Preparing for your tour and FAQ
What should I bring with me? How should I prepare for my Niagara Falls Tour? Am I going to get wet? What if I get hungry? What if I am running late?
Simple questions people often feel silly asking, but these are excellent questions!
First, look at the weather forecast so you bring or wear the right clothing to be comfortable on the tour. It is okay to bring an extra jacket, if you need it you have it with you.
Bring a water bottle, throughout the State Park there are filtered water stations, your guide will point them out and encourage you to stay hydrated. If you wait to buy a bottle of water near Niagara Falls or in the Park the bottles could cost you $3 to $7 dollars each. Save yourself that hassle and expense.
If you tend to feel better having a snack, bring one with you! Your guide would rather know you are comfortable. Especially if you have children, often they get hungry and restless along the way and having a healthy snack with you to give them keeps them happy and enjoying their adventure.
During the summer season you will definitely get wet. The mist from Niagara Falls is carried on the breeze, you can get misted at Terrapin Point, Luna Island and even at the Dock for the Maid of the Mist. At Cave of the Winds Boardwalk your shoes will get wet, and if you stand on the hurricane deck even wearing a poncho it’s likely you will get moderately wet.
Ponchos are provided at Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds, you do not need to bring or buy one however if you have or want high quality reusable rain gear then definitely bring it. We have also seen people bring and wear shoe covers with success at keeping their footwear dry.
In the Winter wear heavy coats, thick socks, and layer up. Rechargeable hand warmers that are usb C can be bought in two packs on Amazon for about $11 and the charge lasts 3-5 hours. A hat, gloves or mittens and a scarf also can help reduce the chill from the wind. The wind is brisk in the winter, but the breathtaking views are worth it!
Be ready for some walking, your guide will not rush your group but there will be some walking to get to the beautiful views. If you need to use an assistive device or to rent a scooter or wheelchair for the day SightSee Rentals is a local provider who our patrons have had positive experiences utilizing. Our goal is to make your day low stress and amazing. We don’t want anyone to feel frustrated struggling with health issues, and our guides prefer to see everyone experience the beauty of Niagara without fighting with pain. We also know sometimes family members are stubborn, but if they have bad knees, hips etc. we want them to relax and enjoy rather than have their joy hindered by health.
Arrive early! Tours leave at the scheduled tour time. If you are going on a driving tour we arrange a pick up location, if you have a vehicle we can arrange a pick up location where parking is free. In the summer we shifted our meeting location to one where you do not pay to park away from the bottleneck traffic near the Rainbow Bridge. If an unforeseen challenge is going to make you miss the start time contact us so we can assist you and take the stress off!
Charge your phone! You are going to want pictures, videos, and battery to be able to facetime call loved ones to share your views. Even bringing a backup battery charger is a good idea, they are inexpensive and they take the stress out. Bring a charging cord for your phone!
Should I tip my Guide? It is customary to tip guides when they do an excellent job, $5 per person or 15-20% of the tour price are good examples of tips. Guides strive to provide you with support, assistance and expert knowledge of food, events, attractions: they invest time outside of work to constantly increase their knowledge of what is here to make your visit special. Their focus is: this is your special vacation, the memories should be priceless and stress free. Guides do rely on tips as part of their income and as an indicator of how well they performed for your group.
