HelloKittysMum

First let me say I know this is a really touristy thing to do but it's likely to be a one off (I visited 35 years ago with my parents as a teenager and this is my first time back despite having been in upstate NY 3 or 4 times).

We're looking for a hotel with a view of the falls but the choices are confusing - no view, city view, river view, partial view, Horseshoe view, American view,Canadian and American view.

A couple of friends have said don't bother as it's touristy (but we are tourists!) but it's a convenient stopping point and we want to do the Maid of the Mist and behind the falls.

Amy thoughts?

gspurr

I've never stayed at the Falls, but pass through all the time. I would think that the best view would be the Canadian or horseshoe view (on the Canadian side of course). I would check tripadvisor for people's comments on the rooms and call the hotel itself to confirm what type of view it is. The Falls are very touristy but there is quite a bit to do in the area away from the Falls themselves--i.e. Niagara on the Lake and winery tours. If you have kidfs they would love Great Wolf Lodge.

laidback71

Generally, the better the view the more expensive the room.

Also, some hotels are closer to the falls than others. So they may offer a view, but it will be at a distance. Check out a map to gauge how close you will be.

gspurr

It might be worth not paying for a view room and putting that money towards a room with club lounge access. The lounge will surely have a nice view of the falls and you usually get breakfast included and free drinks and snacks at night.

HelloKittysMum

We've already settled on Canadian side (hence posting this in Canada forum)

Not bothered by free drinks and snacks but do want a view from our hotel room. Getting drunk in a club level lounge isn't really our thing (and what would we do with teenage children).

I know there might be better /cheaper places to stay and I know it is touristy (hence only staying one night) but it's what we want to do as I think it will be memorable (I remember visiting 35 years ago and assume hotel was away from falls as I remember nothing of it).

Was hoping for some persoanl recommendations on specific hotels rather than trawling through TripAdvisor.

gspurr

Sorry I can't help much on specific hotels, you might have better luck posting on the tripadvisor Niagara Falls forum for info on hotels with views.

In my experience hotel club lounges always allow in kids and aren't anything like a bar scene with just as many people drinking soft drinks, coffee, tea as alcohol.

DanJ

Embassy Suites is the best located and probably nicest of the hotels right in that area. It's super tall and right near the Horseshoe falls with a good view of the American Falls. Right next to the casino. Incline railway right out the back side of the hotel and across the walkway bridge takes you down to the falls lookout and the journey behind the falls attraction. Several restaurants in and around the hotel such as TGI Fridays, Outback, Applebees and Keg Steakhouse.

There are 2 Marriott hotels across the street from each other right beside the Embassy Suites. Marriott Fallsview is the newer and preferable one to the older Marriott Gateway on the Falls across the road. My concern with these hotels is they are more looking across the falls, not directly at them. The ES is about as far as I would want to go in that regard. The Hilton has a great angle for viewing the falls, but you would want a high floor so as to not be obstructed by the casino and it's hotel.


These hotels aren't in the tacky touristy area known as Clifton Hill. There are hotels over there that are cheaper but don't have quite the same view but make up for that for being in the middle of all the wax museums and amusements that people seem to like for Niagara. The Sheraton On the Falls is a good choice in that area, and is connected indoors to the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. The kids might enjoy this area a bit more, but it's also easy to get to from those hotels I mentioned up top.

Tax Dude

Good hotel advice in the post above. I've stayed at the Four Points (although it was a Sheraton at the time) and had a great view too. As for it being 'touristy', don't worry about it. I was born in NF and we have stayed in Falls view rooms several times and really enjoy it. Can't beat the view!

tentseller

The view of the falls from one of the newer hotel's high floor fallsview room is different from the railside view that most locals are used to.

Badenoch

Here's a crappy cell phone picture taken one evening a couple of years ago from the Marriott Gateway. I don't remember which floor. I was attending a convention and didn't care about the view but if that's what I was after I'd be looking for a hotel further north on Fallsview Blvd.

HelloKittysMum

Thanks for all these tips. Am currently in Botswana on business but will follow up when I'm back in UK next week.

DanJ

groupon also has constant Niagara deals, and I noticed one this weekend for the Oakes hotel as well. It's immediately to the north of the Embassy Suites with a great view. Not as big a hotel, 14 or 15 floors with a small tower section that goes up another 10 floors or so. The Groupon Niagara deals I have looked at usually specify whether the opportunity exists to get fallsview rooms.

SLC-YYZ

We've stayed at the Crowne Plaza and Sheraton at the Falls with 'Fallsview rooms' and the Sheraton was definitely better. You have a clear view from both but the Crowne being a block farther is a bit of a neck stretch. The Sheraton has newer window (floor to ceiling) so it is easier to see and the angle is better.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...11781B67!15353

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...11781B67!15333

These are shots out of the window resting on the railing.

emma69

I take my visitors to stay at the Hilton in one of the Premium Fallsview rooms, usually situated on the 40th+ floors of the hotel. From there, you can see both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. I tend to book myself into a regular room lower down, as I have seen them a number of times before, but my visitors usually love their views.

The Hilton does special rate packages, which include things like e.g. a wine tour, restaurant vouchers, casino vouchers etc. so it works out pretty decent. If you sign up for their newsletter they send you deals not available on the website. Last month when I took visitors it had a $25 casino voucher each (so $50), a wine tour and tasting for two ($60), internet ($15), breakfast for two, $40 dinner voucher, and for a Premium Fallsview 2-bedroom room (king bed in each room, shared bathroom with jacuzzi, sitting area with fireplace) the cost was $229 plus tax. I thought that was pretty reasonable!

The only hotel I would say may have better falls view would be the Fallsview Casino (the others IMO are too far North or South to get good views of both) but it typically prices out much higher, and I can't speak to the rooms.

I have pictures, but I have no idea how to put them on here, but if you look at people's photos on trip advisor, that's a pretty good guide.

In terms of the activities, the Maid of the Mist (now has another name, can't recall it) is fun, but the behind the falls one is a waste of time and money IMO. Much more fun to just stand where the falls go over the edge and watch

HelloKittysMum

Thanks for suggestions. Still not booked yet (just back from a business trip to Southern Africa) but will sort something soon. Hilton deal sounds good -was that booking direct?

I remember going behind the falls when I was a teenager (30+ years ago) so we'll probably do it anyway.