Niagara falls, US side
 

I would appreciate advice on a hotel to stay in, US side, for a one night stop over at Niagara Falls. moderate priced, thanks.

The US side is really dirty and rundown. Try Casino Niagara on the Canadian side. Lots of good shops and restaurants and that side is so beautifully maintained. Or try doing a search for places on the internet I think there are only the basics, BW, Days Inn, etc. If you go on the Canadian side, if you have time go to the town called Niagara on the Lake, it's awesome.

I agree - stay on the Canadian side - much nicer!

Thanks so much for your input, but with only a few hours to spare, won't we kill an awful lot of time at the border crossing?

Not if you paperwork is in order. An up-to-date passport makes entry much quicker.

you may waste a good amount of time at the border - it just depends. Summertime is pretty crowded at the falsl with lots of cross border traffic. I drove to Canada over the Rainbow Bridge a couple of weeks ago and it took about an hour to get over the bridge on the way back. If you are looking for moderately priced hotels, there are several on the US side. Check the websites for Days Inn (I think there are two in the area) and Holiday Inn. If you stay on the US side, you can walk over the bridge into Canada - could turn out to be quicker than driving.

The problem on the US side occurs if you are looking for first class accomodations. We are sorely lacking in that department, while the Canadian side has several such hotels.

Do not stay on the US side. Took the whole fam to the Falls for a Father's Day celebration. Stayed 2 nights on the CAN side, the only place to stay. The difference between night and day. And there is nothing moderate about the falls lodging, imo. Each room was over $220 CAN for very average lodging. Expect to pay much more for the newer high-rises. Since hubby and I footed most of the bill for the whole fam and we did little more than sleep in the room, the lodging was fine.

I would also recommend crossing at the Peace bridge. It still took about 45 minutes but that was only half as long as at the Rainbow Bridge.

Definately stay on the Canadian side - recently stayed at the Hilton (paid about $149 Canadian) - they had a really good buffet breakfast included which is served on the top floor overlooking the falls. The newly opened casino is right across the street. Also make a side trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake - cute little town.
Recently went over the bridge and it took about 10 minutes. Go over at Lewistown not Buffalo.

Hi

If you'd like to stay on the US side - then please - do stay on the US side. We did and got a room at the Comfort inn, moderately priced, which was right at the entrance to the park and overlooks the America side of the falls. Our room was very clean, looked out over the falls and Goat Island and from there we toured the American side of the falls.

We took the Maid of the Mist from the American side also (but it can be taken from either side really). The following day we visited the Canadian side and found it to be lovely also. There's a number of casinos on the canadian side. You can see more of the horseshoe falls from the canadian side, that is true. But if you have only a few hours, I would go with your gut feeling and stay where you'd like to.

We also went up to Niagara on the Lake, and that's one place I'm going back to - it's lovely.