Toronto trip and car rental advice

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Mar 11th, 2022 3:34 pm

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Mar 10th, 2022 1:58 am

porkchopbread [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2005; 1070 posts; 395 upvotes

Mar 10th, 2022 1:58 am

Toronto trip and car rental advice

Hi - planning a trip in April to Toronto. Staying (already booked) in Niagara Falls on the first night and then downtown Toronto for the second night and the rest of the trip.

I am looking at renting a car to go to Niagara Falls and then dropping it off back in Toronto. Outside of the zoo perhaps, is there any other place around Toronto that I would need a car to visit? Not actually sure if I want to rent a car to be honest. But between wife and 2 kids (and luggage) it may just be easier.

Annoying thing is that if I pick up my car around 3pm, I have to return the car by 3pm or face late fees. Hence why I’m debating if it’s worth it to keep the car for another day.

Thanks all!

8 replies

Mar 10th, 2022 11:04 am

13inches: Deal Addict; Jul 14, 2006; 2641 posts; 3781 upvotes

Mar 10th, 2022 11:04 am

"Toronto" and it's surrounding cities cover a large area and are not all serviced similarly by public transit options. If you can narrow down where you'll be staying and where you plan to go while in "Toronto" it would help us provide some advice.

Mar 10th, 2022 10:00 pm

porkchopbread [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2005; 1070 posts; 395 upvotes

Mar 10th, 2022 10:00 pm

13inches wrote: ↑ "Toronto" and it's surrounding cities cover a large area and are not all serviced similarly by public transit options. If you can narrow down where you'll be staying and where you plan to go while in "Toronto" it would help us provide some advice.

I’m staying at the Radisson by the Harbour. It looks like it’s about 10 min walk from union station. Hope that helps! Thanks

Mar 10th, 2022 11:02 pm

dr_torch: Deal Addict; Mar 3, 2009; 1764 posts; 1076 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Mar 10th, 2022 11:02 pm

porkchopbread wrote: ↑ I’m staying at the Radisson by the Harbour. It looks like it’s about 10 min walk from union station. Hope that helps! Thanks

The Radisson Blu on Queens Quay? If so, yes you are very close to Union. Depending on what you want to do in Toronto you may not need a car. Most downtown attractions are either walkable or accessible by subway / streetcar / bus.

For Niagara Falls I would certainly drive. There are other ways but the flexibility of having a car is helpful.

I'd also stay an extra night in Niagara on the Lake. In my opinion it's much more quaint than Niagara Falls, although it's nicest in the summer.

If you are picking up at YYZ with a major rental company you can arrange to drop off in downtown Toronto. If you are flying to the island airport then you may get a better deal finding a downtown rental office.

Or - if renting from YYZ you could drop off at YYZ and take the UP Express to get downtown.

Mar 10th, 2022 11:43 pm

porkchopbread [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2005; 1070 posts; 395 upvotes

Mar 10th, 2022 11:43 pm

dr_torch wrote: ↑ The Radisson Blu on Queens Quay? If so, yes you are very close to Union. Depending on what you want to do in Toronto you may not need a car. Most downtown attractions are either walkable or accessible by subway / streetcar / bus.

For Niagara Falls I would certainly drive. There are other ways but the flexibility of having a car is helpful.

I'd also stay an extra night in Niagara on the Lake. In my opinion it's much more quaint than Niagara Falls, although it's nicest in the summer.

If you are picking up at YYZ with a major rental company you can arrange to drop off in downtown Toronto. If you are flying to the island airport then you may get a better deal finding a downtown rental office.

Or - if renting from YYZ you could drop off at YYZ and take the UP Express to get downtown.

Yes that one. Radisson Blu. I was going to rent from YYZ and then go straight to Niagara Falls. We only have one night there and then back to Toronto. I will pickup the rental around 3p or so, but was going to stay in Niagara for most of the day and coming back in the evening so I’ll have the car for over 24hours so at that point, might as well rent a car for 2 nights - paying the late fee is almost not worth it. But since we have the car just wondering if there are any places that need a car to get to.

Mar 11th, 2022 6:15 am

99bimmer: Deal Addict; Jun 6, 2007; 1689 posts; 186 upvotes; Toronto

Mar 11th, 2022 6:15 am

Your kids may enjoy Canada's Wonderland on a weekday and you would definitely need a car for that.

+1

Mar 11th, 2022 8:44 am

porkchopbread [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2005; 1070 posts; 395 upvotes

Mar 11th, 2022 8:44 am

99bimmer wrote: ↑ Your kids may enjoy Canada's Wonderland on a weekday and you would definitely need a car for that.

Checked that one out but it doesn’t open while we are there. We are there early April

Mar 11th, 2022 10:57 am

99bimmer: Deal Addict; Jun 6, 2007; 1689 posts; 186 upvotes; Toronto

Mar 11th, 2022 10:57 am

I know you didn't ask but while in Niagara Falls check out Niagara Speedway near Clifton Hill. They don't go fast but as a kid I would have loved it. Nice area with plenty of kid activities.

https://www.cliftonhill.com/attractions ... a-speedway

+1

Mar 11th, 2022 3:34 pm

porkchopbread [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2005; 1070 posts; 395 upvotes

Mar 11th, 2022 3:34 pm

99bimmer wrote: ↑ I know you didn't ask but while in Niagara Falls check out Niagara Speedway near Clifton Hill. They don't go fast but as a kid I would have loved it. Nice area with plenty of kid activities.

https://www.cliftonhill.com/attractions ... a-speedway

That does look cool! My son is going to want to drive but looks like he won’t be tall enough. We were going to hit up Clifton for the Ferris wheel so don’t think we can avoid that since it looks like it’s right next to it! Thanks for that tip!

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