In our experience, it is not all that often when we find a hotel we fall in love with, in a place we also love. But we definitely fell in love with the Giacomo, and we recommend it to almost everyone who will be visiting Niagara Falls. I would like to say the Giacomo is the best hotel in Niagara Falls, New York, although the truth is, we have only stayed in a couple other hotels in the area. But, I can say honestly say that after staying in numerous hotels across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean, the Giacomo is one of my absolute favorites.
We came upon the Giacomo entirely by accident. In fact, I was looking at the Choice Hotels options, as I was looking for a bargain. There it was, as an Ascend Hotel, offered at an amazing price, through our own Choice affiliate link. After a bit of research, we decided to give it a try, and I made a reservation.
Before I go any further, I must point out that although we used our own link, we paid the full price that Choice Hotels offers to any guest reserving a room at the Giacomo. Neither the management or the staff at the Giacomo were aware that I manage a travel website, or that I might later write about the hotel. It isn’t something I typically share, as I want a genuine experience so the information I give to readers is as accurate as possible.
As you read on, if you have a different set of travel needs and preferences than we do, we have some other suggested options for lodging in Niagara Falls, based on the type of travel experience you are seeking. But first, we have to tell you about our favorite hotel in Niagara Falls, the Giacomo.
Why the Giacomo is THE Place to stay in Niagara Falls
So what is it that makes us say the Giacomo when people ask where to stay in Niagara Falls? What is it that makes us believe that it is the best hotel in Niagara Falls? We have 6 reasons to share.
1. Location
Location is one of the most important aspects of a hotel for me! I want to be close enough to the action to get there by walking, BUT, away from any raucous of events or partying. Believe me, we have had more than our share of listening to late night revelry in hotels, when the cheapest room was our only concern. Nowadays I go to great amounts of research to ensure that never happens again!
The Giacamo is in the perfect location in the heart of downtown old Niagara Falls, located at 222 First Street. No, it is not on the doorstep, so to speak, or the bank of the falls, but it is next door to the Niagara Falls Visitor’s Center, a one block walk to Niagara Falls State Park, and only 3 blocks to the falls themselves. It is also within walking distance to a number of restaurants and the Seneca Casino. Everywhere that we went in town, we were able to walk. It is also adjacent to the mass transit routes so utilizing public transportation to further attractions is simple, which we also did. Despite being this close, we had no noise issues at night.
2. The Building
While the building itself does not typically all into play when choosing a room, I do love the idea of staying in a structure with some history. The Giacomo is housed in one of Niagara Falls most recognzable landmarks, the United Office Building, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1929 in a style of its time, Mayan Revival Art Deco, it has a terra cotta facade that is inlaid with Mesoamerican symbols and images. It is a very pretty building, one that can be seen from throughout the city.
At 20 stories tall, the top floors do have views of the falls, but most of the guest rooms will not. If having a view over the falls is a make or break aspect of choosing your room, we will have some suggestions for you later.
3. The Service
The staff at the Giacomo were professional and friendly, from check in to check out. A number of services are offered, from concierge services, to daily turndown, and dry cleaning pick up and drop off. Everyone we interacted with, from the manager, the hostess, the bartender, the housekeepers, and the breakfast servers, performed their duties in a prompt and courteous manner. They also all seemed very knowledgeable about the area, and the many other attractions that spanned far beyond just the falls. We had a number of activities planned when we arrived, but thanks to the staff at the Giacomo, we added some we were previously unaware of, such as the Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Whirlpool State Park, and Old Fort Niagara.
4. Breakfast
A hotel that offers breakfast as a part of the stay is very important to me. Quite often when we travel, breakfast and dinner are the only two real meals we will eat, as we don’t want to spend too much of our “fun experiences in a new place time” sitting in restaurants. Frankly, I don’t care to take myself to a restaurant first thing in the morning either, when I could be getting a few more minutes rest. Traveling does consume a lot of energy. A good in-house breakfast makes the entire travel experience more enjoyable, and the Giacomo offers a delicious full European breakfast.
Defining a European breakfast is as much a challenge as defining an American breakfast, as it varies from country to country, just as in the US it varies from region to region. None the less, the Giacomo pulls it off in a meal that includes the coffee and sweet breads of the Mediterranean countries; the savory breads, meats and cheeses of central and eastern Europe; the fruits and cereal mixes of Scandinavian countries; and the hot eggs, bacon and sausage of the British Isles. Breakfast at the Giacomo was a very satisfying meal.
5. The Commons Areas
On of my favorite aspects of the Giacomo is the breakfast and lounge rooms of the commons areas, that are available for the use of all guests. Other commons rooms include the 16th floor lounge where sunset toasts are made on weekend nights, and the fitness area. Our stay did not include any weekend nights, so we did not experience the sunset toasts, and we just never made it to the fitness room, but the other rooms definitely suited us. I understand that there is also now a pool (billiards) room, that was not available during our visit, so we will definitely check that out next time.
The breakfast area is roomy and bright, with a large east facing window for lots of morning sunshine. The walls are decorated with simple, but cheerful art. It is a pleasant room for waking up, setting the mood for the day ahead.
The lounge rooms are warmer, and relaxing. The bar room itself is in the back in a narrow room, with a neat, compact bar. We stopped for a cocktail one evening, before heading out to dinner. There are also 2 outer rooms that are part of the lounge that are richly decorated, and somehow resonating the Mesoamerican motif of the buildings exterior, with the plush velvet furniture, brocade wallpaper, detailed coffee tables, and ornate carpeting. The art displayed seems to span centuries, but somehow it all melds.
One room contains a small fireplace for cool evenings, and the other a television and large window to the street. There is a variety of books and magazines out for guests to read at their leisure. I found both of these rooms extremely pleasant and comfortable, and used them late into the evening to work on my laptop, entirely undisturbed.
6. The Guest Rooms
The guest rooms are obviously the most important part of any hotel stay, and what makes or breaks a hotel for us. The Giacomo has several different options, from full suites with kitchens, living areas, and multiple bedrooms, to deluxe corner rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool baths, to the more standard king and queen options. We chose one of the simplest options, the Niagara Double Queen Deluxe, because as I pointed out initially, we were looking for a good deal.
Our room was not large, but definitely spacious enough for two of us to relax and move around. It was decorated simply, but with an eclectic flair, including modern art prints, velvet flocked renaissance wallpaper, art deco mirrors, vintage lamps and live plants. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a welcome card, and custom made chocolates. The local candies were so good, I wanted to ask for more a couple days into our stay!
The room smelled very clean, and we found it to be accurate. My son Travis previously worked in resort housekeeping, and always does a thorough inspection of tiny, often overlooked details of cleanliness, and found nothing awry.
The beds are a highlight in the rooms at the Giacomo. All beds feature pillow top mattresses, luxury linens, and Italian douvet covers, which were incredibly soft, warm, and just the right weight on my body. Most importantly, each bed comes standard with 6 down pillows. As a person who sleeps with 5 pillows, I had an extra and did not have to request additional be brought to the room as I usually do!
The bathrooms are huge, with a bright, modern, black and white decor. There is plenty room to dress, or even for a parent to dress a couple children, in the privacy of the bathroom. Likewise, the shower was quite spacious, and had a convenient seating area. There were plenty of towels on hand, toiletries, and two plush bathrobes were supplied for indulgent relaxation.
As far as other furnishings, there was a dresser, which we did not use, as well as a small closet which we did use, and the typical small desk, flat screen television, and coffee maker. Rooms also come equipped with a mini-refrigerator, which always comes in handy for bringing desert back to the room to enjoy later in the evening.
If the Giacomo is not right for you..
We certainly believe the Giacomo is the place to begin when looking for rooms in Niagara Falls, and for us, definitely the best accommodation in Niagara Falls. However, we realize not everyone has the same interests or traveling needs as we do. So, we thought it best to give a few other options for where to stay in Niagara Falls for those of you that prefer a different type of experience. We have not stayed in these hotels, and have used their other amenities only as cited, so our suggestions here are based upon the type of experiences offered, and online reviews.
A Room with a View
If a room with a direct view of the falls is a must for you, you will have to find a room at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. There is more traffic, and more kitschy attractions, but generally prices are lower, so for the view, it is a good trade-off. If you are a US citizen, don’t forget your passport.
The most diverse views are probably at the Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview, located at 6361 Fallsview Blvd, Niagara Falls, Ontario. When reserving your room you can select from deluxe views of both falls, views of the Horseshoe Falls, views of the American Falls, city view, and casino view. Another choice with spectacular views is the Embassy Suites, located at 6700 Fallsview Blvd. Choices are for falls views, or city views. The Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview sits almost directly over the Horeshoe Falls, at 6740 Fallsview Blvd, so the views are limited to that side, but it is still an amazing vista. For the lowest price, try Comfort Inn at Fallsview, located at 6645 Fallsview Blvd, but be sure to ask about the view before making your reservation.
Traveling with Children
If you are traveling with children, you may want an atmosphere that is a bit more relaxed, and a pool. An ideal option is right next door to the Giacomo, at the Quality Hotel and Suites at the Falls. It has the double rooms and suites you expect in a Quality Hotel, with refrigerators and microwaves, a big indoor pool, and whirlpool. It also houses a Papa Johns Pizza, and Legends Sports Bar where I spent one of my evenings mingling with a surprisingly local crowd.
Another nearby option is Hyatt Place Niagara Falls. It features a variety of room choices for different sized families, and dogs can stay for a surcharge. There is a rooftop terrace, onsite bar and deli, and an indoor pool. One more option that is a bit more of a walk from the falls is the Wingate by Wyndham Niagara Falls, which is specifically suited to families with a variety of accessible rooms, and rooms that sleep up to 6 children. Cribs are available at no charge, and there is an indoor pool.
Rooms for Romance
If you are honeymooning, or just looking for a romantic experience, while the Giacomo would be a good choice, another option with a more Victorian flair is the Red Coach Inn, which is housed in an English Manor style house located at 2 Buffalo Ave, overlooking the American Rapids. It features 37 different themed rooms which are each entirely unique, such as the Canturbury One Bedroom Suite, the Sheffield Suite, or the Buckingham Room. Each room also comes with complimentary cooked to order breakfast. Consider the Romance Package, or the Fine Accomodation, Dining and Winery Package. We had dinner at the Red Coach Inn, and can attest to the quality of the food, and a delicious blackberry mojito.
Economy Rooms
If you really need a bargain room, be sure to travel off season, as a cheap room is hard to come by during the heavy tourist season. Even in spring and fall, it will be hard to find a room within walking distance to the falls for less than $100 a night. However, you can usually find a room for less than $100 a night any time of year near the Fashion Outlet Niagara Falls USA. If you are traveling by car, this won’t be a problem, and if you are using public transportation, the Niagara-Buffalo Transit District does provide reliable and affordable service throughout the city. At the time of our visit it was $5 for a day pass for unlimited rides. (This includes rides all the way to Buffalo.)
An option to consider is the Econo Lodge at Falls North, located at 5919 Niagara Falls Boulevard, which offers rooms for under $100 even in season, and has an onsite playground and a heated outdoor pool. The best price is a bit further down the road at 681 Niagara Falls Blvd, at the Swiss Cottage Inn. It features very basic rooms, and an outdoor price, or as low as $60, even in summer months. One more option to consider is the Moonlite Motel Niagara Falls, which also offers basic rooms with refrigerators, free continental breakfast, and an outdoor pool, usually under $100 a night.
Have you decided where to stay in Niagara Falls?
There are definitely dozens of options for lodging in Niagara Falls, and choosing a room can be overwhelming. It always helps to know what you specific traveling needs are, and it is easier to narrow down a selection.
For us, we need a great location, within walking distance to some attractions; clean, spacious, and quiet rooms; big, plush beds, with plenty of pillows; a professional, if not friendly, and knowledgeable staff; a hearty breakfast; comfortable commons areas to get away from each other for a while; and preferably a sense of style or eclectic charm. Sometimes I think we expect too much, but we are willing to pay a bit more to have it all. The Giacamo met all of our travel needs, plus a bit more. If you have similar preferences, the Giacomo is probably right for you.
If you have a different set of traveling needs, we hope we covered them in our other options for hotels in Niagara Falls. It is an amazing place to visit, with a plethora of things to do that go well beyond just seeing the falls. We want you to have an outstanding vacation, with a room it feels good to come “home” to each night!
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About the Author
You know me, Roxanna Keyes, sometimes referred to as FoxyRoxyK, the founder of Gypsy With a Day Job. I was 50 before I really began to experience all the world has to offer. I really don’t want you to wait so long!
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