no brainer-we will definitely fly insted of drive.

from our hotel in NF, are there shuttles to take us across the border to BUF airport or are there special airport transfers that go across the border? or are we better off walking across the bridge to get to the US side and take the transportation to BUF airport from there? how far is the airport from the border?

thanks again. im really excited about this trip. been reading some posts and guidebooks on Toronto, NOTL and NF. i know we're going to have a great time. i wonder why i never thought of this as a destination in the past, esp. for short-er vacations of 1 week or less. well, we're finally going.

BAK

Several thoughts
Niagara Falls, the city, and Niagara ont he Lake, the theatre town, are so close togehter you could stay in one and visit the other.

NF is Disnyeylike, compared to NotL, which is perhaps Napa-like. Plus check Shaw FEstival for live theatre info in NotL.

Check Porter Airlines from Toronto to New York. Extra cost may be balanced by convenience.

OceanBreeze1

Shaw Festival workers went on strike Wed, March 10, 2010 so check to see if the labor dispute has been resolved b/f buying tickets.

flyme2themoon

BAK, thanks for your input. I check Porter Airlines-they don't have flight from YTZ to any airport near NYC incld EWR. We booked 2 nights at the Embassy Suites and will do a day trip to NOTL.

Re: Shaw Festival - they're mostly plays inspired by Shaw? Are there any musicals or song and dance type shows during this festival?

Still trying to figure out the best way to get to BUF airport from our Canadian-side NF hotel to catch a jetblue flight to NYC. Your input are all appreciated. Thanks.

flyme2themoon

Forgot to ask the Canada experts here, will we need a car to go to NOTF from our NF Fallsview hotel? Or are we better off just taking the bus?

Thanks again for all your help.

garyt22

There are tours from the Falls to NOTL, you can rent a Limo, you can rent a car. you need to decide how much you want to spend and how independent you are... the bus tours visit wineries as well as the village... the Limo is time based and will either take you on a set tour or anywhere you want... and the car rental is a make your own day...

For you airport transfers have a look at www.buffaloairport.com and hit the link for Transportation and Parking and then Canadian Ground Transportation... all of your options are listed... you pick...

OceanBreeze1

Go back & look @ Porter again www.flyporter.com

Porter has at least 5 daily flights YTZ/EWR.
If you fly from Toronto to Newark then I guess you have to flip your itinerary around & arrive in BUF & depart from Toronto instead of arriving in Toronto & departing from Buf.

For travel b/t NF & NOTL your best bet is to rent a car for the day. That gives you the most flexibility.

Taxi to/from BUF airport is probably the best.