We need to get from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls, and then back to Toronto Pearson Airport after a couple of days stay. Taxi fare for the return transfer is almost $300 :eek:

Apart from the Greyhound buses, is there a cheaper alternative like a shuttle or car service ?

Thanks.

how about Amtrak?

Amtrak Maple Leaf service (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Horizontal_Route_Page&cid=1081442673791&c=am2Route&ssid=134)

I did a quick reservation search and the fare is $27 each way.

We need to get from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls, and then back to Toronto Pearson Airport after a couple of days stay. Taxi fare for the return transfer is almost $300 :eek:

Apart from the Greyhound buses, is there a cheaper alternative like a shuttle or car service ?

Thanks.

You might want to check out Niagara Airbus (http://www.niagaraairbus.com/)...

I haven't traveled them myself so I can't comment on service/price.

Cheers,
Jim

Niagara Airbus is a rather expensive alternative, for a roundtrip for a couple of people.

Check out the rail fares on VIA Rail Canada besides the Amtrak fare. VIA has several trains a day from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls (be sure when checking the schedules that you look for Niagara Falls, Ontario, rather then Niagara Falls, N.Y, across the border), and the round-trip fares are quite reasonable, especially if you can book a few weeks in advance, or can qualify for a seniors fare. Use your search engine to find the VIA Rail website. If you take the train back to Toronto, the cab or limo from Union Station to YYZ will probably be in the $50-55 CAD range.

The other alternative is to rent a car for a few days. It's an easy drive to NF, with travel time usually less then 1 1/2 hours each way, traffic and rush hour permitting. This would allow stopovers in Niagara-On-The-Lake, with its interesting shops, hotels, and nearby wineries, and it's only about 15 minutes drive from NF.

Hope this helps. Have a good trip.

bj-21.

Thanks for the quick replies.

We will probably take the train from Downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls; and either a taxi or car service from Niagara Falls back to Toronto Airport.

I have another question regarding tipping. For a $150 fare, does the taxi driver still expect a tip ? Niagara Airbus car service specifically mentioned gratuity is not included in the $150 fare, what is the customary amount to tip ?

We need to get from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls, and then back to Toronto Pearson Airport after a couple of days stay. Taxi fare for the return transfer is almost $300 :eek:

Apart from the Greyhound buses, is there a cheaper alternative like a shuttle or car service ?

Thanks.


I think there is a tour bus operator by the name of "Safeway" that has numerous daily departures and same day returns from downtown locations to the newest casino (Fallsview Casino) in Niagara Falls. It's only a 10-15 minutes walk from the casino to the Falls. I think Safeway charges C$25 (?) round trip per head but you can get C$15 (?) back from the bus tour guide if you get a VIP card from the casino by showing your Driver's License that you are over the legal age to gamble. I guess this only works if you don't have teenagers in your group.

You can get detail contact information from your hotel personnel and confirm the price.

Best of luck :-)

...I have another question regarding tipping. For a $150 fare, does the taxi driver still expect a tip ? Niagara Airbus car service specifically mentioned gratuity is not included in the $150 fare, what is the customary amount to tip ?Yes, they do expect a tip and the usual amount is 15%. For a fare this high I would tip $20 (so rounded down). Don't forget the taxi has to make the trip in both directions, so it is about 3 hours work for the driver.

We will probably take the train from Downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls

Am I right to assume there are local taxis in Niagara Falls area; we need a taxi to get from the train station to our hotel :)

Toronto Taxi : I read from somewhere the fare from YYZ to downtown is fixed but the airport website doesnt say so. Is there a surcharge for late night rides ?

Yes, there are local taxis, metered, in NF, so no problem from the train station to your hotel.

In TO, most of the cabs are metered, so you'll probably be on a meter to the airport from downtown, unless you can negotiate a flat rate in advance from the driver. A limo service would probably work out about the same from downtown to YYZ, as the limos have flat rates and a rate card by zones to the airport.
One limo service in the Toronto area, to and from the airport, is "Airline Limousines" (company name), which has a website with phone numbers listed.

bj-21.

I think there is a tour bus operator by the name of "Safeway" that has numerous daily departures and same day returns from downtown locations to the newest casino (Fallsview Casino) in Niagara Falls.

Anybody know of other casinos that offer discounted shuttle service to Toronto?

I plan on driving from downtown Toronto to the Niagara Falls, apart from the OP's questions, can someone tell me if it snows in February?

I live in South Florida, never seen nor driving in the snow :(

Or perhaps the bus/Amtrak idea will be better for me?

I think there is a tour bus operator by the name of "Safeway" that has numerous daily departures and same day returns from downtown locations to the newest casino (Fallsview Casino) in Niagara Falls. It's only a 10-15 minutes walk from the casino to the Falls. I think Safeway charges C$25 (?) round trip per head but you can get C$15 (?) back from the bus tour guide if you get a VIP card from the casino by showing your Driver's License that you are over the legal age to gamble. I guess this only works if you don't have teenagers in your group.
I did call Safeway, apparently a Chinese-run shuttle service to downtown Toronto from Fallsview Casino. I was told that tickets are C$30 round-trip, and you can get a C$25 credit from the casino with the bus ticket, which can be converted into cash.

I plan on driving from downtown Toronto to the Niagara Falls, apart from the OP's questions, can someone tell me if it snows in February?
...

Or perhaps the bus/Amtrak idea will be better for me?
Yes and yes.

:)

I did call Safeway, apparently a Chinese-run shuttle service to downtown Toronto from Fallsview Casino. I was told that tickets are C$30 round-trip, and you can get a C$25 credit from the casino with the bus ticket, which can be converted into cash.

Sounds good to me!

I found a schedule here:
http://fallsviewcasinoresort.com/chn/Site/Fallsview%20Chinese/Content/Fallsview%20Chinese.Schedule_Safeway_PDF.File.1.0. en.Schedule_Safeway.pdf
in the chinese pages of the Fallsview Casino website. And I've figured out I can get to 222 Spadina Ave using the 501 Queens St Car (or the 504 Kings St Car) Both of these seem convenient for the King Edward Hotel.

(222 Spadina Ave is just between intersaections of Dundas St w & Queen St W. near Sullivan St).

I'll contact Safeway Toours nearer the time to make the reservation (28 Dec).

Has anyone made this trip before, or know how this casino credit works? I've signed up with the Fallsview Casino for a Players Card. Do they give you the credit when you collect the card from them?

Any insight into this would be much appreciated.

EDIT: another link with more info in post#20

The best is to take the VIA. Here is a tip. VIA 1 or first class does not operate from toronto to Niagara Falls but they still take the first class car. So for the same price you can sit in first class. The first class car is the one at the front of the train.

The best is to take the VIA. Here is a tip. VIA 1 or first class does not operate from toronto to Niagara Falls but they still take the first class car. So for the same price you can sit in first class. The first class car is the one at the front of the train.

Yes, the train is very comfortable though a little slow.

Not sure whether we were in "F" but its towards the front of the train, the attendant on the platform would direct NF bound passengers to a certain coach towards the front of train, so I am not sure whether we were allowed to sit in any cabin.

Seats are similar to aircraft biz seats, and when you recline the seat moves forward so the passenger behind would not loose any space. Cant think of a more comfortable way to travel except the expensive car service.

Anybody know of other casinos that offer discounted shuttle service to Toronto?

Another tour operator to the casinos is "Tai Pan Tours", which has buses to both the Fallsview (and older Casino Niagara nearby), and Casino Rama which is located about 75 miles north of Toronto. Check their website for info and phone numbers. We don't use the bus tours, as we live just over an hour's drive from both NF and Rama, so I can't comment on details about credits, etc., but from newspaper ads here, it would appear that you would need the players club cards in advance of boarding to get some of the bonuses and discounts ($5.00 fare RT to Rama, including lunch coupons, etc.,) and I'd verify with Fallsview if you get the credits without having their card in advance of the bus trip.

aSiAnRiCk, I wouldn't advise driving up here in February if you're not familiar with driving in snow (yes, it usually does snow in Feb). While most of the major highways are usually salted and cleared quickly after a snowstorm, we get "black ice" on some of the overpasses and bridges at times, and that could make your trip more then just interesting. And the closer you get to NF (think Buffalo, just across the river) the more snow is possible. Better idea is to take the VIA Rail service from Toronto, with several trains available daily, and taxis from the NF station to your hotel. BTW, all the casinos in Ontario are now non-smoking, so if you're a smoker, you're relegated to smoking areas outside, in a tent at Rama, or a balcony outside at Fallsview. Brrrrrr in winter.

bj-21.

Renting a car is not that expensive if you can drive. In my view that is the best option.

We need to get from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls, and then back to Toronto Pearson Airport after a couple of days stay. Taxi fare for the return transfer is almost $300 :eek:

Apart from the Greyhound buses, is there a cheaper alternative like a shuttle or car service ?

Thanks.

Rail Canada - R/T Toronto - Niagara Falls - Toronto is $63.60 in comfort classIf you are a Senior your companion goes free.

For those (like me) who don't drive, I found more info on the Safeway bus deal to Niagara Falls here:

http://www.pokerforum.ca/showthread.php?p=100708

Thanks for the link ^

Just did this journey using Safeway Tours and can heartily recommend the experience... except:

Not so good for travelling on extremely busy times (eg New Years Eve weekend).

That timetable in the link I posted:
** Days Inn, 30 Carlton Street (College Subway Station)
Daily departures at 9:40am, leaving Niagara at 3:50pm
Daily departures at 11:40am, leaving Niagara at 6:30pm
Daily departures at 1:40pm, leaving Niagara at 8:30pm
Daily departures at 3:40pm, leaving Niagara at 10:50pm
Sat/Sun departures at 10:40am, leaving Niagara at 5:20pm

What that means is that your ticket to Niagara when travelling on the bus leaving Toronto at 9:40am will only guarantee you a seat on the bus returning at 3:50pm ON THE SAME DAY.
Although your ticket will technically cover you for a journey back up until midnight the following day, in reality there might not be enough room.

I chose to go to Niagara on the 28th (to avoid the crowds and hiked up prices), but the 29th was already super busy so the only seats available to us that day were on the 1:45pm coach (and we went to the Safeways counter at 11:40 - 10 minutes after it opened). There were a few elderly people on 'standby' for that coach, I don't think they got on :( .

On the bus ride back they mentioned that anyone travelling on the 31st Dec or the 1st Jan would only be able to get back on the published return bus (this would only give you about 4 hours in Niagara!)

-------------------

If you aren't travelling on a 'peak' travel day, please don't let this warning put you off.

The coach was modern and comfortable (even included a movie and a restroom). We had no problems with getting the $25 coupons turned into cash.
I'd recommend you sign up with the casino on their website before you go - that way your details are already in the system and they just print you out your card. You should definitely call up and reserve your seat though (we did it the same morning and got the 9:40am coach)

To change your departure time (i.e. when returning the next day) just go to the tour desk at the casino between 4 and 5 hours before you wish to return. The desk opens at 11:30am - this seems to be a good time to go!

I'd definitely travel this way again. Sure, we wound up returning about 2.5 hours earlier than we'd have planned, but for $5 we thought it was one hell of a deal! ^ ^ ^


P.S. When it isn't insanely busy, you can extend your trip by buying a $15 one way fare. This would mean that an open return would effectively cost you $20.

But...............

Did you win???? :D

Hope you enjoyed the casino. We were down a week ago, and it wasn't very crowded during the week. This holiday weekend it should be packed.

bj-21.