Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

We will be taking our initial visit to this area in late June. We are
US residents. I have made reservations on the Canadian side but am
having second thoughts about staying there as opposed to the US side.
Here are my concerns.

If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

When we come back home will our purchases made on the US side be
considered as coming from Canada and be subject to some sort of
tariff?.

How much of a hassle timewise and otherwise is it to cross back and
forth because of customs?

Are things more expensive on the Canadian side?, it appears that taxes
are a good deal more in Canada. Is it actually going to cost more to
eat and stay in Canada?


I would appreciate any insight.

I am also looking for a good written guidebook to the area.

Thanks.

Charlie

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

"nospam" wrote in message
...
We will be taking our initial visit to this area in late June. We are
US residents. I have made reservations on the Canadian side but am
having second thoughts about staying there as opposed to the US side.
Here are my concerns.

If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

I don't understand this question. If you are staying on the Canadian side,
you are not going to be driving back and forth between the Canadian side and
the US side. So why would you be shopping on the US side and then going
back to your hotel?


When we come back home will our purchases made on the US side be
considered as coming from Canada and be subject to some sort of
tariff?.

Again, you most likely will not be going back and forth between the US and
Canada.


How much of a hassle timewise and otherwise is it to cross back and
forth because of customs?


Why would you be going back and forth?


Are things more expensive on the Canadian side?, it appears that taxes
are a good deal more in Canada. Is it actually going to cost more to
eat and stay in Canada?

No. Think currency conversion.



I would appreciate any insight.

I am also looking for a good written guidebook to the area.

Thanks.

Charlie

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

"Peter L" wrote in message
...

"nospam" wrote in message
...
We will be taking our initial visit to this area in late June. We are
US residents. I have made reservations on the Canadian side but am
having second thoughts about staying there as opposed to the US side.
Here are my concerns.

If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

I don't understand this question. If you are staying on the Canadian
side,
you are not going to be driving back and forth between the Canadian side
and
the US side. So why would you be shopping on the US side and then going
back to your hotel?


Because its a five minute walk across the bridge and its nice to see
the view from both sides.

Personally I'd stay on the Canadian side and I dont recall any hassle
at the border.

Keith

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 09:41:25 -0800, "Peter L"
wrote:



If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

I don't understand this question. If you are staying on the Canadian side,
you are not going to be driving back and forth between the Canadian side and
the US side. So why would you be shopping on the US side and then going
back to your hotel?

I would think there would be several reasons to go to the US side,
unique shops, attractions , landmarks that one would like to see.


Are things more expensive on the Canadian side?, it appears that taxes
are a good deal more in Canada. Is it actually going to cost more to
eat and stay in Canada?

No. Think currency conversion.

I understand currency conversion but that wasn't my question.

My question do things cost more in Canada, i.e. food and lodging. This
is taking into consideration currency conversion. The GST taxes on top
of the sales taxes seem to wipe out any advantage gained. I do realize
I can probably get a refund on some GST taxes paid but not on things
like lunches, dinners, drinks, admissons etc.

If something costs $1 US in the US and the same thing costs $1.30 US
in Canada than you gain nothing from currency conversion.

Charlie



I would appreciate any insight.

I am also looking for a good written guidebook to the area.

Thanks.

Charlie

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

nospam wrote:
We will be taking our initial visit to this area in late June. We are
US residents. I have made reservations on the Canadian side but am
having second thoughts about staying there as opposed to the US side.
Here are my concerns.

If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

No, and in any case there's nothing to buy on the US side. All the shopping
is on the Canadian side (whether it be groceries or souvenirs or really
anything else).

When we come back home will our purchases made on the US side be
considered as coming from Canada and be subject to some sort of
tariff?.

Not unless you buy a lot of stuff.

How much of a hassle timewise and otherwise is it to cross back and
forth because of customs?

The queues for automobiles can be long at peak periods. Avoid rush hour and
it's not a big deal. If you're just going back and forth to look at the
falls, it's easier to walk anyway.

Are things more expensive on the Canadian side?, it appears that taxes
are a good deal more in Canada. Is it actually going to cost more to
eat and stay in Canada?

Almost everything is cheaper in Canada and it's a lot more pleasant as well.

The only good thing about the US side is the park along the river
immediately leading up to the falls, which is very beautiful and gives you
the opportunity to really feel the water building up to the thundering force
of the fall.

miguel
--
Hundreds of travel photos from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

nospam wrote:
I would think there would be several reasons to go to the US side,
unique shops, attractions , landmarks that one would like to see.

Niagara Falls, Canada is an overdone tourist boom town with a surfeit of
kitschy stuff (wax museums, casinos) and a lot of hotels and restaurants.
Tacky as it may be, it's safe and cheerful.

Niagara Falls, New York is a depressing crime-ridden pit.

If something costs $1 US in the US and the same thing costs $1.30 US
in Canada than you gain nothing from currency conversion.

This is the case with a few things (tours offerered from both sides, for
example, where the temptation for arbitrage is high) but in general the
bottom line price of equivalent food, lodging, etc., is lower on the
Canadian side. Now, if you're buying a car...

miguel
--
Hundreds of travel photos from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

"nospam" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 09:41:25 -0800, "Peter L"
wrote:



If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

I don't understand this question. If you are staying on the Canadian
side,
you are not going to be driving back and forth between the Canadian side
and
the US side. So why would you be shopping on the US side and then going
back to your hotel?

I would think there would be several reasons to go to the US side,
unique shops, attractions , landmarks that one would like to see.

You are a resident of the US. So why would you drive to Canada, then
shuttle back and forth between the 2 countries?



Are things more expensive on the Canadian side?, it appears that taxes
are a good deal more in Canada. Is it actually going to cost more to
eat and stay in Canada?

No. Think currency conversion.

I understand currency conversion but that wasn't my question.

My question do things cost more in Canada, i.e. food and lodging. This
is taking into consideration currency conversion. The GST taxes on top
of the sales taxes seem to wipe out any advantage gained. I do realize
I can probably get a refund on some GST taxes paid but not on things
like lunches, dinners, drinks, admissons etc.

If something costs $1 US in the US and the same thing costs $1.30 US
in Canada than you gain nothing from currency conversion.

Charlie



I would appreciate any insight.

I am also looking for a good written guidebook to the area.

Thanks.

Charlie

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

If you prefer bed and breakfasts try staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake. They
have some wonderful upscale shops and restaurants without the glitz of
Niagara Falls. About a 15 minute drive from the falls.

Gail

"nospam" wrote in message
...
We will be taking our initial visit to this area in late June. We are
US residents. I have made reservations on the Canadian side but am
having second thoughts about staying there as opposed to the US side.
Here are my concerns.

If our hotel is on the Canadian and we do a lot of shopping on the US
side is that going to cause a problem with Canadian Customs when we
return to our hotel with our goods?. Just regular tourist stuff
nothing real costly.

When we come back home will our purchases made on the US side be
considered as coming from Canada and be subject to some sort of
tariff?.

How much of a hassle timewise and otherwise is it to cross back and
forth because of customs?

Are things more expensive on the Canadian side?, it appears that taxes
are a good deal more in Canada. Is it actually going to cost more to
eat and stay in Canada?


I would appreciate any insight.

I am also looking for a good written guidebook to the area.

Thanks.

Charlie

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 11:08:47 -0800, "Peter L" w

You are a resident of the US. So why would you drive to Canada, then
shuttle back and forth between the 2 countries?

I've never been to upper New York state or Canada, so while I'm there
I'd like to see both.

Niagara Falls Canada or US side
 

Gail Sperling wrote:

If you prefer bed and breakfasts try staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake. They
have some wonderful upscale shops and restaurants without the glitz of
Niagara Falls. About a 15 minute drive from the falls.

Gail

FINALLY a sensible answer. Gail is correct; neither side of the falls has much
to offer. Stay at NOTL, which also has a theatre festival. You can see all
there is to see at the Falls in a half day. The Niagara Penninsula has a lot
more to offer, and NOTL is the heart of it.

Larry

--
Larry Finch

N 40° 53' 47"
W 74° 03' 56"