niagra falls
 

courtyard by marriot anyone stay here?

I was just in Niagara Falls last week. I saw the Marriot but was not inside.

Niagara Falls, Canadian side, is now a two mile square mass of venues. I would check out there website and if you like what you see, you should be fine.

I'm used to downtown Chicago prices and everything in Canada was EXPENSIVE, most especially the food or drink items. And the Falls are built up to a huge amusement park quality atmosphere and density.

You should be fine if you bring lots and lots of money.

i am from nyc so what is expensive? would you say its just like any other torist area in the usa? ie: las vegas, Miami los angeles?

No, I'm from Chicago, and it costs more than any of those cities you mention.

A skimpy breakfast for two with coffee ran about $50.00. A good but small portioned a la carte dinner ran between $60-80 for two WITHOUT drinks. Drinks added another whole dimension of cost.

Lodging and various sales taxes made purchases far more than the stated prices. Parking was about $28 to $35 dollars a day with taxes in Toronto hotels. The extra day I purchased in lodgings had over 17% added in taxes by the time I got the total.

A good tour of the following: Maid of the Mist, Skylon, Walk Under the Falls, and 1 more small venue- that alone will run more than $125 per person and some of these only last 15-20 minutes tops.

This is not high end food. Overall I found just the basics were more money than any USA city or European that I have visited, with the possible exceptions of Hawaii, London, and Scandinavia.

Niagara could be less expensive if you get your parking free through the casinos, with play cards etc. Or if you get comped for meals.

JJ5 .....you must be joking.....

We were in Niagara a couple of weekends ago. Breakfast for two with taxes etc in a half decent restaurant was about $17 CDN.

The Great Gorge Adventure pass is $38 CDN.......

I can't imagine how you spent that much money.

cheers

Jerry

And where did you find a $17 breakfast?

We did not even get to the do the Gorge and already had spent $125 each just doing the Maid of the Mist, Skylon, the walk under the Falls and the Butterflies.

I just love when someone tells you that you couldn't have spent what you did. I'm not tight. This stay was EXPENSIVE.

We walked and drove all over and couldn't find anywhere that wasn't at least twice of what we would pay for at home. The drinks at a low end chain, IMHO (Thank G. It's Friday), were $9.50 to $15.00 a piece before taxes. We have a new joke between us. My guy's funniest new quote, "Oh my God, I was so thirsty I just drank that $15 drink in two gulps, don't let me do that again." And I'm not talking about super sized drinks. It was worse than a Big League ball park price.

Where did you get a breakfast for two for $17. We walked and drove all over (about 1 mile in each direction from the Brock Plaza) and never got under $28 for two of us. Coffee was $3.50 and you never got a refill. A piece of fruit was like gold. I saw a couple near the Butterfly Garden pay $4.50 each for a cup of Campbell's Soup in a styrofoam container with a plastic spoon. No drink, and not even a cracker.

I saw very, very few good food and mid cost options. A plain, undersized hot dog from a stand was about $4.50 average.

That's not been my experience in other cities.

I live in the area and can vouch for the higher prices right in the heart of the tourist area... the Brock is right next to clifton Hill and the vultures are circling the area... However.....

The Casinos offer all you can eat buffets and there are chains like Denny's that have inexpensive food at reasonable quality... TGIF is expensive anywhere you go, especially for Foo-foo drinks... what makes the tab so high is the 25% taxes on your food bill... a $75 check becomes almost $100 after tax.

Some of the taxes are refunded to Americans on rooms and goods purchased, but not on food...

There are also food courts in the casinos with reasonable prices... when you're looking for cheap food, look for gamblers in a hurry to eat...

A couple of comments:
I go to Niagara Falls at least once a year.
I find it more expensive than Toronto.
However I have never paid $50 for breakfast for two EXCEPT when I was having some sort of elaborate brunch buffet(like the delicious brunch at Queenston Heights). Most times we paid approximately $20 for breakfast. As for dinner, we usually pay about $60 (WITH drinks). But I avoid the over-priced tourist traps adjacent to the hotels. With a little effort and some research, one can find decent food reasonably priced in Niagara Falls. However if you don't venture out of the "zone", you WILL overpay for often mediocre food.

It really bugs me on this board when someone like JJ5 gets flamed! This is all about posting about YOUR experience while travelling so that others can learn from that experience & make informed decisions when planning a trip. So, JJ5 comes along & tells us that prices were high. That is what happened. She is not making this up, folks! Then, somebody jumps in & says "you must be joking" "how did you spend that much money?" things like that. JJ5 did say that the prices paid were in the tourist "zone"....w/in a 1 mile radius. When people get treated the way that JJ5 did, then others may be reluctant to post their "true experience". If you don't agree w/ the comments posted then reply describing your own experience. You don't have to challenge the original poster. Let's try to be nice to each other!

Wow,

My concern would be that some family might see the posting re 'high' prices, think they were typical and decide not to visit Niagara on their vacation.

I didn't hint that the posting was not true-just wondered how it could be done, that's all.

cheers

Jerry

Fair enough, Jerry. Now I see what you mean.

I've stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott. It was nice, clean and the rooms were large. The lobby was a little dark. We had a room with a king size bed, fireplace and jacuzzi bath. The price was less than what you would pay for hotels closer to the Falls. The Courtyard is not part of the strip of hotels along the falls.

I've also stayed at the Brock and the Marriott Fallsview. We always do a package when we go so that breakfast (usually buffet) and at least one dinner are included. If you want a view of the falls, I wouldn't stay at the Courtyard.

Niagara Falls can be expensive but I think most cities can be if we only stick to the tourist spots. (all prices quoted are in Canadian $ of course)
On Victoria Avenue (at the top of Clifton Hill turn right and walk 5 minutes or catch the bus... there are plenty of local restaurants along here serving breakfast at good prices.
I live in the Falls most of the time and while I know the tourist area can be expensive if she had looked a bit harder just outside of that area she would have found plenty of restaurants serving food at decent prices. The city has bus service so if she didn't want to drive there are local buses. And even inside the area you could eat cheaper than $80.00! Where did you eat dinner? I will avoid it for sure. My husband and I frequently eat out in our city. Breakfast at Wimpy's, which is a 5 minute drive from Clifton Hill costs about $5.00 - $7.00 each for a huge breakfast including 3 eggs, peameal, homefries,toast and tea/coffee. Lunch at Wimpy's runs about the same for a clubhouse with french fries.
Within the tourist area a recent example of drinks at the casino or at The Victoria Restaurant overlooking the Falls you can get a beer for $5.00 and a glass of wine $6.00. Not cheap but also not exorbitant I don't believe. An all you can eat dinner buffer at the Fallsview Casino is $21.00 each. The Guru Indian restaurant at the top of Clifton Hill cost us $40.00 with wine and appetizers, and Tim Hortons just opened up on the hill too so if you wanted a cheap and good lunch of sandwich, soup, coffee that would set you back about $7.00 each.
Hotel rooms just away from Clifton Hill and served by a shuttle are cheaper than those right at the Falls. These can be had for $65.00 - $90.00 now (beginning of the high season) and have free parking.
I have read recently on Fodor's comments by many posters who complain about the "amusement park" atmosphere of Niagara Falls. While the centre of the city around Clifton Hill and environs is definitely touristy the Niagara Parkway, the green spaces, Butterfly Conservatory, Botanical Gardens, bicycle paths along the Niagara River, Great Gorge walk etc. have been planned for those who want to get away from the glitz of Clifton Hill. All these things mentioned above are within minutes of the Falls themselves and most accessible by the People Mover. Some are even free.
The many wineries 10 minutes from the Falls give another dimension to the area.
There are historical forts, the Welland Canal where you can watch Lake freighters go through the locks, quaint little towns and tons of other things to see and do in the area.
I wanted to give hope to those who wanted to come here but have been frightened by the comments.
Look outside the box is a good suggestion when it comes to Niagara Falls.
Whenever I travel to unknown places I always ask the locals where they eat. There are lots of us around Niagara Falls. :)
P.S. -I just drove past the parking lot for the People Mover and it costs $6.50 per car per day and includes unlimited rides on the People Mover bus.
regards,

Keldar, what an excellent post you've written! Good for you. You've said all the things I wanted to say. I quite often take out of town visitors to Niagara Falls and I'm always very proud to show it off. Outside of Clifton Hill and all that tacky stuff, the rest of the area is beautiful. I think the gardens and the parkway are great.

I too, agree with others, you really don't have to spend a fortune on food and drinks.
Even heading south from the Falls for a couple of miles, there is a Tim Horton's in the little town ( darn can't remember the name, but it's an Indian name). I'm glad to hear there is one on the HIll now.

I'd like to add that some posters advise skipping the Falls and going to NOTL. I don't agree. The Falls are very impressive and it's the Falls people come to see. I usually take my guest all along the Parkway and stop for a drink or dinner at NOTL, after a full day.

Also as Keldar mentioned , the Welland Canal is quite interesting and many people miss seeing it. They have quite a nice visitor's centre. Even for anyone not really interested, it's fun to see a big ship going through the locks.

WOW. I didnt think posting such a simple question would cause such a stir. but thank you all for your input.

italiangirl- you were the only one who answered the original question. Thank you. I dont want to stay directly near the falls, just want a clean hotel within walking distance of some attractions? Also to save some money i wanted to stay a bit away? will the courtyard by marriot be right for me?

Courtyard by Marriot will be ok, but you are not going to be outside of the vulture zone.

I was there for 1-1/2 days and two nights, I had coupons- and I ventured far enough away to do some wondering for restaurants. I also did research, and this is MY experience- I got little food for MUCH money. Beware.

Was I supposed to travel 3 or 4 miles in a car to breakfast? We LOOKED and we WALKED. One time we found a place where dinner would have been about $40 for the two of us but it looked like steam cabinet food.

This was MY experience. We spent time going on the venues and having fun, not just block walking for decent prices.

And they were not fu-fu drinks. They were regular drinks that we would have gotten easily at home or in Toronto for 1/2 that price.

JessicaC1110, sorry for not answerng your original question. Sometimes we digress!
I don't know anyhting about Courtyard by Marriott but I read your post b/c you headed it Niagara Falls. If you put the subject of your question in your title you will get a better response.

"If you don't agree w/ the comments posted then reply describing your own experience."

Actually I thought that is exactly what I did.

Hi Jessica:

Yes, the courtyard properties by Marriott are fine. The one in Niagara Falls has an indoor pool and is within walking distance to everything.
I apologize for not answering the specific question about the hotel in my first posting. I felt though that JJ5's view of Niagara had to be tempered with a "local's" insight and knowledge.
WOW, I don't think anyone was being deliberately nasty , I just think they were giving the opposite view and pointing out that perhaps JJ5's trip was unecessarily expensive. Other people on this board who have travelled to NF recently gave their personal experiences just like JJ5 did and it looks as though she may have chosen unwisely, sorry to say it.
I believe that is exactly what this board is for. Information, personal experience and 2 sides of a story.. and the reader can take it or leave it.

As I have said, I live in the Falls most of the time so if anyone wants specific information ask away. I can check it out for you.

regards