Hi:

We are thinking about doing a long weekend to Niagara Falls but have a few questions:

1. Is it worth staying at a hotel with views of the falls? Or is that money blown?
2. Canadian side vs. US side. Which is preferred?
3. Hotel recommendations?
4. Tour recommendations (Maid of the Mist...)
5. Are we crazy doing this Labor Day Weekend? (Driving from MA)

Thanks very much for your thoughts/recommendations.

I don't feel that having a view of the strip is a waste, but I've never had one and have enjoyed all my trips to the falls.

By all means, stay on the Canadian side. There is no comparison. But, make sure you go to the American side because the park lets you get so much closer to the water. It's awesome!

Too many good hotels to chose from. We usually stay right on Clifton Hill in the Quality Inn. Rooms are nothing to speak of, but we love the location. A lot of people don't like Clifton Hill because it is too touristy, but heck, that's Niagara Falls. We love it. The new Casio is bringing a lot of action to that area, so it might be worthwhile to check out. Good luck with reservations.

We don't take tours anymore since we have really done them all in the past. I would suggest taking the People Mover I think it's called. Saves on driving around. If you can get to the butterfly conservatory, it is pretty unique. But, if you haven't been to the Maid of the Mist or the one that lets you walk behind the falls, (forget what it is called), go for it. They are a lot of fun. They usually sell packages of tickets, so check it out.

And yes, you are crazy for doing this on Labor Day weekend, but you'll have a blast. Just know there will be crowds and you'll be OK.
enjoy,
Duane

Canadian side is much better and a view of the falls is definitely worth it (they're floodlit at night).

We stayed at a Sheraton - can't keep the two straight - but it had floor to ceiling picture windows looking out over a small public park and then the falls. Also a nice living room area with fake fireplace.

I also recommend the Canadian side. If you stay close to the falls, you can take a nice walk down to them and see the amazing mist clouds and the rainbows they cause.
Definitely do the Maid of the Mist. It is great fun. I do not have a recommendation for a place to stay, but there are many.
Hope you have a great trip.

A couple of years ago, my husband and I visited Niagara Falls in Canada on Labor Day Weekend. We had a bit of a wait on our way back into the states (on Labor Day morning), but it was tolerable.

We stayed at a B&B in Niagara on the Lake which seemed much quieter than staying near the falls. In fact we rented bikes and biked along the river to view the falls. It was a long, but beautiful bike ride and we were able to navigate through hordes of people to easily view the falls.

Definitely visit the Canadian side. The gardens are beautiful.

1. Is it worth staying at a hotel with views of the falls? Or is that money blown?

I live in Buffalo...14 miles from Niagara Falls. I stayed in a hotel there for the first time last year. (Why pay for a hotel room when you live down the road?) Although I've seen the falls a thousand times, it was really quite spectacular coming back to our room at night and catching the view from our picture window. If you can afford it, go for the view.

2. Canadian side vs. US side. Which is preferred?

The Canadian side is preferred because you have so many hotel and entertainment choices. But the American side will probably be cheaper (hotel).

No matter what side you choose to stay on, you must view the falls from both sides. The Canadian side offers a full panoramic view of the falls in its' entirety. On the American side, visit the upper rapids (awesome) and Goat Island, where you can view the falls from the very brink. You can almost reach out and touch them, although I don't recommend it.

I personally prefer the American side because I love standing at the brink...especially at Terrapin Point.

3. Hotel recommendations?

Check the Canadian board for hotel info. Actually, my one stay was at the Oaks hotel. A no-frills, less expensive, but fine hotel with nice views. This time of year it will be expensive, but probably not as much as the others.

4. Tour recommendations (Maid of the Mist...)

I've lived here all my life and have never been on the MOTM. I'm too scared. But thousands of visitors do it every year and absolutely rave about it. I wish I wasn't such a chicken. I'd love to go, but I'm afraid of all that water. I bet you'll love it like most other people.

I also recommend, on the Canadian side, the white water experience (I'm royally screwing that up). You can take an elevator down to the lower Niagara River and stand next to the rapids. They are the strongest category rapids in the world and it is truly awesome. The rapids, the walls of the canyon....WOW!

There's the Spanish Aerocar that goes over a whirlpool.

The Journey Behind the Falls on the American side. A wooden walkway that takes you down to the side and bottom of the American falls.

You can take a jetboat ride on the wild rapids. The list is endless.

5. Are we crazy doing this Labor Day Weekend? (Driving from MA)

Any tourist destination on a long holiday weekend will be busy and crowded. Park your car and have fun!


I HOPE THIS HELPS. HAVE FUN!

Hi, We were in Niagara at the end of July and had a fabulous time!
1. This was our first trip and we had a room with a fantastic view of the falls. We felt it was well worth it because at night you see the falls lit up, you can watch the fireworks from your room(Fri. and Sunday nights) and it's an AMAZING view to wake up to in the morning.
2. Stay on the Canadian side, just trust me on this one. However, be sure to visit the American side (Goat Island) to see the falls from there. You get so close to the falls it's almost spooky.
3. We stayed at the Embassy Suites Fallsview and really enjoyed our stay. It includes a wonderful breakfast and the staff was very kind. The rooms were nice and the view is terrific.
4. Tours- On the Canadian side purchase the Great Gorge Adventure Pass. It includes the Maid of the Mist, the Journey Behind the Falls, White Water Walk, The People Mover and a Incline Railway pass. On the American side is the Cave of the Winds (it's the one with the stairs at the bottom of the American Falls that you see in the Marilyn Monroe movie "Niagara"). You get up close and personal to the falls, and you must go up to the Hurricane Deck and feel the rush of the falls from there. I'll never forget that moment! I highly recommend all these activities, and it doesn't take long to do any of them.
5. Not sure what Labor Day weekend will be like. We were there over a weekend in July and never waited in line once. We kept thinking we'd run into huge crowds, but we never did!

Have a great time. It's definitely a sight everyone must see,,,totally unbelievable. I guess you could stay I'm still in awe from our trip there! If you have some extra time you might visit Niagara on the Lake (a beautiful little town on the Canandian side that has great little shops and restaurants). There are also several wineries in the area. Hope this helps. You might do a search on the Canadian board as well. That's where I got a lot of information for our trip.

If you are going to Niagara Falls make sure you have proper documentation to get into/out of US/Canada. Check US Dept of State website for latest credentials needed - yes, I know it is only just across the border to Canada and sometimes they don't even ask, but if they do, you want to have what is required.

I prefer the Canadian side. There are alot more choices of places to eat that are close together and more kitchy tourist traps which I love. Don't know if I would blow alot of money on a scenic room though. I enjoyed Niagara without one. Highly recommend Maid of the Mist.

OMG afraid of The Maid of the Mist? I hate rollercoasters and went on this and loved it. Its like a scene out of Gilligan's Island with all that water everywhere.