Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Hi all,

Bit of a silly dilemma!

My wife and I are visiting Ontario in sept. staying in Toronto x2nights, Niagara Falls x2nights then back to Toronto.

My wife had family in Hamilton a few years back and fancies a bit of a nostalgic trip through memory lane. :)

The plan was going to be jump on a bus (greyhound) from Niagara on Sunday 22nd .
But I'm struggling to get a quote from the greyhound website?? (I've emailed them also with no reply)

Does anyone know if greyhound run a service /route from nia to ham return?

If not can anyone suggest another company that we could use?
I.e bus shuttle services or trains?

Thanks

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

THere's a GO bus from NF to Hamilton.

http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/t...gara_2013.aspx

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Coach Canada run a bus:

http://www.coachcanada.com/coachcana...d=966214423302

If you have a look at Kijiji for casino coach trips, you may find more.

Greyhound do run a bus to Toronto from Niagara, which I believe stops at Hamilton but their website is undergoing maintenance and isn't working for me.

:)

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Thanks guys.

I briefly had a look at both suggestions.. Coach Canada works out at £59.. :ohmy:

Yeah, the website wasn't working properly, hopefully when it gets back up and running it'll be straightforward .. As last time The only option it gave me was via Toronto with several stops in between... Resulting in a 4hr55min route??? :confused:

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Renting a car might be cheaper and less hassle and no timetable.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

:eek: :rofl:

The go website doesn't seem to be playing ball either?? :(

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Considered this also. Canadian affair quoted £94 (i think) for a 2day hire, picking it up in toronto on sat 21st; dropping off in hamilton on monday 23rd.
Additions to that would be parking overnight in niagara (sheraton is €20 a night), plus fuel, plus a bus back up to toronto.. ( the reason i would drop the car off in hamilton is i dont fancy the idea of driving 'into' toronto.. Heard its a nightmare?

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

As FL suggested, car rental is cheaper.

Booking a weekend rental through Budget, it's $26 total rental costs for Saturday and Sunday (with discount code and pay now discount).

:)

Your other option would be to stop off in Hamilton on the way to Niagara from Toronto.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

The drop off charges hurt you there. Better to pick up and drop off the car in Hamilton if you don't want to deal with driving in Toronto.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Yeah that's true.

Geez, this nostalgic trip is turning into a bit of a headache. :rofl:

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Get the Go bus to Hamilton from Toronto - $10.45 single.
Hire a car in Hamilton - 2 day rental = $38 including taxes, spend the day in Hamilton, drive to Niagara.
Have your 2 days in Niagara, drive back to Hamilton with the hire car.
Get the Go bus to Toronto.

Gas is cheap.
Book the car from the UK using a credit card and you will have CDW covered.
Pay in advance and get a discount.
Use the car to go to Niagara on the Lake from Niagara Falls.

Go to travelzoo.ca and look at the hotel deals for Niagara - Best Western at the moment is $69 a night and includes $40 credit towards The Keg Steakhouse meals. Parking at BW is $15.

:)

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Wow, sounds like a plan!! :D
You read our minds as well with the trip to niagara on the lake.

I was just about to email Canadian affair (we've booked our flights and hotels with them) but before I do, where would you suggest I go for a car rental quote? Is that $38 you mentioned from budget?..

By the way what is CDW? :unsure: :o

Doh, that $40 credit wouldve been handy! going to the keg is also on our list of things to do.. Turning into a bit of a tradition for us when we visit! ( had one in Toronto and whistler before :lol: )
But we've booked to stay at the Sheraton on the falls..

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Lol, GMTA :D

The $38 was from Budget (link in previous message) - pick up Saturday at noon (opens at 8am); drop off Monday at 11am. You could pick it up a bit later and then you won't have to worry about parking in Hamilton during your wanderings (unless you will need a vehicle to get around), if you choose the Upper James branch you are very close to the Link to pick up the road to Niagara. There are other car rental companies, so do a bit of research to see who is cheapest (though budget are pretty cheap!).

CDW is Collision Damage Waiver - it's not a requirement but they will try to persuade you to get it as if you were to be in an accident it covers damage.

The Keg in Niagara is huge and very busy - but try and get a window seat if you can (may have to book in advance) as the views are lovely! If you were here longer I would suggest going to the one in Waterdown (between Toronto and Hamilton) as my son just happens to be the head bartender there, lol, and it is one of the nicest Kegs around.

The Sheraton is ok - I have stayed there - but it's not the cheapest. There are lots of deals around that time as it is outside the school holidays. Rooms between Sunday and Thursday often go for less than $100 a night.

:)

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

As an after thought..

What is it really like driving out from, and into Toronto?


Ive drove from Calgary to Edmonton, and from Victoria to whistler with no problems... I'm sure I'm capable. just listened to some horror stories from people and haven't really considered it on the trip..

Kind of fancied putting my feet up on the cheap n cheerful greyhound bus to enjoy the views... But having a car can definitely give us a bit more freedom...

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Actually, NF to Hamilton is just a pleasant stroll through vineyards most of the way. Why bother with transport?

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Ha. Aye i can just imagine my wifes reaction when i suggest that little day hike! :lol:

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Junior used to travel by Greyhound. Apparently you get to see a whole new aspect of North American life.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

We have just come back from Ontario to the Uk, my OH landed at Toronto Pearson. After initially staying in Barrie/ Wasaga beach,
Drove to Niagara Falls, stayed 2 nights, went to my aunt's in Hamilton from there, took 50mins in the car. Went in to Toronto on the Go train from nearby Aldershot which took an hour. Just wish we never had to come back.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

It depends on the time of day.

I can recommend the GO bus from Union Station to Hamilton GO station (rather than the train, which you will have to get off at Aldershot and get a bus from anyway!). It takes about an hour from Toronto to Hamilton by bus, again depending on traffic conditions, you can choose the 407 route or Lakeshore .

Hamilton to NF will take you about 45 minutes by way of the QEW highway, it's an easy route.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/tra...79.604149&z=10

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Driving is pretty easy even into Toronto. Just try to avoid the worst of the rush hours...yes hours, plural. I wouldn't be afraid of it at all. Look upon it as part of the adventure. It also adds greatly to your freedom. Use a GPS (SatNav).

By the way, I stay at Country Inn & Suites in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It's on Victoria Ave within walking distance of the Clifton Hill tourist trap and the Falls. Free breakfast and parking is $8 a day. Very easy to drive to. Take 427 off the QEW towards Niagara Falls, exit right onto Victoria Ave and the hotel is on your right almost immediately.
http://www.countryinns.com/niagara-f...2g3l3/onniafal

Check out this place while in Hamilton. Good Guinness.
http://www.slainteirishpub.ca/

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Parking a car at the hotel at which one stays is charged for? :blink::confused:

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Yes...sometimes that is the case. Particularly true at downtown hotels in Canada and the US. The ones that really annoy me are those that charge for wifi.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

But if you're getting the GO bus to downtown, it'd be a hassle to get up there with cases, etc. There are a handful on Main St East that would be very close to the GO station (map: http://goo.gl/maps/oePzH), and then straight down Main to the Red Hill, and join the QEW to Niagara.

Enterprise will pick you up/drop you off (as their ads say) -

I'd recommend checking your credit card small print, and bringing a copy of it with you. Not all cards offer the same CDW/LD coverage. You usually have to put *all* costs associated with the rental on the card in question, too.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Hotel parking (particularly in Niagara Falls) is extortionate. If you have status with any hotel groups, it *might* help - but don't count on it. Might be worth seeing if there are any packages on the hotel websites that include this along with anything else you would anticipate paying for anyway...

As for restaurants - there's a very good Japanese place that is a wonderful oasis from the Blackpool-eqsue hell that is Clifton Hill and the NF area in general: http://www.niagaratakirestaurant.com/

Kid-friendly, free parking, and good food that's very well priced (particularly compared to the ripoff options that seem to make up the rest of NF)

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Im finding this a strange set up...

Greyhound DO go to hamilton form NF.. But it seems to by-pass it on the way 'up', stop off at several locations.. via toronto then arrives in Hamilton 4/5hrs later???

Im confused as my wife and I DID this very journey i.e. NIA to Ham BACK IN 2008...

Emailed them twice now with no reply ... :-(

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

I suppose they cancelled the service when they found out that Scottish people were using it.

Happens all the time here.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Driving out of Toronto to the west...avoid late afternoon/early evening commuter trafffic. Also the traffic can be bad between 8 and 9.30 am. Other than that it's not too bad...unless there is major road construction.

Driving into Toronto from the west...avoid the morning commuters...say 7 till 10 am and any early evening when there is either a game or a concert on.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Cant say I blame them.. all we do is swig whiskey and buckfast... :thumbup:

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

My father found it a harrowing experience mostly because he was more used to even slightly courteous and considerate drivers back home.

Here if you dither or take a second too long someone will just undertake you (as it's legal), pressure you by driving about a foot from your back bumper or do a canadian favourite...blow the horn for a full 20 seconds (just to make sure you know you've committed a terrible sin for which you must burn in hell)

After a few goes and once you learn to just drive like a nutcase you'll be fine. I quite enjoy it myself...it's usually a never ending parade of absolutely farcical driving skills that belong on youtube for everyone to gawk at.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

I remember looking at the Montreal-Niagara Falls route.

It was cheaper to do Montreal-Toronto as one ticket and then Toronto-NF as another ticket than the whole route.

We did that in 2005 - we were stopping over in Toronto anyway - and the company told me it was an error that they'd fix.

We did it again in 2007 and it was still cheaper to have two tickets than one.

Can't speak for a return journey (other than noticing the same odd fare structure) as we flew home from Hamilton.

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Ok, so this is our options: :rofl:

Sat 21st :
Greyhound bus from Toronto - Niagara Falls $ 48.00 / £29.35 (x2 Adults return)

Sunday 22nd:
1 day/24hrs Car hire, Budget. $47.43 / £ 29.80 ( no fuel included)

Use car on the Sunday to visit memory lane in Hamilton, and visit Niagara on the Lake.

$22.60 / £13.82 for overnight parking at Sheraton on the falls..

Rough Total = £85 / £90 when adding fuel?...

OR

Forget the car and use GO Transit: (Presuming I the website is correct and a bus service runs on a Sunday?)

Niagara falls - Hamilton $41.80 / £25.56 (return)
Niagara falls - Niagara on the lake $ 19.40 / £ 11.86 (return)

Total = £37.42

Being the tight #rse Scotsman I am Im tempted to go with the bus. :D

Has its benefits in cuts out some stress of driving etc...

Re: Niagara Falls to Hamilton...
 

Surely finding a cheaper hotel would be more efficient if the 60 quid is critical.