Tourist Trap and Winter Wonderland.

For Christmas I gave Wendy a voucher for a night at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Niagara Falls. I picked the day after Valentine's day thinking it would 'kill two birds with one stone', Christmas and Valentine's all in one. I paid little attention to the fact it was Family Day, one of our dumb holidays the Liberals conjured up here in Ontario. I did consider that it being the end of a long weekend, it wouldn't be too busy on the Monday. Wrong!  In spite of the next day (Tuesday) being a work day the hotel was extremely crowded, especially with kids running everywhere.

 Arriving around noon, we checked in easily and handed our car to the valet parking attendant ($35+tip). We decided to use our $20 coupon at TGIFridays located off the hotel lobby. Two x $20 hamburgers (cheapest thing on the menu) plus HST tax (13%), "tourist improvement fee" (10%) plus tip. I didn't feel "improved" but at least we had the coupon. Big deal! I found out later, back in London, that the TIF (10% Tourist Improvement Fee) is not a legitimate tax but a trumped up fee put on by the hotel. Apparently you can refuse to pay it. (???)

We had a $25 voucher for the Fallsview Casino (strange name since the casino has no windows) and since it was only a block away we strolled over to raise some capital at the slot machines. After a hefty line-up registering in, we settled in at a 1 cent one-armed-bandit which fairly immediately consumed the $25. Each time it paid off we printed out a redemtion slip until the $25 credit was gone. Six dollars in cash was all that we had from our gambling experience which was almost as much fun as making a withdrawal at an ATM. Wendy also had 4 x $5 casino chips that we received the last time we stayed in Niagara Falls seven years ago.  We happily redeemed them for cash and pocketed the "winnings".

The Deal as advertised:
 
At a hotel soaring high above the dramatic roar of Niagara Falls, uncover a deal that includes $50 in dining and a choice of extras for families or couples.
 

• $86 (CA$119) per night in a Fallsview room, a savings of more than 55% on current rates; +$14 for spring break and Easter dates

• Complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and evening reception including two alcoholic drinks

• CA$30 voucher for The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, plus CA$20 voucher for TGI Friday's Restaurant & Bar

• Family packages include Niagara Falls Fun Zone attraction passes

• Couples packages include wine touring passes and casino slot play credit

The large hamburgers at lunch served the purpose of spoiling our appetite for dinner. Thank God!  The Keg Restaurant on the 9th floor showed a menu in the lobby without any prices (bad sign). Since we were still burping our Big Blue (blue cheese) hamburger from lunch at Friday's, we luckily never got a chance to use our fabulous $30 dinner coupon. I can only imagine how much a piece of Prime Rib would cost, especially after the 45-50% in extras.

The view deteriorated as the night approached.

After cashing in our 2-Free-Drink-Voucher for a couple of nice Caesars at the lobby bar reception, so busy with kids and tourists (beware of a kids-stay-free hotel) we couldn't get a seat, we spent the evening in our "newly renovated" luxury suite. Wendy watched the Grammys and I surfed the internet on our free wifi. A major snowstorm had now moved into the area and the falls view was completely obliterated so we couldn't even see the light show. No one can do anything about the weather but this seemed to be the topper.

A "cardboard" omelette and a white view of the falls.

Bright and early, with snow still falling, we made our way to the 9th floor and the Breakfast Buffet. The food was predictable and cardboard-like, but it was "FREE". As you can see the view was, well... white!

You can see water costs more than beer and the prices were unbelievable so we didn't use these "conveniences". ENJOY???  Obviously this card was left over from a program that was abandoned some time ago since there was none of these items, except the tokens, to be found anywhere in the suite. I wonder why?  Duh! Good thing Wendy's wine (from home) had a screw cap!

With all the negatives I was feeling a little like I'd made a bad decision in coming to Niagara Falls. All those feelings were erased this snowy morning. After checking out of the hotel we drove down to the falls and then followed the river road up to Niagara-On-The Lake.

An enchanting vintage home in the village of Queenston on the way to Niagara-On-The-Lake.

There were few cars on the road (thank the Lord for all-wheel drive) and we enjoyed one of the most beautiful drives we've ever had. The snow was magnificent and it painted everything so clean and white.

 

Only us and a snowplow on the roads. Very quiet and beautiful.

After all the downers of the Niagara Tourist Trap we were finally rewarded with enchanting and magical scenery as the car floated almost silently through the new-fallen snow. After all it finally made me happy that I'd decided on a trip to Niagara.
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