Suggestions for day trip to Niagara Falls

[NM]

Walk to the USA side of Niagara Falls (free?)

Personally I would not bother with that bit. Not worth the queue for USA immigration and customs. The view from USA side is far inferior to the Canadian side. You will see what I mean when you get to the Canadian side and see what the American side gets to see.

Be prepared for senior discount to be refused. Many places (especially in Australia) government entities like trains only provide concession discounts like Seniors to local residents. For example, Qld Rail will not recognise Student Identification from interstate for student rail fares. My nephew from Perth had to pay full adult fare on a Q-Rail train because his student ID was from his Perth high school. My parents found the same things with their Australian Government issued pension card when seeking concession rates in Victoria. Some will accept, bit be prepared that some may not. I have no personal experience trying for such concession discounts in Canada.

 

[Maca44]

Personally I would not bother with that bit. Not worth the queue for USA immigration and customs. The view from USA side is far inferior to the Canadian side. You will see what I mean when you get to the Canadian side and see what the American side gets to see.

I drove from Detroit to Niagra last september 08 and remained on the Canadian side, and agree that the CA side is much nicer.

 

[FlyboyAl]

This has been a great thread to follow as I'll be visiting Rochester in New York (home of Eastman Kodak) and will have a couple of days up my sleeve and I was planing to go to the falls and spend 2 nites there having a look around.

Just on the visa issue, I'm going to the US on a normal visa waiver trip - I take it there are no issues leaving the US to go to Canada, and then coming back 2 days later!!!????

I fly SYD - SFO, then to Rochester, then back to SFO to Sydney.

 

[drron]

Actually the US and canada are pretty good at seniors discount.Basically people over 65 get a discount no matter where in the world they come from-it used to be 62 until I turned 62!
However those over 50 can join AARP or CARP-associations of retired persons.This used to be good but the discounts arent as great as they were except for 20% off all Rockport/Reebok and 10% off at Borders.
These days your RACQ/NRMA card will get you just as good a discount-they are affiliated with AAA.Always ask-this trip I found that there is an AAA discount at Gap stores for example.

 

[Maca44]

Just on the visa issue, I'm going to the US on a normal visa waiver trip - I take it there are no issues leaving the US to go to Canada, and then coming back 2 days later!!!????

You can cross into Canada and back to USA as long as it is within the 90 day period from when you arrive at SFO.

 

[JerseyVics]

You get the very best views of the falls from the Canadian side... don't bother with US, unless you want to get really close, like on the rock between the falls... you'll get soaked on the Canadian side anyway, as all the mist blows up hill towards the casinos.


Consider having dinner at the Skylon... I did it last time I was there (albeit in February so everything was frozen over in ice) and the views are spectacular! You get a rotating floor experience, although its a bit pricey... there's also an observation deck above the restaurant that's really cool, you can simply pay the ascend fee to get there.

Enjoy yourself!

--Russ

 

[FlyboyAl]

Thanks Maca. That solves that little concern.
I'll now just sit back and watch the ongoing posts. Looks like I'm going to have a GOOD time.

 

[Maca44]

Thanks Maca. That solves that little concern.
I'll now just sit back and watch the ongoing posts. Looks like I'm going to have a GOOD time.

After arriving into SFO the Immigration Officer will normally staple the bottom part of the green coloured I94W form onto one of the pages of your passport, so when you cross into Canada make sure they do not remove that I94W section as you will need it when you depart SFO, which is usually removed when you check in for your flight.

 

[FlyboyAl]

That little bit of green card can be a real headache, especially if you don't have it when you should, or if you still have it when you shouldn't!!!!

Haven't been caught out yet, touch wood!

 

[serfty]

I'm flying a short trip to MEX next year (Oz-LAX-//-MEX-//-LAX-Oz) - is this a similar case? (i.e. Don't let the Green slip be removed before heading to Mexico)

 

[docjames]

I'm flying a short trip to MEX next year (Oz-LAX-//-MEX-//-LAX-Oz) - is this a similar case? (i.e. Don't let the Green slip be removed before heading to Mexico)

No, you need the green slip taken, then a new form filled on arrival back into LAX (which is surrendered on departure to Aus).

Ours wasnt taken when we flew Mel-LAX-Mexico and then when we arrived back into LAX from CUN we handed a new form but the immigration officer saw the old green slip (we'd left it in the passport) and noted his system thought we hadnt left the country (we'd been in mexico for 15 days!). Bit of mucking around fighting the computer on his behalf, but he was pretty relaxed about it. Note the onus is on YOU to surrender the green form on departure or they can deny future entry.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for the suggestions and here is my experience of doing Niagara Falls on my own. Not meant to be criticism or a negative review but just some of my observations from a casual tourist.

• Niagara Falls is quite nice but is very gimmicky and extremely crowded. In my opinion 2 hours is more than enough time
• Journey behind the Falls is extremely overrated and I also had to wait over 1.5 hours to line up and then another 30 minutes to get down to the bottom.
• I did not bother with Maid of the Mist as it did not look very exciting
• Do not take taxi from train station to Niagara Falls. As you exit train station turn left and walk 300 metres down to the river and there is a people mover (free) coming past every few minutes with multiple stops along the way
• If you want to do the train with ViaRail then book on the internet as the walk up price for Toronto-Niagara Falls was CAD142 for adult and senior (CAD88 on internet). Do note that return train trip can be extremely delayed due to Canadian customs inspecting the train. We were delayed well over 90 minutes last night
• There are GO trains on weekends only ~CAD31 return.
• And more importntly do the bus tour even if they charge you CAD12 extra for pickups outside of downtown and CAD12-15 tip. Would have worked out much cheaper and avoided unnecessary taxis and buses.
• Bus tour would have meant a return to hotel ~6:00pm and we did not get back until ~11:00pm