Travel Information in Canada

[roddney1]

In a few weeks my family & I will be taking a trip to Niagara Falls Canada. Coming from Illinois. I am planning to go thru Detroit, Windsor and then up to the falls. I have a few questions maybe some of you can help me with. 1 Can anybody recommend a place to stay near the falls at a reasonable price? I am willing to stay 10 or 15 miles from there if necessary. How about restaurants? Any must see attractions? (Besides the Falls that is.) From there I am planning to go around Lake Huron, ending in Sault Ste Marie, USA and from there to Copper Harbor MI. I am somewhat familiar with the Upper Peninsula, are there any particular things to see or do along that Canadian route?2 As far as exchanging money is concerned, would it be best to exchange money at a bank when I cross over, or just use US currency and have it converted as I make purchases? Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

[ragingfish]

many many years ago my family went up, we stayed at a holiday inn in st. catherines. was a nice little place. scenic. not too far from the falls.as to exchanging, well, it seems most places in the states charge you a fee to do currency exchange...my bank charges me 20 bucks just to even think about it...best bet would be to just pay with us currency as long as the place you're at takes it...or credit or debit cards...then all the conversion is done right on your bill...

[Devlop]

You can exchange your money right at the border. There is a place right after you cross over in Windsor that does it. Doesn't cost anything. I've heard that if you use your credit card to make purchases, you get the most up to date exchange rate. That could be an option also.

[pmh013]

I don't know what it's like closer to the US border, but I know that here (~ 3 hours from the border), you get royally hosed on the exchange rate if you just pay with US cash at a store or restaurant. Like probably 1 US dollar = $1.20 CDN, when you could easily get $1.40 at a bank (probably more like $1.45).When I go to the US, I always do the exchange here at my bank (and they don't charge anything ... unless you get traveller's cheques). I would think that you could sell your US dollars at a bank across the border and get just as good a rate as at home. I think the currency exchange places don't give as good a rate.I can't help at all wrt where to go or stay ... I've never been east of Winnipeg in Canada!!

[AKLGT]

cool! i'm going to niagara falls for 4th of july!

[Sputnik]

I've been to Niagara Falls a couple of times. Its SO expensive there. Breakfast for 2 at Denny's cost us over $30, when the same breakfast in Kington or Ottawa cost less than $20. If you're willing to stay farther away from the falls you'll definitely find better rates because the hotels at the falls also take you for everything you've got. We stayed at a crummy Days Inn near the falls. It was more than a luxury hotel in downtown Toronto!