Petalz

I am taking my 77 year old Mom to visit family in New York state and Ohio. We are flying out of SF and arriving in Buffalo at about 5:30 pm. Our plans include staying in Buffalo on our night of arrival, Sept 26. There are fireworks at 10:00 pm over the falls. Mom tires easily and money is an issue. Does anyone have a suggestion for a hotel that would allow us easy access to view the fireworks but won't break the bank? We will have a car and can stay on either US or Canadian side (we have passports).
Thanks for any help you can offer. Rate: around $120 or less.

I apologize for posting twice--the origanal post was poorly titled.

panecott

You will want to stay on the Canadian side, which is where all the hotels are. I didn't know about the fireworks, but they do light up the falls at night, with colored lights.

Try this website, or do a google search for Niagara Falls Hotels. There are many within a block or two of the falls, and many have falls view rooms and sometimes offer great specials. Good luck.

http://www.canadianhotelguide.com/ca...ls-hotels.html

Petalz

Thanks for the suggestion about the Canadian side. If I stayed a mile or two from the falls, is there a good place to watch the fireworks from the car?
Mom doesn't walk hills very well either. Do any of the hotels have shuttles to the falls?

nytraveler

There is a tram that runs from the hotels near the falls back and forth along the park area and drops people at various spots. I don;t know if it goes to other hotels in other parts of town. There is a small park facing the falls in the center of town (in front of one of the Sheratons) that would have good views - but don;t know if you can park there (there is no obvious parking lot).

We have only stayed in a Falls View hotel - and the rates were a real bargain (3 years ago last time so I don;t remember exact rates - just that is was surprisingly cheap). I would investigate those for packages before deciding to stay in another part of town.

Oh - and agree - this is all on the Canadian side. From the US side you're sort of on top of the falls and looking down on them - rather than facing them as you do on the Canadian side.

sylvia3

Note that there can be a tedious wait to get through the border.

kencolian

We went a couple of years ago. We got a nice package from the Marriot Courtyard. They had a shuttle which took you down by the falls area. It was very convenient and easy to use.

mrsd2fan

FYI-It tooks us over 2 hours to get through the border not too long ago

Petalz

Thanks for the ideas. Were the 2 hours going INTO Canada, or coming out? Are you recommending we stay on the US side? That might be a good option for the first night if we are going to come back later in the week to actually visit the falls. We could then stay on the Ontario side. I might consider that. Does anyone know a US hotel that might have views of the fireworks from the room?
Midweek we can return and get a great rate at the Ontario Fallsview hotels and see the sites without feeling rushed or going over budget.

garyt22

After the kids return to school in September, the rates start to drop on both sides of the Border... check both the Seneca Niagara Casino and the Fallsview Casino for Fall specials... also check the Oakes Hotel as well as Embassy Suites on the Canadanian side... also check on their AAA and AARP rates... also 10pm in Niagara is only 7 for you so you might be better off at a cheaper non-view hotel with a dinner reservation at a fireworks view restaurant... then you tuck mom in and have a walk around the Falls... have fun!

mouseRD

If you do decide to stay your first night in Buffalo, I'd recommend just staying at one of the airport hotels; we did this on a recent trip go Niagara Falls. We got into Buffalo ~ 6 pm, got our luggage, picked up a rental car (try to avoid Budget - they ran out of cars - some people ahead of us had waited > 1 hr; I think we waited 40 minutes) & checked into our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn - it was great! (2 queen/double beds were better - much softer than king adjustable bed - hard as a rock!). We ordered food from a restaurant that delivers (the hotel does have a restaurant where we ate breakfast the next morning). The next morning, when we were fresh, lines through customs were only ~ 10 minutes going into Canada. There is a number you can call to check the wait times on the 3 bridges heading into Canada. We missed seeing the fireworks because we were too tired to head back down to the falls that night, but, as you already mentioned the fireworks are Sunday & Wednesday night, so maybe you could pick an alternate night. We only spent 2 nights in Canada before heading back to Buffalo to fly out. I'm glad we did it that way, but as a previous post mentioned, you will be 3 hours behind & might not mind driving to Canada the same night you fly in.

Petalz

Can you see the Fireworks from the American side at Niagara Falls.

mrsd2fan

It was 2 hours going in and 2 1/2 hours coming out..

KathyK

That is an unusually long wait time, but not unheard of. What bridge did you use and was it by chance 4th of July weekend or a Canadian holiday weekend?

Proenza_Preschooler

If I had a car, I would definitely stay in the BEAUTIFUL TOWN of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. It is only a short drive from the Falls.

I would also stay at the Prince of Wales Hotel.

There are many wineries to visit in the vicinity of NOTL.

The Clinton Hill neighborhood of Niagara Falls is DREADFUL and touristy and tacky.

Thin

bratsandbeer

We stayed at the Scandia House B&B in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is a very nice community and a short drive to the falls.

When you get to the falls keep going on that street until you come to the very last parking lot. You can park the car there for $5 (or it was last year). There is a free shuttle bus that will take you right to the falls. It is the most convenient way to do it. You won't have long walks from the other parking lots.

Petalz

Thanks for the great ideas. You've all been very helpful. I am going to visit NOTL later in the week.
I want to have more time to enjoy it.

cd

I doubt that you can see much of the fireworks from an American side hotel. We always stay in a fallsview room at the Embassy suites;http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/ It may seem like a lot of money but get the package and you get the fallsview room, $40.00 towards dinner that night, and a full breakfast in the morning. Plus you can see the fireworks from your room and would not have to venture outside. but can if you want. They have easy access from the back of the hotel.

cd

PS The Embassy is on the Canadian side. Also, we have never waited a long time to cross the border. I'm sure that there are those that have and that it does happen, but we have never experienced it.

garyt22

The only guaranteed view is at the Seneca Niagara Casino higher floors fallsview rooms...

tovarich

We have booked a room for two nights early October at the Comfort inn fallsview and pay 193.13 Cad.Paul