karenb

We are 2 adults from Australia travelling to America for 1 month, finishing up in Boston to visit my sister. We were planning on leaving Boston and flying direct to Toronto for 3 nights, seeing Niagara and the city sights. We only have 3 nights spare and I would love your advice on doing the following as an alternative (not sure how much to see in Toronto as opposed to getting a glimpse of Montreal and Quebec).

Fly early Boston-Montreal, pick up 9am departure on a tour of Quebec City and Montmorency Falls (12hr tour). We would then overnight in Montreal and take coach or rail to Toronto the following day (how long would this take? hoping about 3hrs) then do a 1/2 day city tour of Toronto, overnight there and do the Niagara Falls tour the following day. Overnight again in Toronto (which gives us the 3 nights) before making our departure. Will this be too much travelling do you think? Bearing in mind that the coach tour (although 12 hours) is just sitting and taking in the sights. Or perhaps 3 nights are better spent in Toronto? Thank you so much for any input.

Judy_in_Calgary

Karenb, your alternative plan crams too much distance into too little time. By way of comparison, the distance from Montreal to Toronto is the same as from Sydney to Coffs Harbour.

I think you should choose one Canadian city to visit, and stick with that choice. If that choice was up to me, I would go with Quebec City.

I hope you have a great trip.

victorious

I'm thinking about doing Quebec and Toronto too. I loved Montreal too much not to go back again. I'm like you I want it all but doing everything in 3 days sounds hard. I have to agree with the previous response that sounds awfully tiring. I usually do my vacations like that and it just wears you out. I'm actually thinking about flying from Montreal to Toronto. Then I'll fly home from Buffalo. It's a lot cheaper to fly out of Buffalo than Toronto for me. I'll be flying to Atlanta it might be totally different for you but check to see if the Buffalo airport is cheaper it's about an hour and a half away from Toronto.

I looked at the prices for a train ticket at viarail.ca The price for $98.92(Canadian) one way on a friday in late May. It's a 5 hour train ride. There's a Canadian airline Westjet that I just discovered. I've never heard of them because they only fly to cities in Canada. A flight from Montreal to Toronto is about an hour and fifteen give or take. It's $127(Canadian). So it's about $30 more but if time is important I'd say spend the extra $30 and fly. That's what I plan to do if I go. I haven't decided where I'm spending my vacation yet. Also Air Canada has a few flights that match Westjet's price but not of them do so you'll probaly have to book early for that one. But I've never flown on either airline but I have heard of Air Canada. But I still can't say which is the better airline. either way have a good trip whatever you choose to do.

Terrence

karenb

Thank you all so much for your information, I think we will fly as advised - we intend returning to Canada next year to tour your wonderful country from coast to coast, I just couldn't stand to be so close (in Boston) and not have a quick look, Quebec just sounds irresistible. Thanks again for your help, it is greatly appreciated. - karen

waltd

Karen: Skip Nigara Falls. It's too far a drive for being in Toronto for such a short time. The drive south down the "Queenie" is approximately 80 miles (not kilometers), further depending on where in Toronto your hotel is. In other words, you'll be taking up the best part of a day just doing the Falls. They are pretty but there's lots to do in/around Toronto. Anyway, that'd be my choice. Have fun!

laverendrye

I disagree with waltd's recommendation to skip Niagara Falls. We Canadians can get pretty blasé about the Falls, particularly if we live within a short drive. However, for someone from outside North America, I think that they should be a "must see". It will certainly take a day, but if karenb is up to it, I would recommend a day at Niagara over a day in Toronto. There are lots of day tours from Toronto, so driving should not be a concern.

On the other hand, Oscar Wilde did say: "Every American bride is taken there, and the sight of the stupdendous waterfall must be one of the earliest, if not the keenest, disappointments in American married life!"