Why Book Your Niagara Falls Tours Ahead? Best Advice By ToNiagara

Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most famous visited landmarks. Each year over 12 million people flock to Canada’s Niagara Falls and visit this spectacular world wonder, with peak visiting occurring in the Canadian Summer (June to August).

When travelling to Niagara Falls most people will be either booking a tour or a Hotel…or both.

In this article ToNiagara will outline the benefits of why people visiting Niagara Falls should book their tours and accommodations well in advance:

Booking a Niagara Falls Day or Evening Bus Tour in Advance:

Reserve a Bus Seat

As stated earlier, Niagara Falls is a very busy destination and people want to see and do everything. An easy way to see a lot of sights is by going on a bus tour.

A bus tour allows you to visit the most popular Niagara Falls attractions and sites safely with an expert tour guide along to help. Here is an example of a Day Tour Itinierary:

Here’s how a ToNiagara Niagara Falls Bus Tour works:

Step 1: Pickup From Your Hotel or Nearby Pickup Location

A tour bus will pick you up from the Airport, your Hotel or nearby pickup location, there is room on the bus to store luggage, and you travel to Niagara Falls.

Step 2: Arrive at the Niagara Falls

The drive from Toronto to Niagara Falls takes around 90 minutes. This is the beginning of your Day tour (unless you have been pickup from a Niagara Falls hotel) with the tour of the surrounding area and the captivating sight of the three falls that make up Niagara Falls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls).

Step 3: Board the Hornblower Niagara Cruise

The Hornblower Boat Cruise is probably the most popular attraction in the Niagara Falls. The Hornblower tickets are included in your ToNiagara Day Tour ticket. When travelling with ToNiagara you don’t have to wait in any long lineups to board the Hornblower boat. Being onboard the HornBlower is quite an experience! You get to view the Falls so up close, you will be provided a poncho on this ride so that you do not get wet.

Click here for more details about the Hornblower Boat Cruise

Step 4: Discover Niagara Falls

Take some time out and explore Niagara Falls, you can do souvenir shopping, stroll around the Niagara Parks or just watch the Falls! Don’t worry about getting lost and broken away from your group! You will have the ToNiagara lanyard with all the information handed to you at the beginning of the trip, so you can always in touch with the tour guides easily! Parents with minor kids on our tour enjoy these lanyards a lot!

Step 5: Buffet Lunch at the Sheraton Fallsview Restaurant (Tour Add-On)

Lunch is served at the Sheraton Fallsview restaurant in the penthouse section of the hotel. Catering to all types of tastes and diet preferences, we chose this buffet especially for the huge variety of foods it offers on its menu. This buffet lunch is not included in the tour price but is available as an add-on.

Step 6: Scenic Niagara Falls Drive

The Niagara Parkway is a relaxing, scenic drive that everyone enjoys.

Step 7: Whirlpool Rapids

From the scenic drive, you arrive at the Whirlpool Rapids. A quite unusual and awe-inspiring natural occurring phenomenon! You will see the raw power of the Niagara River and watch the frothy white waters of the rapids in the Niagara Gorge. When the waters of the rapids converge, they spin! Causing a whirlpool that spins counter-clockwise.

Step 8: Floral Clock

Other than the Niagara Falls the Floral Clock is probably the place where tourists take the most pictures. The clock is approximately 40 feet in diameter and adorned with spectacular floral arrangements

Click here for more information about the Floral Clock

Step 9: Queenston Heights/Smallest Chapel in the World

Queenston Heights lies at the border of Canada and United States with only the Niagara River separating them. History lovers will especially love this place because a lot of events, significant in history have gone down in this place.

You also get to see the Smallest Chapel in the World and did you know that we are one of the very few tour operators that take you there!

Shop at the many quaint shops and boutiques on Queen Street.

Step 10: Winery Tour

Niagara regions is known for its award winning table and ice wines. You will visit one of these wineries and taste delectable table wine and ice wines (ice wines may have an extra cost to taste since it costs more to produce).

Step 11: Dropoff

After the Winery we head back to Toronto, we will either drop you back off at your hotel or nearby dropoff location or at the Toronto (YYZ) (if you have chosen the “Airport DropOff” Add-On (please see our FAQ section for a list of Hotel dropoff locations)

Seats fill up extremely quickly so it is best to book well in advance. For instance ToNiagara has already began filling seats for June next season!

Be More Prepared With The Weather
When you book a tour in advance you have more time to switch dates for any reason such as bad weather. For example, let’s assume you have booked a bus tour 3 months ago and 1 week before the tour the weather forecast shows that there is a 100% chance of rain. It is easier for you to switch tour dates than if you booked 2 days in advance.

You Get What You Want
When you book in advance it’s easier to get what you want. Most likely you will be able to choose the tour that you are most interested in, instead of just choosing what is available.

Booking early is equivalent to coming early for sports practice, you get access to the best equipment when you arrive early!

Booking a Niagara Falls Accommodation in Advance:

Book Before It’s Gone

Nothing ruins a vacation faster than booking unsuitable accommodations. When you book in advance you have time to research; is this hotel in a prime location? Is there WiFi in the rooms? How big are the hotel rooms? etc.

People who book in advance get a better selection of hotel, hotel rooms and have a higher chance to personalize their holiday experience. This may be very important to people who have specific requirements such as needing to be on the 1st floor or having a room facing the Falls.

Better Budgeting

99% of the time you are going to pay extra for a last minute hotel room, if you can even find one. The occupancy rate for hotel rooms in Niagara Falls (and Toronto) have been steadily increasing. When demand increases, price tends to also increase.

Imagine coming all the way to Niagara Falls, dragging your luggage from Hotel to Hotel, hoping that:
1. A suitable room is available
2. That room is selling for a competitive price!

If you are able to find a suitable room, chances are that room will be much more expensive than if you had booked 1 month in advance. Book early and look for the best deals

Receive More Discounts
The best way to find the best hotel rates is to shop around. When you plan early there may be some ‘Book Early’ discounts where you can take advantage of major discounts.

When you plan ahead, you can also begin planning your itinerary as well. Again, you can take advantage of any discounts offered by tours that you would like to plan (if any are available).

Booking in advance also has an extra bonus. It gives you something to look forward to! Especially during the winter time. It is always fun to make a countdown, which helps keep the excitement up and also keeps you thinking about things to see and do!