In the month of July, my husband and I enjoyed a long weekend in Niagara Falls. We drove about 7 hours from Connecticut. Niagara Falls is one of the oldest American State parks. People from all over come to experience and see the beautiful falls.
Here are some tips that I learned after our trip that can save you some money.
Stay on the US side. We saved $50 a night by staying on US side of Niagara Falls. On the Canada side, you are paying for the beautiful view. Most of the main attractions are on the US side. Also, you will save money on passport if you do not have one.
Hotel with breakfast Eating out during vacation can add up really quickly especially if you have a large family. Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast. We stayed at the Hyatt Palace. They offer free breakfast daily. The menu varies based on the day of the week. But there is always: cereal, a variety of breads, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and fruit. Also, the hotel in walking distance to the park. We also grabbed some fruit to bring back to the room as a snack for later.
Snacks and Drinks Bring your own snacks and drinks since there are no real close stores to Niagara Falls and you are in a tourist area. All the places to eat charge a lot for a bottle of soda, water and/or snacks. We paid $3.50 for a 16oz of soda; which regularly costs $1.50. Even a bag of chips was $2.00. I suggest bringing your own snacks and drinks or even going to the Walmart which is right next to the Fashion outlets of Niagara Falls. Carry a backpack so you can have your drinks and snacks handy. Most hotels have ice machines and refrigerators to keep your drinks cold. Please research the hotel you are staying at to make sure your room will have a refrigerator.
Discovery Pass Purchase the discovery pass because, it gives you passes to all of the major attractions for 35% off. Whereas, if you bought it individually it would cost a lot more. The pass is good for: Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Aquarium of Niagara, Niagara Adventure Theater and unlimited rides of the scenic trolley for the day. The passes are only valid from May- October because of the weather. Check out niagarafallstatepark.com/discovery-pass for more information.
***Tourist tip- Go to the maid of the mist during the week. On Saturday the line is very long and crowded.Also take the trolley on the day you are going to the aquarium since it is not walking distance.
Turn off Celluar data Your phone may ping back and forth between Canada and US towers. To avoid roaming charges, turn off the cellular data. Many hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Also, there is free Wi-Fi in the park and at some of the attractions.