jonny1

how can my wife travel from Toronto to Niagara Falls Marriott Gateway on the Falls 6755 Fallsview Blvd · Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 3W7 Canada?

She doesn't drive, any bus or train service that will take her to or very close to the hotel?
we are originally from US, we would like to take our phones with us, but it is too costly due to roaming, long distance and many other charges.
Our phone is tmobile GSM phones.

Can I carry my phone to canada, leave the sim here and buy Canadian sim and prepaid phone cards?
Where can I get sim card and phone cards to use for our canadian trip?

Thank you

B1

VIA runs trains and there are several bus possibilities. The most convenient would be one of the casino buses but they usually don't take passengers with luggage. Greyhound and Coach Canada have regular service. For a GSM card, stop at any 7-11 and get their Speakout SIM card, which is a pre-pay that requires at least $25 plus the $10 cost of the SIM. It expires after one year and cannot be used outside Canada. There are long distance charges for calls to places outside the home area of the SIM card.

jonny1

so this wont work to call US but within canada only? didn't know there is 7-11 in canada. can I find this sim & prepaid card in Buffalo?


Do you recommend we stay a night or two in Toronto? Whats there to see for people like us from Chicago? if i stay in downtown toronto, I don't need to rent a car to travel/see things around right?

longwaybackhome

I was in Montreal and Ottawa a few weeks ago, and Verizon confused me so much when I asked about their Canada plans that after a few futile attempts to get my phone to work on the Telus network in Montreal, I ended up buying a new phone with a SIM card. I have a feeling you'll have much more luck with your GSM phone.

If you'd like to spend a night or two in downtown Toronto, I don't think you'll need a car. I can probably help you figure out things to do if you tell us what you like.

(I'm going to Toronto in 50 days, not that I'm counting or anything.)

AA_EXP09

In YYZ I use the bus, but beware, they are very crowded (even more than the ones in YVR, JFK, HKG!)
Go with Rogers (that's what I use)
If possible, to save 8%, I know a contact in YYC that buys credit for me to save 8%.
IMO YYZ is a dump.
天马 has a bus that goes to Niagara Falls.
So does 泰安

gglave

There are no transit buses at YVR - You can walk between the terminals and there's a rapid transit train out to YVR from the city. No buses to YVR - Not since 2009.

jonny1

whats YVR?

gglave

YVR is the airport code for the Vancouver International Airport, in the same way YYZ is the airport code for Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport, YUL is Aeroport International Pierre-Elliot-Trudeau de Montreal etc.

So if you're flying from YYZ to YVR then you're flying from Toronto's airport to Vancouver's airport.

There are no buses at YVR though, which was what I was clarifying.

blackjack-21

Just a note about buying a SIM card up here. Be sure that your cellphone is compatible with the services and SIMs offered by the companies in Canada. My old LG from several years ago (AT&T unlocked quadband GSM phone) won't work with either Telus or Rogers SIMs. Just check on their websites to see if you have a compatible phone before you buy the SIM. Don't know about other providers, but I got it to work with a 7-11 Canada SIM. Also the one from 7-11 Canada is different from the 7-11 service and SIM from the States, so you have to buy it up here. There are other cellphone companies in Canada (Bell, Fido, etc.) but be sure your phone will work with their SIM.
Most large cellphone companies have either stores or booths in the larger malls in the Toronto area.

Train service from Toronto to Niagara Falls is inexpensive and usually takes about one and a half hours each way. Then a cab ride to the hotel. Check the VIA Rail website for fares and schedules. Coach Canada or Greyhound is slightly longer. I don't think the casino coach trips are meant for overnight stays in NF, as most are only meant for direct trips to or from the casinos and a later, or late night, return. Getting around the downtown area of Toronto is easy and walkable or not more then a subway or trolley ride if needed, so you really won't need a car as parking in downtown is expensive, even for short periods.

bj-21.

jonny1

i am flying to Buffalo NY and than taking bus or whatever there is that would take me to MARRIOT GATEWAY in Niagara Falls,Ontario.

My wife is traveling from Toronto to NF in the same morning to join me for our 2 days stay. after that, I think I should go visit Toronto for a day or 2 before I return to chicago. Both of us are from chicago, she is traveling 3 days before me to canada for her bro's wedding.

jonny1

ok
i am looking for a canadian sim card and canadian cell phone prepaid cards to calls within canada and US,
is below what i need?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/North-Americ...24123039967390

B1

You can call the US from Canada but you cannot use it outside Canada to make a call to anywhere.

B1

That's a reseller. They don't say who their provider is. T-mobile sim cards work with Rogers in Canada. But see post #2.

jonny1

i am not stupid to take my tmo sim card in my phone to use in canada, i will get hundreds of $ in ROAMING and long distance charges.
need a canadian sim and prepaid to to call within canada and US.

PhotoJim

Check out http://www.prepaidgsm.net ... they will list all the prepaid options in Canada and most other countries in the world.

For occasional use, T-Mobile's roaming rate in Canada may not be terrible. Phone and ask, or check their website. I know that T-Mobile prepaid's roaming rate in Canada is $0.59 and includes US long distance. That's per minute, but for occasional calling it's quite livable.

Most Canadian prepaid is going to require $.25-.30 in long distance charges to the US, so you can see that the T-Mobile rate is not too bad.