Young father looking to Travel to New Your and Niagara falls (Pittsburgh: best hotels, hotel)

[Homewood_Resident-15208]

Maybe this needs to be in the New York's Forums but I figured I'd ask here first being that I live here. My family and I would like to Visit Niagara falls and New York's Freedom towers. I guess my question would be whats the cheapest way doing this?

[ferraris]

For an entire family it's probably cheaper and more enjoyable to drive.

[gmagoo]

Nothing enjoyable about having a car in NYC. I would make this 2 separate trips being that Niagara Falls is a long way from NYC. I would use Amtrak or Megabus to get to the city.

[I_Like_Spam]

Driving is the inexpensive way to make these trips, but avoiding Manhattan might be a good idea for the enjoyment of New York City.

Driving to Staten Island might be the best way since your main interest is in Freedom Tower and perhaps other activities at the south end of Manhattan. Maybe the family might want to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island while you're there as well.

Driving is definitely in order for Niagara which is spread out, you and your little minors might like to see the Welland Canal and the big ships circumventing the falls. Make sure you have your passports in order, they need them in Canada nowadays.

[Hopes]

Definitely make it two separate trips. They are in separate directions. Niagara Falls is directly to the North of us, and NYC is directly to the East.

Niagara is about 3.5 hours away and can be done in a weekend or even a long day trip. If you don't have passports, you'll have to stay on the American side of the falls. There are exceptions, like an enhanced drivers license, but they won't apply to the children who will need passports. It's still pretty on the American side. Niagara Falls Border Crossing Information Buffalo is not a very interesting town so there's no much to do on the American side other than just look at the falls. A day trip would make sense. If you want to make it a weekend trip, I would suggest a trip to Presque Isle in Erie and then shooting up to the falls for a few hours one day.

NYC is about 6 hours away and can be done in a long weekend. Manhattan is where you want to be if you want to see the towers. The parks and street performers are amazing as are the street fairs. We drive and park at a NJ train station that has an indoor parking garage and catch the train into the city. This makes it less complicated (driving in NYC is a b*tch) and cheaper because everywhere charges crazy fees for parking, including the hotels. We've stayed super cheap at the best hotels via using Travelocity, orbitz, etc. at the last minute. We saved money by taking taxis each morning to different parts of town and walking the entire day, then catching taxi back to the hotel. Buying subway passes for the entire family is more expensive than taking cabs as long as you keep your cab use down. We saved money by eating mostly at the street vender carts, and the food was delicious. We also went into the NYC version of convenience stores and grocery stores were there were buffets of prepared foods.

I've been to NYC every way possible, via flying, driving my car into the city, and parking in NJ and taking the train. Parking in NJ and taking the train was the cheapest and less stressful way to arrive.

[gg]

I would take megabus to NYC. You certainly don't need or really want a car there. It is pretty easy to get around NYC and you will find people that will help you navigate the area. Believe it or not, people are people there too. I would then return to Pittsburgh and drive to Niagara Falls. The reason I would drive up there is because it is very easy to park and if you are going to go all the way up there, you might want to go to the Canadian side since it is nicer. If border crossing isn't an option, that is okay, it is still better to have a car up there IMHO. On the way back, maybe take a walk around McConnell's Mills.

Have a nice trip. I have been to both places plenty and if you want any advice let me know. Oh, when staying in NYC, check out Priceline for hotels. Man, I have gotten crazy deals. A Hilton for $100 a night once! Most of the time I pay around $130 for a pretty nice place. Good time of year to go.

[RyanR]

For Niagara Falls, I'd recommend the Discovery Pass.
Niagara Falls USA | Niagara Falls Discovery Pass
It gets you into 5 attractions for a decent price.

Also, head North from the falls and visit the whirlpool, power plant museum, Fort Niagara...

[trotter_rej]

Originally Posted by Hopes

If you don't have passports, you'll have to stay on the American side of the falls. There are exceptions, like an enhanced drivers license, but they won't apply to the children who will need passports.

Children under 16 don't need passports to cross, but you do need to bring an original copy of their birth certificate.

[Mr. Mon]

I'll echo the advise above. Make it two trips, and consider taking Megabus to New York City as parking in Manhattan can be difficult for the uninitiated and expensive. Or, as Hopes said, staying in New Jersey and taking transit into the city. But even that can get expensive compared to driving when you're buying train passes for four people.

And if you can swing getting the passports, the Canadian side has a lot more to offer in terms of attractions and scenery. Unfortunately, Niagara Falls, NY is kind of a dump of a town with a hideous casino plopped int eh middle of it. However, it's still an affordable weekend trip and worth going even if you don't cross the border.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I've been to NYC every way possible, via flying, driving my car into the city, and parking in NJ and taking the train. Parking in NJ and taking the train was the cheapest and less stressful way to arrive.

What about Megabus?

For a solo person I think believe it or not, flying is a great value. Sometimes it is crazy cheap, but not with a family.