Visiting Niagara Falls, connecting in JFK from Int or going another day.

[Fyrd]

Hi everyone,

Long story short my wife and I are spending 3 weeks in America in April and I wanted to spend a couple of days in Niagra falls. Ideally, I was thinking the first two nights of our trip could be in NF however the issue is my SQ flight arrives at JFK at 6:45 pm and the last flight to Buffalo is either 10:14pm with Delta or 10:45pm with JetBlue.

Also, the flight from SQ is nearly 19 hours so spending another 4 hours in the airport to clear customs, and immigration and then transfer to domestic to fly to Buffalo only to have to cross the border into Canada late at night seems like a bit much. I'd really love your opinions on this, I feel like arriving at 6:45pm and just going straight to the hotel is a bit of a waste in NYC considering the costs involved.

Lastly, the additional baggage charges are pretty brutal. I do have the option to go another day, leaving our luggage at the hotel when my other family arrive to join us and just packing carry on.

 

[NM]

If you are going to the Canadian side anyway, consider going through Toronto instead of Buffalo if the timing works better for you. Clearing border formalities at Toronto airport might actually work out more convenient than the bridge crossing at Niagara.

 

[luxury-lizard]

If you are going to the Canadian side anyway, consider going through Toronto instead of Buffalo if the timing works better for you. Clearing border formalities at Toronto airport might actually work out more convenient than the bridge crossing at Niagara.

Not sure this idea works - when you arrive at JFK you must clear US customs and immigration (C&I) even if your 'final' destination is Canada - there is no international transfer at any US city. However flying into Toronto instead of Buffalo may be worth looking into - depending on flight times/costs/etc. When departing Toronto for the US you do clear US C&I at Toronto which can be very smooth.

Personally I would 'eat' the cost of an overnight in NY then departing for NF (whether Buffalo or Toronto) the next day. Generally hotels will store your luggage for a few days if you are planning to return to the same hotel.

 

[Vic]

I found crossing the bridge at Niagara to be super easy and quick. Didn't even have to get out of the car. I'd suggest that over airport customs and immigration, for example at Toronto.

Buffalo airport was a pain, and picking up a car was time consuming. I'd guess that if you take one of the late night options from JFK then you probably won't get to a hotel in Niagara falls until 2 or 3 am. Assuming a car rental place is open at Buffalo airport.

Agreed heading into Manhattan would be a pain. But are there hotels near JFK suitable for 1 night?

 

[Quickstatus]

Long story short my wife and I are spending 3 weeks in America in April and I wanted to spend a couple of days in Niagra falls.

I would not connect directly into Canada from JFK after arriving from SIN

 

[NM]

Not sure this idea works - when you arrive at JFK you must clear US customs and immigration (C&I) even if your 'final' destination is Canada - there is no international transfer at any US city.

Yes indeed, but they have to do that no matter how they get from NY to NF.

Personally I would 'eat' the cost of an overnight in NY then departing for NF (whether Buffalo or Toronto) the next day. Generally hotels will store your luggage for a few days if you are planning to return to the same hotel.

I would do this too. First night does not need to be in Manhattan - just find a more affordable hotel hear the airport, or even consider departing to NF (Buffalo or Toronto) from LGA if flight options are better, and look for accommodation somewhere between JFK and LGA.

 

[dajop]

Umm, isn’t there also another option of getting to Buffalo or Toronto and staying at a hotel near those airports? The next day will be several hours ahead vs staying in New York, but get to a hotel much earlier than trying to reach Niagara that night.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is the TWA airport hotel still open?

 

[Fyrd]

Thanks, everyone for your input here it was really helpful.

I think the best course of action is to travel toward another airport such as LGA, stay the night and get an early flight out to Buffalo the next day. As others have mentioned the border crossing is quite smooth, we won't be driving though so we'll have to shuttle, uber from Buffalo airport to the bridge and then do that last bit on foot so I think a day crossing probably makes more sense than walking across the bridge at 2 am.

The only benefit of toughing it out to get to Niagra falls the same night is we could do a full-day tour the next day I was just trying to maximise our time as we've spent 1 night in Singapore and now 1 night in NY due to flight times but there's also no point being miserable on holiday.

 

[Quickstatus]

there's also no point being miserable on holiday.

Yes perspective is important. Sure, it is possible to cram everything in but there is no way to be bright and bushy tailed after a long flight and border crossing.

 

[Muppet501st]

Also, if you drive across the border into Canada, no visa needed.
If flying into Canada, then visa needed.
We drove across in December, super easy. I'd only recommend a hire car if you're ok with driving in snow.

 

[Vic]

We didn't really need to worry about tours, as such. just wandered down to the boat and jumped on, did the underfalls cave thing without too much hassle.

One thing we did do that was pretty cool was head to Niagara on the Lake, a little town nearby.
Plus ice wine