Review - Red Carpet Inn, Niagara Falls, New York

I haven't stayed in hostels nor motels in my life yet. I have read reviews and heard my friends' accounts on their stay in such accommodation. So, my expectations for such kind of accommodation is almost nil. However, I still have a set of criteria in mind about staying in inns/motels/hostels for that matter. Red Carpet Inn in Niagara Falls fell so short of what is decent for my taste and preference. It is an old accommodation that seriously need updating or better yet, over-hauling.

The price:
We booked 2 Queen Rooms in Red Carpet Inn in 6625 Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 via Booking.com at a very good deal of $49 each room for 2 nights without tax and non-refundable. The rate included breakfast and unlimited supply of coffee from the reception area. The breakfast consisted of cookies and coffee and that was about it. We stayed here from April 1 to 3, 2013.

The room given to us was #4 and #5. We were the only guests in the whole compound. Before arriving in Niagara, my husband requested for an extension of 2 more nights. We were told it was full but upon arriving there, we didn't see any other guests, just us. But I am thankful that the request was turned down, otherwise, we would have to bear the cold rooms for another 2 nights. That would have been a complete punishment for us.

The amenities/services:
Non-smoking rooms
Heating/Air Conditioning
Fax/Photocopying
Free WiFi in all areas
Free parking
Microwave
Mini-refrigerator
TV
Toiletries


Some of our photos:

What I don't like: 
Room #4 - This is where my husband and I stayed. The room is dark and cold. The heater broke down a day before we left so our room was very cold. We were given a portable heater which was so small that it could not heat the entire room. The 2 lights above our bed got busted. So for 1 night, we were left with one working lamp near the door. The carpet looked very dingy. There were stains on the wall and I don't even want to know what they are. We kept having static reception on the TV. The door locks didn't look stable nor safe nor secured. The lighting was insufficient. There were only 3 lamps in the whole room. All of them were dim. There was a slight gap on the door so the cold air could pass through. And if your room heater is busted, this is the last thing you ever want to have, a cold draft. The bathroom door does not lock. I had to wedge a bag so it does not open.

Room#5 - This is where my daughter and mom-in-law stayed. The door's lock is not very stable and is wobbly. If you push it real hard, the whole locking mechanism might just fall off! The double lock's wooden frame is busted so I had to instruct my mom-in-law and daughter to wedge a chair on the door knob and push the big table in front of the door before they sleep at night. They didn't have another chain lock too so it was easy to kick their door open which is a big no-no for security. The heater worked but it wasn't powerful enough to heat the entire room. The reception area is not open for 24 hours. I think they closed around 7-8 pm so when we needed hot coffee at that time, we could not buzz them anymore.


What I like: 
The location of the inn is along Niagara Falls Blvd. and very near the Fashion Outlet and other shops. It is right beside KFC so if you get hungry, you can just walk to KFC. It has ample parking.

The reception staff (an elderly Indian guy named Mr. Patel) is a very nice fellow. He is friendly and accommodating. Service was quick when I called for the busted heater and lights. We were given a portable heater in exchange but the heater was so small to heat the entire room.

The rooms are big enough for a small family with enough walking space so you don't hit your knees or legs on the corners of the bed or table.

The price is okay.

The bathroom is clean and well stocked. They cleaned our room daily and supplied our bathroom amenities, and changed the towels.

The big, spacious and doorless closet. We used it to store our luggages as well.

My recommendation: 
Much as I like the friendly and welcoming staff of the Red Carpet Inn, I don't think I can recommend this place because of the main reason of security, comfort and cleanliness. I can overlook other matters but not when it comes to our safety which is my primary concern. However, if the management decides to upgrade their dead-bolt locks, add chain locks in all rooms and fix the small door gaps on the floor, then I may recommend this. Also if you are not finicky and do not mind sleeping in cold rooms (when temperature drops to negative!) with a heater that barely heats the place, then you can go ahead and book here.

Review - America's Best Value Inn, Niagara Falls, NY

America's Best Value Inn (ABVI) in Niagara Falls in New York is a budget accommodation with 88 rooms for travelers. It caters to families, groups of travelers, couples and even single travelers. We booked our Double Room with double beds in ABVI in 6505 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls (New York), NY 14304 via Booking.com and got a good deal.  We stayed there from April 3 to 5, 2013.

The price: 
The room was pegged at $47.99/double bedroom per night without taxes. So our total bill for 2 nights was $95.98 (without taxes) with breakfast. I have no high expectations for the property since it is a budget accommodation. However, the place is quite lovely compared to the other property (Red Carpet Inn) where we stayed for the first 2 nights.

The amenities/services: 

• 24-hour front desk
• Garden area
• Ice cooler
• CCTV/security cams in all the premises including all the exit/entrance and staircases
• Non-smoking rooms
• Mini-refrigerator
• Microwave oven in the room
• Safety deposit box
• Pressing table and iron
• Toiletries
• Hair dryer
• Heating/Air conditioning
• Fitness centre
• Games room
• Outdoor pool (seasonal)
• Business center, fax/photocopying/use of computer
• Laundry
• Tour desk
• Breakfast area/pantry
• Vending machines for drinks and snacks
• WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge
• Ample/spacious and free parking
• Pets are allowed on request

Some of our photos: 

Very comfortable beds! I wish the comforters were a lot thicker because it was so cold in Niagara Falls.

The pregnant TV! The management must consider to catch up with the hi-tech times.

No cabinet, ergo, more space for our luggage and loots.

The safe box and percolator.

Breakfast area with bagels, donuts, cupcakes, sliced breads

The other side of the breakfast area where the coffee, cereals, milk, juices and other condiments were.

The tissue box without any tissue.

See that grayish area on the tub's floor? It needs serious scrubbing and steaming!

Amazingly clean faucet area and toilet bowl.

Another antiquated fixture in the room - the old box phone. 

What I like:
The location is perfect! It was next to Bob Evans Restaurant and behind it is Dunkin' Donuts. It is also just a few minutes drive to the Fashion Outlet Mall and other nearby shops and groceries like One Dollar Store, Walgreens, K-Mart, and more.


All children or adults stay free when using existing beds

They allow pets!

It is also approximately 3 miles from Niagara Falls and Seneca Niagara Casino and the Old Falls area and 4 miles from the Aquarium of Niagara Falls and Castellani Art Museum.

The room is very spacious with a big sliding door overlooking the outdoor pool and nearby roads. I find the lack of cabinet a plus factor because it made the room very spacious with enough area to place your luggage and loots from the malls. The overhead hanging rack with hangers made up for the lack of built-in cabinets.

The wifi is free in all the areas of the motel. However, our room was almost at the end of the hallway so I felt the reception was not as strong as it should but hey, I wasn't complaining because at least, we were connected all the time.

The beds are huge and comfortable.

The toilet is spacious.

The price is superb!

The front desk is manned 24/7. However, if there is no one in the front desk if you check in, you can always buzz them.

The elderly man in the front desk was gracious and quick to check us out at 3:30 a.m.! Unfortunately, I was rushing and had no time to get his name to personally commend him in this review.

There are vending machines for snacks and sodas if you feel hungry and too lazy to buy out.

The pantry/breakfast nook is roomy and can probably seat 20-40 at a time.

The motel has ample parking space and it is free.

It is incredibly quiet even if it was just right along the main thoroughfare. We didn't hear the outside traffic at all from our room.


What I don't like:
The "Asian" descent lady who never smiled no matter how courteous we were. She even reprimanded me when we came back around 10:30 a.m. for our check in. We initially came around 8 a.m. to ask if we can check in early just in case the room was available. She advised us to come back around 11 a.m. Come on, it was just half an hour from the time she mentioned and she told us it wasn't even 11 a.m. yet as she had instructed us. We just didn't mind her. She might have been having her "menopausal moment." Just kidding! Nevertheless, she gave us the key to our room around 11:05 a.m. So what was the fuss all about for being punctual?

The bathroom was clean but I feel the management could do better than that. You can see from the photos above that the tub needs some serious scrubbing and they need to fill that tissue box near the vanity as well with what else - TISSUE.

The room's lack of sufficient lighting. I am not comfortable with just night stand lamps and pin lights near the door. I hope the management will add more lighting fixtures in the future.

The carpet looked like it wasn't cleaned for some time. It didn't smell and neither it was clean.

The phone and TV were quite outdated. The last time I saw and used that kind of phone receiver was when I was still in elementary. I think they should catch up with the times and start installing state of the art phone and flat screen TVs.

The other vending machine did not have anything inside.


My recommendations:
I can overlook the little inconveniences we experienced if I will compare it to the overall plus factor of the motel.

It just needs a little updating that's all but I will definitely recommend this to everyone whether you are a fussy or practical traveler like us. The motel is also great for those with small kids and teens as they have gaming area and outdoor pool (seasonal).

My family and I will consider this accommodate again if ever we visit Niagara Falls, NY in the future.

(This is not a paid post for the above mentioned property. All opinions and photos are 100% mine and personal.)

Niagara Falls

Our visit to Niagara Falls, US is not without any hiccups. Actually, the whole vacation was full of hassles from my husband and mom-in-law's flight from Manila back to Dubai, from our split party trip from Dubai to New York and to the weather condition that welcomed us in what was supposed to be spring in New York. This is not the first time we traveled to New York during cold season. However, we didn't expect the extended winter.

We didn't let the weather dampen our spirits. We didn't fly all the way to Buffalo to miss out on the chance to see the wonderful Niagara Falls up close. We did visit the place twice.  The first time was an epic fail. We visited Niagara Falls last April 2 around 09:00 in the morning. We checked the weather and we knew there would be flurries but we had no choice. Like I mentioned earlier, we didn't fly all the way to Buffalo to coop ourselves in the motel. We braced the harsh weather and went. The temperature was around 2 degrees Celsius but it felt more like -9. We were excited and shivering but a bit disappointed when we reached the Niagara Falls area. We could only see mist and plenty of ice chunks floating on the river. The pathways were slippery too so we could not approach the railings. I still managed to take pictures from afar but we all could not stand the bitter cold. It only took us less than 10 minutes outside the wintery like weather and we headed home.

The first time we went last April 2. Epic fail! Weather was too cold. We couldn't stand it.

Mist and more mist from the falls

Slippery pathways. We were scared to go near the railings.

This is what we saw on April 2- floating chunks of ice, lots of mist, and not to mention, an extremely cold morning to visit Niagara Falls.

I was really sad and upset that I didn't enjoy the view of one of the wonders of the world. I told my family that my bucket list check was just partial as I didn't see the whole area. But you know what, God is really good. He knows how much we all wanted to see Niagara Falls. So, a window of opportunity came last April 4 when the weather let up for a while. It was 10 degrees Celsius! We drove back to Niagara Falls State Park around 2:00 p.m. Well, the cold was still bitter but we could care less. It was perfect the second time around. My hubby dropped us off and headed to Seneca Niagara Casino while my daughter, mom-in-law and I enjoyed Niagara Falls this time.

We took plenty of pictures. We went up the observatory deck. The Maid of the Mist and other attractions were closed for very obvious reasons; there were plenty of ice chunks floating and the operation is only seasonal.

I marveled at the beauty before my eyes. I have to pinch myself several times to make sure I am standing next to the famous Niagara Falls where I once dreamed of seeing when I was five. I was there, taking it all in - the bitter cold and the beauty of the falls.

Better weather this time. Taken on April 4. My princess enjoyed the place so much. She braved the cold weather  to get a closer view of the beautiful Niagara Falls.

Breath taking! One of God's wonderful creation. By the way, those white big stuff are chunks of ice.

Hello there Canada!!! View from the observation tower.

Frosted grass near the falls

Mom-in-law's new hand accessory, a very hot cup of coffee to warm her hands. :)

Goofing inside the Visitor Center. It was warm inside. We stayed for a while to keep ourselves warm.

 This is another check on my bucket list. It has been a dream for me to see the famous falls. To be standing there, marveling at the beauty of God's creation is truly an opportunity I and my family are very thankful for.

Vacation Is Over

Breakfast at Bryant Park, Manhattan

Our 10-days vacation is over so soon. It seems like yesterday when I was freaking out because I wasn't sure whether we would push through with the trip or not. There were so many hiccups but in the end, we all found ourselves in wintery New York last March 27.

Hubby and my mom-in-law flew from Manila and were able to catch the second flight from Dubai to New York. My daughter and I, on the other hand were already in the first flight which arrived around 08:30 in the morning, NY time.  I was really worried because I was not sure whether my hubby and mom-in-law got in the second flight and thank goodness for inflight technology, my hubby texted me while he was cruising at a high altitude via the aircraft's mobile technology. After getting hold of him on the phone, I took a sigh of relief. So, we just waited for them in the arrivals area of JFK International Airport for 6 hours. I was comfortable waiting than exposing myself and my daughter by taking the subway. My cousin had told me so many untoward incidents lately and it wouldn't be safe for my daughter and I to travel the subway just by ourselves with a big luggage to lug around. No sir!

We enjoyed our stay despite of the extreme cold. My sinusitis was very active the whole time. My face flushed and cold. My lips cracked and my fingers turned violet for some time. I didn't realize that the weather could be that harsh when we thought it was already spring. So, I was expecting a spring kind of temperature. Now I know.

Niagara Falls, US

Niagara Falls is another story. The neighborhood is a sleepy and yet industrialized town. We went to Niagara Falls (US side) twice because the first time was an epic fail. We went there on April 2 around 9 in the morning. All we saw were chunks of ice floating and mist coming from the falls. The pavement was slippery too and we didn't get a close look of the falls. I was a bit disheartened because we flew all the way from Dubai just to see the marvelous falls. However, God is really good. Last April 4, the weather improved a little. It was still very, very cold but at least, it wasn't tundra-like in terms of temperature. So, we headed back to the Niagara Falls State Park and enjoyed the falls at a closer proximity. It was breath-taking!

I'll be posting pics soon. I just have to clean up the mess, unpack, and collate the pics from the camera. I will be posting reviews of the 2 motels/inns where we stayed at. They're not very fancy and my expectations were totally nil. However, I will give a very detailed review about them so if you decide to visit Niagara Falls, you will consider whether to stay or not.

Well, it's good to be home again. I still want the vacation to be longer but the funds are getting very, very low.

All Set For Spring Trip

This is my birthday gift to me - a relaxing, nature-tripping, cold-weather bashing time in New York and  Buffalo.  Every now and then, I just have to get out of the rut and enjoy my hard earned labour and just go for it.

My only concern this time is my on and off fever due to my pharyngitis and viral flu. Knowing my adverse reactions to most medications, I can only hope and pray that I be well enough to go through the travel. And knowing myself, I will do everything to get on the flight and enjoy New York.

Logistics are set. Hotels are paid for. Rental car is reserved. Plane tickets purchased. Luggages prepared. We're only waiting for the travel date. I also hope the flights don't get too full as we are traveling with my mom-in-law who will be coming from Manila via Dubai to New York. And we don't want to inconvenience her and she's already 76. I hope she can catch up with severe jet lag. Pacific to Atlantic is not a good way to fly to the US. I know that from my experience before. The jet lag wore off 3 weeks after. I just pray that her excitement can overshadow her jet lag so she can enjoy the beauty of New York during spring.

Talking about the weather, I keep checking the weather forecast for any storm brewing. So far, none and I pray it stay that way although rain showers are here and there. I can live with that just not the slushy snow.

We will be spending few days with my cousins in Brooklyn again.  Then we'll be heading off to Bufalo   and Niagara Falls. We will be staying there for 5 days to enjoy the countryside and of course, marvel at the beauty of God's creation - the Niagara Falls. It would have been nice to cross to the Canada side but we haven't applied for a Canadian Visa. We'll probably settle for the US side at the moment. Besides, there are plenty of outlet malls nearby and who will resist that? Not me! Remember, it's my birthday gift!