With the extended summer weather we enjoyed in southern Ontario in September, we decided to take a mini vacation in Niagara Falls, Ontario to enjoy one last blast of summer. We decided on the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By the Falls since it was close to the Falls and was across the street from Fallsview Casino, a place we like to visit.
We arrived at the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By the Falls mid-week during the third week of September and the hotel was surprisingly busy, although families with children were noticeably absent. The Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By the Falls is located on Murray Street. Although none of the rooms have a view of the falls, you can see part of the American Falls from the sidewalk at the front entrance of the hotel. The patio for Coco’s restaurant, which belongs to the Holiday Inn, overlooks Murray Street as well. You can walk down to the Falls from the Holiday Inn, but it is a steep hill so walking back up is strenuous.
The decor at this Holiday Inn Niagara Falls is a bit dated, although we were advised that the rooms would be renovated in winter 2016. We had reserved a room with two queen beds on the second floor, a good distance away from the elevator to prevent noise during the night. The room was quite spacious and featured a balcony facing the parking lot. The beds were super comfortable and the air conditioning unit worked well without being too noisy. My only complaint was there was no refrigerator. We were informed later that we could have requested a refrigerator for an extra $10 per night.
We were pleased to find that the heated outdoor swimming pool was still open. That was a huge bonus since it was 31C the day we arrived (perfect for swimming) and many hotels close their outdoor swimming pools after Labour Day.
For people who prefer really warm water, the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By the Falls does have an indoor heated swimming pool, a hot tub and a sauna, as well as a fitness centre.
The Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By the Falls is within walking distance of many restaurants. We decided to try Napoli Ristorante & Pizzeria, which was 10 minutes from our hotel. We weren’t disappointed; Napoli is a great Niagara Falls, Ontario institution offering authentic Italian food and exceptional service.
Our room, which contained two queen beds, was $127 per night. Parking at the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By the Falls is free. This was a pleasant surprise since many of the hotels in the area charge $10-$20 per night for parking.
Staying at the Holiday Inn Niagara Fall By the Falls offers lots of advantages including proximity to the Falls and Fallsview Casino. The hotel offers good value considering its fabulous location. I would love to see the rooms once they undergo renovation in winter 2016.
