Anyone been to Niagara/Toronto?
 

Looking for a break away somewhere early next year an dhave found some good deals for Niagara.

Now my only worry is, as nice as the hotel and scenary looks, if it a one trick pony? Is there much to do there or is it a case of oooh there's the big waterfall (ok slight under whelming statement there but you know what I mean) and that's it?

The hotel is sat right on the edge by the falls and the room is facing them so that should be stunning, and seems pretty cheap but I'd like somewhere near enough to make going into Toronto viable, I reckon this would be too far out

Stay in Toronto, visit the falls on a day trip. It's not far on the organised trip (ask the concierge) ...(spelling)...

Parts of Niagara are like Blackpool, very tacky. Worth visiting, incredible. However stay in Toronto.

P.S. A week is spot on.

It's a nice friendly city, a quiet humm to it as opposed to a loud buzz - if you get me.

Niagara is a one day trip, mate.
Apart from seeing the falls there really isn't much else except tack - loads of crappy theme parks and stuff for kids. Or a sophisticated meal out at Hooters.
It's pretty depressing and concrete beyond seeing the falls.

Went there a few years ago, amazing place and am going back next year.

You would be much better getting a hotel in Toronto and going up to Niagra and stay in the hotel there for one night (which is what i am doing), as there is not much at Niagra, but lots to do in Toronto itself.

Yep, try Toronto but it's pretty cold at the start of the year.

Same as above, I've been a couple of times, based in Toronto, day trip to the falls.

If you go early, be aware the falls aren't always liquid...

http://www.hankscorpio.net/forumpics/niagara.jpg

Very wierd, all the spray is frozen as little ice crystals in the air as well.

Cheers for the replies, living in a heavily based tourist town now it's sadly as expected, damn shame as I found a very nice deal on a 5 star hotel with a falls view from the room.

I think staying in Toronto would be better, just need to find a good deal :P

Would be going around March time, already checking the fixtures list to see who the Maple Leafs are playing, got some good games that month :) :) I know it's pricey to go to a game but I've always wanted to go to an NHL game, going to games over here just isn't the same :P

This place looked quite nice

http://www.deltahotels.com/hotels/hotels.php?hotelId=10

Can get a week there inc flights for two of us for under 1k.

I guess I best chip in :)

I've lived in Toronto for nearly 3 years now, love the place :)

As others have said, Niagara is only about an hour and half away from Toronto, so if you say in TO, then it's not that far to go, and I'd not recommend staying there as there isn't that much to do. TO is the better bet.

The Maid of The Mist boat trip to the falls is well worth doing, but I've just had a peek and they don't re-open until April, and I don't blame them, it's bloody cold! It is worth seeing it iced up, as per the above picture, quite a sight indeed.

If gambling is your thing then there are a couple of Casino's there, remember to take your passport with you for ID, they won't let you in otherwise.

As for weather, well, the temps for March 26th last year were Max of -2.9C min of -7.2C, so a bit chilly, but it's a dry cold rather than the damp cold of the UK. Come prepared with some warm clothes as it might be colder than that.

You want to know what to do whilst here, or where to stay? have a peek here.

I've still to get my arse to a hockey game, did not help that there wasn't any hockey last season :( plus good seats do cost a fair whack, but then again, the currency conversion does help in that respect.

If there's anything else you want to know, just ask :)

Very nice and central to downtown.

Oh, one other thing you have to do is the CN Tower. Book an evening meal at the 360 Restaurant. A very nice rotating view of TO whilst you dine. The food is pretty good too.

Cheers fo rthe advice, that Delta place looks pretty nice.

Also I've only ever done package deals, is it much mroe risky getting the flight and hotel off my own back as it might work out cheaper (just doing the sums now...)?

Went there earlier this year.

Spend 1/2 day at falls. check out niagara on the lake, nice little town with grub etc. really slow paced place, nice if a bit contrived.

Then do the wine region! The missus and I spent a whole day just driving around, checking out all the wineries.

Also try a canoeing trip in the wilderness (prob a bit cold this time of year tho) which is fun and active. We went to the algonquin park.

Good point about NOTL, very nice place, just watch out for all the Japanese/Chinese tourists who'll stop in front of you to take photo's of everything :D

Don't forget to have a look at the big whirlpool a bit downstream of the falls.

The big tower in Toronto is worth a visit too.

Les

Les

Toronto is great, plenty todo. As above, Niagra is just a day trip, maid of the mist is a must (as long as your camera is waterproof ;) ).

I think I may have eaten lunch in the hotel you mentioned by the falls...the name escapes me but the view from the restaurant is spectactular (actually got the best camera shot of the falls from there).

Would recommend flying off to Vancouver and Victoria Island too if you can make it. If thats a bit too far, a few days in Ottawa maybe worth thinking about.

I LUUURRRVVVV Toronto - I've been there twice - once for a long weekend before a conference in Pittsburgh and once for 10 days. At no point have I ever been even close to being bored there!!


Save yourself some cash and check out the B&Bs - I found them excellent value for money and right in the city.

As for things to do, start here:

http://www.toronto.ca/

It has everything you need to know about the place and, if you hunt around a bit, you can find discount vouchers and stuff.

Can't quite remember the name of the place, but there's an odd mock medieval (?sp can't be bothered to check!) castle/ house on the edge of town. Casa something (well it would be I guess wouldn't it!) - fabulously odd!

There's masses of shopping, day trips, places to eat, the old market, china town - you'll never fit it all into a week!

Am jolly jealous now....

Have fun!

:D

Hello Beth :)
Casa Loma is the name of the Castle. Never been there myself, but I have seen it. Odd is an understatement.

Markus Baby! Haven't heard from you for ages! How the devil are you? Email me with all your gossip you antisocial expat! :p :)

Casa Loma - that's the place - fabulously odd!! So - I've been in Toronto for a total of 14 days in my life and I've been there. You've lived in Toronto for 3 years and haven't quite made it :Suspiciou ..... what's the problem - too many nice ladies keeping you busy? :norty:

I shall email you later today :)

As for Casa Loma, I know, I know, there's so much to do round here though, plus if I'm not in toronto then I'm usually to be found in St Catherines, or up north camping.

There's an excellent chinese restaurant at Niagara on the Lake...... best chinese food I ever had.
Go to the Amercan side of the Falls for a new perspective.
As said before, day trip is all you need. TO is the place to base.
Yve

Yve,
Is that the restaurant that is set back a bit from the street, somewhere up near the Candy Safari shop? I've walked past there so many times and never been in there, at some point I will though.

Oh and if anyone happens to be in St Catherines, check out Bansaree, one of the best curry houses I've been to over here :)

Ok looks like we're definitely going to book something (next payday) :P

Week in Toronto, 13th to 20th March staying at the Delta Chelsea :)

Right now all I need to know is what is good to do in the area, how easy is it to get hockey tickets and how much does stuff cost over there? i.e. how much for your average steak meal, pint of beer etc? Here's me hoping stuff that's a pound here is a dollor there :P

Current exchange rate is 2.07 dollars for a pound, so it's not too bad.

Pint of stella is about 5 bucks (2.50) but that's because it's an imported beer, molson canadian or labatt blue are cheaper, probably around 2.95 bucks.

As for food, well, Milestones or The Keg (good steaks!) will probably be around 60 - 120 dollars for two, so that's about 30 - 60 quid, plus the portions tend to be yank like, ie; BIG!

So realistically same kinda price as here, but big portions :)

Any idea on hockey tickets, something I'd really wanna do if it's not stupidly expensive :(