The summer months are the busiest time to visit the great Niagara Falls. Tourists from all over the world flock to the city and fall in that inevitable trap of paying for overpriced meals, accommodations and parking. With my help, you will be able to pull this off with half your money still in your pocket when you return home.

Accommodations

Most major hotels will range from $200-$700 per night between the months of May and August. Even the smaller hotels and motels charge between $100 and $300 per night. Do not get a room with a view of the falls. It’s completely free to stand at the falls and admire it, but many people do not know this, so they ensure their room can see it. The cost for a room with a falls view is through the roof. Stay further away from the falls and drive down to see it. Another option would be student housing. In the summer months, many student homes sit empty and the landlords are more than happy to rent them for a couple of days, since they are not making anything on them anyways. . If you enjoy camping, bring a tent and go west on Lundy’s Lane or South on Stanley Ave.

Meals

If you’re planning on eating a meal near the falls, plan on using your credit card or carry lots of cash. An average meal for two will cost you between $80 and $100, and that’s not including tips and alcohol. Take a five minute drive west on Lundy’s Lane. There are several restaurants at affordable prices including Swiss Chalet, Mick & Angelo’s and Falls Manor, just to name a few.

Parking

All most all the hotels will charge you parking, even as a guest. Parking charges range between $10 and $25 per night. Even when you drive down to see the falls for free, they will charge you for parking. The best thing to do is to find a parking lot that charges about $5 for the entire day. They do exist but are about a 10-15 minute walk to the falls. There is a few located on Ellen Ave. near Clifton hill and a couple on Stanley Ave, in the Fallsview District.

It is possible to save money in Niagara Falls, it just takes some time and research. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when calling around and remember, if it sounds fishy then move on.

Niagara rents