judybarnes

July 15 hubby and I plan to go from Ottawa to Toronto, and then to Niagara Falls. It's a 4 hour train trip, but the stations are fairly convenient in location. It's an hour flight, but the airports are probably farther away. Which to choose?! I welcome suggestions!

The next weekend we plan to go to Montreal and Quebec City. Flying back to Ottawa sounds appealing, so I have the same question for that return trip, plane or train?

frogoutofwater

Are you planning to spend some time in Toronto, and then continue on to Niagara Falls? If so, then you might want to fly Porter Airlines from Ottawa to Toronto Island. The Ottawa airport isn't city centre, but the Toronto Island airport is convenient to downtown.

Also, instead of taking the train or a plane to Niagara Falls, it might be more interesting to rent a car and drive through Ontario's "wine country", so that you can visit the wineries (and Niagara-on-the-Lake, which has a great theatre festival) along the way. Niagara Falls is awesome, but the city itself much less so. I'd rather stay in a cute inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake and visit NF for a short trip focusing on the falls.

Spending a single weekend to cover Montreal and Quebec City doesn't do justice to either, so unless your weekend allows you spend close to two days in each city, I'd pick one and forego the other. I'd probably take the train from Ottawa to Montreal and from Montreal to Quebec City, but probably fly between Quebec City and Ottawa.

judybarnes

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
We have tickets to see Billy Elliott in Toronto Friday night. We've booked the Marriott Residence Inn for 2 nights; it seems centrally located and close to the train station (and they have a good government rate!)We hadn't planned to spend the night in Niagara Falls, although that's a possibility. I don't really care about visiting wineries (I only drink at bedtime!) and I find it less stressful to avoid driving while on vacation. Otherwise, that's a great suggestion.

I know that you are right about Montreal and Quebec City. we have just 24 hours in each one. I found hotels that are where we want to be, so once we get there all we have to do is walk around. Should we skip Montreal and just fly to Quebec City? Or skip QC, and just take the train to Montreal?

ron

To address your first question, the Ottawa airport is easy to get to, 25 minutes on a city bus from city centre, compared to 10 minutes to the train station. There must be more than two dozen flights a day, with three different airlines, compared to what, 5 trains a day. I like the idea of flying Porter into the Island Airport. If they are still using the old terminal, it is like arriving in a 1930s movie.

Montreal vs Quebec City, I'd choose Montreal, but flip a coin if you can't decide. Montreal can easily keep you busy for two days, a second day in Quebec would allow a visit to places like Montmorency Falls or Île d'Orléans.

tomfuller

Consider the cost of transport from an airport to wherever you are going in the cities. Train stations are near the downtown.
If ViaRails' schedule works for you, use it. http://www.viarail.ca/en/fares/trave...s/corridorpass

OceanBreeze1

Did you also check Gov Rate for Marriott Eaton Center on Bay St.?
It's right across the street from Billy Elliot. That's where we stayed when we went to BE.

If you are going to be staying downtown TO, flying to the island airport makes sense. I just did a search for Porter July 15/July 17 YOW/YTZ return. It's only $255 per person return.

I wld skip NF this trip if you only have the weekend & just enjoy TO.
Or, you can take the GO train Toronto to NF if you really want to visit NF for the day.

Ocean

kodi

I have taken ViaRail from Ottawa to Toronto and really enjoyed it. If you have the time, I'd do it. BUT have you checked Porter Airlines? They fly from Ottawa right to Island airport , downtown Toronto. That would be convenient. I've heard from others here, that it's a good airline. Oh, I just saw that OceanBreeze suggested Porter. Great minds think alike.

I'm sorry I can't help you with getting to Quebec City, but I think ViaRail would go there , perhaps stopping and changing at Montreal.

Have a good time.

judybarnes

Thanks, All! We're flying to Toronto (Porter) and spending one night there, then the next night in Niagara Falls at a hotel with Falls view. I know it's a nice train ride and hubby was disappointed to miss it, but I'd rather save time, especially since I'll have had the long flight from LAX to Ottawa the previous day.

I found out on another forum that intercity buses run more frequently than trains, so we'll do that to Montreal and Quebec City.

Now to check the Marriott Eaton Center!

OceanBreeze1

Great!

Are you going to take the GO Train TO/NF?

www.gotransit.com

Looks like there is a GO train from Toronto Union Station to NF @ 9:00AM Saturday morning (the morning after BE). Then I guess you wld stay in NF that night & go back to TO to get your Porter flight back to Ottawa on Sunday, July 17. Is that what you are thinking? Or, you cld just do a "day trip" to NF on Saturday, July 16.

frogoutofwater

I've stayed at both the Marriott Eaton Centre and the Residence Inn. If you want to shop a lot, the Eaton Centre location is more convenient, since it's practically attached to the Eaton Centre and very close to the subway line. The Residence Inn isn't that much further away; it is more convenient to the theatres and to the restaurants in the entertainment district. They're both nice, although I think I prefer the RI.

judybarnes

Thanks, All! We will take the Go train round trip, returning the next day at 11:30 a.m. I booked the Eaton Centre also in case it's raining. I can cancel one or the other depending on the weather. RI gives us breakfast for the same rate and I like it's location, on the map anyway!

judybarnes

Porter airlines ROCKS! That was one of the best parts of the entire trip. Thanks Kodi and OceanBreeze!

OceanBreeze1

You are so welcome!

Now we need to get you to Quebec!

Ocean

OceanBreeze1

Oh! What did you think of BE?
Where did you stay in TO?