travel suggestion around toronto

Niagara Falls is a couple hours If the roads are clear

Niagara Falls, is without a doubt the best place to go because:

1- it’s a natural wonder of the world ... one of NA’s / Canada’s best

2- it’s awesome year round, no matter the weather ... can never get too much of seeing the Falls.
All that water 750,000 Gallons (2.83 Million Litres) A SECOND... yup A SECOND. Unbelievable.
And oh so mesmerizing. It’s like a magnet... cannot be in Southern Ontario, and not go look at The Falls.

3- it’s close to TO ... and easy to get to (about 2 Hours out the QEW)

So all you gotta do is find a nice decent roads type of day to make the drive

Just went to Niagara this weekend - great trip and stayed at Embassy Suites - $115 plus tax and tourism fee for suite that sleeps six, including breakfast.

Bit of a longer drive, but Muskoka area is fantastic in winter! Rent skates at Arrowhead and skate the longest ice trail in Canada. Look at frozen waterfalls. Rent fat bikes at Liv Outside and ride in the snow.

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Niagara Falls, is without a doubt the best place to go because

I've been avoiding Niagara Falls ever since they mandated a "tourist improvement fee", AKA cash grab.

BenDover1 wrote: ↑ any special place to visit around the GTA in this weather? i got some relatives coming to visit next week, but the only 2 places i know is my home and my work. a few hours drive is fine, as long as i can get back on the same day.

If they have kids, Rochester has a great Children's Museum and several other attractions. Ripleys Aquarium in downtown Toronto is quite good; you can even combine a trip to Ripleys with a brunch/dinner at the CN Tower. If eating in the restaurant, the elevator ride is included which alone is $36 a person! The 360 restaurant is pretty good and worth the price.

coolspot wrote: ↑ I've been avoiding Niagara Falls ever since they mandated a "tourist improvement fee", AKA cash grab.

Ya I hear you... you are not alone in your beef.

But the truth is these Tourist Area Improvement Fees - Tourist Zone Fees - Municipal Hotel Taxes exist in lots of MAJOR CITIES and Well known Tourist Destinations around the world ... and the accountability on them all is pretty shakey

It is what it is

The one thing about NIagara Falls is in most places if you complain, they’ll remove it (at least as long as it’s an informal situation *) ... not so if it’s listed as a Municipal Tax like it is in so many other Destinations (ie St John’s & Halifax)

* In fact The Province of Ontario has just last year now OFFICIALLY ALLOWED ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES to collect a 4% Hotel Tax...
Ottawa began Jan 1, 2018
Toronto is slotted for April 1, 2018

And Niagara Falls will no doubt go that route fairly soon... then it’s a full fledge Tax, and no loophole for the Customer to get out of.

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ And Niagara Falls will no doubt go that route fairly soon... then it’s a full fledge Tax, and no loophole for the Customer to get out of.

I'm OK with a government tax (to an extent!) because it goes into government coffers for government spending ... but the Tourist Improvement Fee was just a way for restaurants and hotels to squeeze a little more out of the visitor because the current TIF has no accountability and isn't a "real" tax.

Additional fee or tax sucks, I agree with this.
But if you want to travel and have some relax time elsewhere, some expenses are unavoidable.
Not only the tourism admin fee or hotel tax, a lot of other tourist places are also charging all kind of fees, like the $30-$40US per night hotel resort fee on Las Vegas Strip, etc.

You can do more research ahead of time to minimize of what you pay. For example, the casino parking are $5 on the week-days versus $30 to park at the hotel and it is only few minutes walk away from the falls.
You can skip the Ruth Chris Steakhouse that charge you $80 for a piece of steak with no sides on the main floor of your hotel and go to other places to eat and cost half of Ruth Chris.

MP3_SKY wrote: ↑ Not only the tourism admin fee or hotel tax, a lot of other tourist places are also charging all kind of fees, like the $30-$40US per night hotel resort fee on Las Vegas Strip, etc.

I avoid Vegas as well because everyone has their hand out for a dollar - I have to go annually for a conference, but besides that thankfully I have no urge to travel there.