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Old Aug 31st, 2006, 09:15 AM
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Niagara Falls Confusion

Help Please! What is the difference between the "Cave of the Winds" tour and "Journey Behind the Falls " tour? What is the difference between Sheraton on the Falls and Sheraton Fallsview Hotels? Which of these 2 have the better views?

I am thinking that the Sheraton Fallsview, Hilton Fallsview, Marriott Fallsview, and Embassy Suites Fallsview all have the "same" view. Am I correct? I am wondering if I just choose the hotel with the best price I would be OK. We are celebrating our anniversary and I want a room with the "best" views.

Thanks for your help.
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Old Aug 31st, 2006, 09:50 AM
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The "Cave of the Winds" is in N Falls USA and the "Journey Behind the Falls" is in N Falls Canada. The Journey takes you thru tunnels behind the largest falls and you get double-door size views of the gushing water. Didn't do the Caves but I think it is similar, recall seeing people walking on wet stepped boardwalks adjacent to the smaller falls. The must-do is the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour, you are given plastic ponchos and the boat goes up close to the largest falls and you get "misted", Quite an experience.

The main street in N Falls Canada is Fallsview, there are falls facing rooms and non falls facing rooms in each hotel. Get a map and see which one is closest to the falls. Tell the hotel it's your anniversary and you want the room with the best view.

When are you going?
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Old Aug 31st, 2006, 11:10 AM
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In June 2004, we stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotel Niagara Falls - Fallsview
http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com and the we had a king room with a great view of all the falls. I researched all of the hotels in the area and found this to be the best value. Great location!
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Old Aug 31st, 2006, 12:57 PM
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We did both the Cave of the Winds tour and the Journey Behind the Falls. As Shanghainese said the Journey is on the Canadian side and the Cave is on the American side.

We did both and they were both good but we preferred the Cave of the Winds as you walk right down beside the falls and can really see/feel the power of the waterfall. The Journey Behind the Falls you just look out and all you can see is a wall of white as the water passes in front of you. My personal preference Cave of the Winds.

But, Maid of the Mist is by far the best attraction. We had a blast.

Sorry - can't help on the hotel. I believe we stayed at a Hilton and at that time there was construction going on in front of it between the hotel and the falls but that was several years ago now.

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Old Aug 31st, 2006, 01:07 PM
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If you like old and authentic and at most a 2-1/2 star, try the Brock. The Brock has the closest Fallsview rooms, and 11 floor has balcony. This is the hotel Marilyn Monroe stayed in while doing "Niagara", the movie.

Honestly it is really a huge glob of arcades, fudge shops etc. etc. right there on the Canadian side. The Brock has a casino attached and also a huge new waterpark attached.

All on the Canadian side is hard to drive towards or find, IMHO, because of the traffic, buses, walkers etc. The Brock is half covered by the waterpark and we could hardly find it. But it's still there and the floors 11 and 12 have phenomenal views. The elevator is old as well.
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Old Aug 31st, 2006, 02:36 PM
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The Cave of the WInds tour is amazing. You walk right next to the waterfalls; it is all outside. It is much more interesting than the Journey Behind the Falls because with this you are only going through tunnels.
DO NOT MISS THE CAVE OF THE WINDS!!
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 06:37 AM
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We just stayed at the Marriott Fallsview on the 27th. Room 1718 had a great view. Not cheap tho'!!!!

We did Maid of the Mist, around 6pm and didn't have a long wait--just walked on to the boat--loved it--
wanted to do the Adventure Behind the Falls but husband was hungry so ate at Tu Tu Cafe (I think that was the name anyway)
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 07:02 AM
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One reason to consider a fallsview room: The falls are illuminated at night. Depending on the season, it can be very cold to view it from the rail or it can be very crowded. A room with a view can give you the "view" without the cold, wet, or crowd.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 07:07 AM
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Thanks to all for the help.
aneckc is offline  
Old Sep 1st, 2006, 07:09 AM
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Journey Behind the Falls - you take an elevator down to 1) a platform next to Horseshoe Falls and 2) to a tunnel that leads you to two bread-shaped openings directly behind the falls. (trivia - people throw coins over the railing in the tunnels for good luck; one man decided to claim some of those coins, stepped over the railing and got swept over the edge.)

Cave of the Winds tour - You walk along wooden platforms down to the edge of Bridal Falls. You will be less than 20 feet away from the falls and because of the debris at the bottom of the falls, there is a ton of spray hitting you.

If you have to choose one, go with Cave of the Winds, but if you can do both by all means do both. And definitely do Maid of the Mist.

Sheraton Fallsview is closer to the falls. I think it's a toss up on which hotel has the "best" view. It all depends on the room angle, floor, etc. As another poster mentioned, call the hotel directly and ask them for the best view they can offer. You might also grab the AAA Ontario or New York tourbook - it's free online with your AAA membership. They show the map, identify where are the hotels are, etc. They also explain all the attractions, provide hours and prices.
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Old May 5th, 2007, 07:10 AM
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