Niagara Falls's ICONIC Wyndham Grand: Unforgettable Views & Luxury Await!
Niagara Falls' ICONIC Wyndham Grand: My Niagara Nightmare (and Paradise?) – A Review That’s Actually Real.
Okay, truth time. Reviewing the Wyndham Grand Niagara Falls? It’s like trying to describe a kaleidoscope after you've been spinning in a circle. It's… a lot. But hey, I’m here to give you the real deal, not some PR-spun fantasy. So strap in, because this is going to be messy, honest, and probably a little rant-y at points. Buckle up, buttercups!
(SEO & Metadata Stuff – Because, you know, algorithms):
- Title: Wyndham Grand Niagara Falls Review: Views, Luxury, & the Occasional Headache!
- Keywords: Niagara Falls, Wyndham Grand, Hotel Review, Luxury Hotel, Fallsview, Accessibility, Spa, Pool, Restaurants, Views, Family Friendly, Safety, Covid Protocols, Niagara Falls Hotels, Best Views, Free Wi-Fi, Car Parking
- Meta Description: My uncensored Wyndham Grand Niagara Falls experience! Unforgettable views? Check. Occasional frustrations? Absolutely. This review covers everything: accessibility, dining, spa, safety, and whether it's worth the splurge. Read on!
First Impressions & The View (Oh. My. God.)
Let’s cut to the chase: The view. The view. It’s the reason you’re probably considering this place. From many (but not all!) rooms, you get a panorama of the falls that is genuinely breathtaking. When I walked in, I actually gasped. Like, full-on, hand-over-mouth gasp. It’s that kind of wow. It really doesn't get old. This view is the main reason to shell out the big bucks. The money you pay is worth it just to wake up to that view. I still can't wrap my head around those cascading falls.
Room Rundown & That Slippery Slope of Luxury
Okay, let’s ditch the gushing (for now). The rooms themselves are…fine. Comfortable, spacious enough, with all the usual suspects:
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning (thank GOD, because Niagara summers are STICKY), alarm clock (who even uses these anymore?), bathrobes (essential for post-spa lounging), bathroom phone (for the rich and famous, I guess), bathtub (deluxe…if you’re into that), blackout curtains (a MUST for sleeping off a day of Canadian wine tasting), coffee/tea maker, free bottled water, hair dryer, high floor (see the view), in-room safe box, internet access, iron, laptop workspace, mini bar (expensive, of course), refrigerator, satellite/cable channels, seating area, shower, slippers (THANK YOU), smoke detector, phone, toiletries (meh).
- The "Nice-to-Haves": Extra long bed (a godsend for tall people!), reading light (for those thrilling airport novel reads), the little sofa (that made me feel like I was in my own little palace).
- The "Meh, Whatever": Carpeting (hotel carpets are just…stuff), the closet (nothing special), the linens (fine, but not amazing), the scale (no, just no), a window that opens (why would you open it? You have the view!).
- The "What?": Bathroom phone. Who are you calling? The Niagara Falls emergency hotline?
- The Annoyances: The internet speed, which, as a remote worker, was as reliable as a toddler's bedtime.
Accessibility – The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Okay, this is important, and honestly, it’s where things got a little…hit-and-miss. The Wyndham Grand tries to be accessible, and I give them points for effort.
- Accessibility: Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Front desk is 24-hour, Non-smoking rooms.
- Accessibility - The Good: The lobby and common areas are generally pretty easy to navigate, and the multiple elevators make getting to your room easy.
- Accessibility - The Bad: While the hotel boasts accessible rooms (I didn't personally stay in one), I did notice some narrow hallways in certain areas. It seemed like the hotel was trying to tick all of the accessibility boxes, but perhaps hadn't quite nailed it. I heard a few whispers about some rooms not actually being fully accessible as listed on the site…
- Accessibility - The Confusing: The website mentions specific details about accessibility, but I found the information a little vague. "Elevators accessible" is a given, but what about specific room features like roll-in showers? I'd call ahead and confirm if accessibility is a major concern.
On-Site Grub & The Neverending Buffet
Alright, let's talk food! The Wyndham Grand boasts a boatload of dining options, from the casual to the "fancy-pants."
- Dining, drinking, and snacking A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Breakfast [buffet], Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant.
- Restaurants: The hotel has multiple restaurants. There’s a restaurant that offers a buffet with a view of the falls (which I'm going to get to in a minute). There's also the more formal options.
- The Buffet of the Gods (and other things): The buffet breakfast was a journey. A delicious, slightly overwhelming, potentially artery-clogging journey. There's everything: eggs, bacon, pastries, fruit, and a whole section devoted to (shocker!) Asian breakfast items. Honestly, it was a bit much, but also… irresistible. I went back for seconds (thirds?).
- The "Other" Restaurants:*I sampled a few of the other restaurants at the hotel, and the food was decent. The prices were…hotel prices. So, yeah, you know. But the convenience can't be argued with.
- The "Meh" Moments: The coffee at the buffet… let's just say it wasn't the hotel's strong suit. I definitely had better joe down the street.
Ways to Relax…or Not. The Spa Chronicles
Okay, the spa! This was a definite highlight, although with a side of "oops, I forgot to book ahead” on my part.
- Ways to relax: Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor].
- The Spa Experience: The spa itself is lovely. The pool with the view is divine. The massage I managed to snag was fantastic. I didn't try the body scrub. The sauna and steam room were perfect after a long day of Niagara-ing (yes, I just made that a verb). The gym, while present, felt a little cramped.
- The "I Didn't Plan This Well" Saga: Lesson learned: Book your spa treatments way in advance. I had to settle for a slightly less-than-ideal time slot. That was my fault, though.
- Pool Time: The outdoor pool is beautiful, and the view from it gives you a whole new perspective. The pool is not the biggest, but it offers enough space to refresh yourself.
- The gym is OK: Nothing fancy, but it has enough equipment to get a decent workout in.
Cleanliness & Safety – Covid-19 & Beyond
Let's be real, safety is a big deal these days.
- Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment.
- The Good: The Wyndham Grand seems to be putting in a lot of effort with sanitization. Staff were wearing masks, hand sanitizer was everywhere, and I saw staff cleaning constantly. I felt relatively safe, not as if I was at risk of being exposed to illness.
- The "Okay, But…": There's no avoiding the fact that travelling during a pandemic can be stressful. While the Wyndham Grand is making an effort, you're still at the mercy of other guests.
Services & Conveniences – The Little Things (and the Not-So-Little Things)
- Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Project
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into a Niagara Falls adventure, Wyndham style! This ain't your grandma's meticulously planned brochure trip. We're going in raw, folks. Prepare for tears of laughter, mild existential dread, and the overwhelming urge to buy a giant novelty foam finger.
Day 1: Arrival (and the Great Hotel Room Panic)
1:00 PM: Arrive at the Wyndham Grand Fallsview. Okay, first impressions: the lobby looks grand, all chandeliers and slightly-too-formal carpeting. But as I drag my suitcase (which, let's be honest, is probably older than most of the people working here) towards the check-in desk, I'm already sweating. Niagara Falls in July? Genius idea, me. Pure, unadulterated genius.
1:30 PM: Check-in… which takes approximately the length of a small opera. The friendly lady at the desk is named Brenda, a saint, bless her heart, dealing with a line of tourists who apparently forgot how to human. Finally, success! Room key in hand. Time to ascend.
2:00 PM: The room. Oh, the room. The view is indeed spectacular. A gigantic, panoramic splash of Niagara Falls, which is impressive, but also… slightly overwhelming. You know, like seeing the ocean for the first time and just going, "Wow. That's a lot of water." But the slightly… utilitarian decor is a bit of a letdown. It's all beige and practicality. Where's the pizzazz? Where's the romance? Where's… the functioning coffee maker? (It's the little things.)
2:30 PM: The Great Coffee Maker Debacle. Okay, so I'm a person who needs caffeine to function in a civilized manner. This coffee maker is… broken. Or maybe I'm just too dumb to figure it out. After 20 agonizing minutes of staring at the instructions (which may or may not be written in Martian), I surrender. Crisis averted, thank God.
3:00 PM: Reconnaissance. The hotel, as it turns out, is a labyrinth. Seriously, I'm convinced there's a secret room in the basement where they store all the lost luggage of confused tourists. I wander around, trying to locate the pool. Discover a gift shop selling t-shirts that read "I <3 Niagara Falls" (generic, I know, but hey, I'm a sucker for kitsch), a casino (tempting, very tempting), and a surprisingly decent-looking steakhouse.
4:00 PM: Fallsview Casino… I find myself, against my better judgment, drawn to this glittering, pulsating, vortex of noise and neon. I'm not a gambler, per se, but the allure of the slots is, well, alluring. I pop in ten bucks. I win… three. Then another ten. Win… more three. I'm in! I go all in… and quickly learn why I’m not cut out for this. I escape, slightly poorer, but still mostly intact.
6:00 PM: Dinner at the Rainbow Room. This is the iconic revolving restaurant with a killer view. The food? Fine. The experience? Undeniably memorable. As we slowly circle above the illuminated falls, a particularly enthusiastic waiter, who clearly loves his job, nearly spills wine on my head while regaling us with tales of Niagara Falls' history. It's cheesy, it's touristy, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
8:00 PM: Fireworks over the Falls! This is what we came for, baby! And the fireworks? They're breathtaking. Seriously, I get goosebumps watching them explode over the thundering water. And then, suddenly, the crowd erupts in a spontaneous, unified "Ooooh!" I find myself tearing up. It's just… so beautiful. Niagara Falls is just magic.
Day 2: Whirlpools, Waterfalls, and a Whole Lot of Soaking
9:00 AM: Breakfast. The hotel's breakfast buffet. Standard fare: rubbery eggs, suspiciously brown bacon, and an abundance of pastries. I power through it, fueled by caffeine and the sheer will to survive the day.
10:00 AM: Journey Behind the Falls. This. Is. Awesome. The sheer power of the water, the deafening roar, the misty spray… it's pure adrenaline. I put on the provided poncho, which, let's be honest, looks ridiculous. But I become one with the falls. I start to feel the pull of the water, and am swept away with a sense of tranquility that I don’t understand.
12:00 PM: Whirlpool Aero Car. Okay, I'm not entirely sure why I'm on this thing, suspended high above a swirling, churning vortex of water. But the view is incredible, and the thrill of the rocking car is kinda exhilarating.
1:00 PM: Lunch at a random cafe. I've forgotten the name and it's not great. Disregard.
3:00 PM: Maid of the Mist Boat Tour. This is the classic Niagara Falls experience, folks. And it's absolutely worth it. The boat gets you right up close to the base of the falls. You get soaked (even with the poncho), you scream, you laugh… it's pure, unadulterated joy. And for some reason, I catch the eye of a guy in a red poncho. We exchange knowing glances – we’ve been through it together. We’re friends now.
6:00 PM: Time for a chill. Back to the hotel room, a nice hot shower, and some quality room service. I eat my burger in my bathrobe, while staring at the falls. This is the life. This is exactly what I needed.
8:00 PM: More casino? Maybe. Or, more likely, an early night, because, wow, I'm exhausted. And happy.
Day 3: Leaving (and a Promise to Return)
9:00 AM: A last look at the falls. They're still there. They're still magnificent. I almost cry again.
10:00 AM: Check out. This time, the process is surprisingly smooth. Brenda, bless her heart, is at the desk. We chat about the weather. She mentions the crowds. Says “Niagara is like that – you’ll remember it for all the good and the bad.”
11:00 AM: Heading out. I buy another "I <3 Niagara Falls" t-shirt. This time, it says “I survived the Falls”. A little bit of me is still there, by the water.
Departure: Goodbye, Niagara Falls. Until next time. I'll be back. Maybe I'll even book a room with a better view… and maybe find the coffee maker manual.
So, like, what *is* this whole FAQs thing about anyway? You know, in a general sense?
You ever feel like you’re faking it? Like, even now, you’re faking the “expert” part of this?
Alright, let’s get practical. What's the *worst* advice you’ve ever gotten?
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Have you ever had a moment where you just… quit? Like, throw your hands up and say, "I'm done!"
What makes you happy?
What are you *absolutely* terrible at?
Is there something that you are *really* good at?
What keeps you going?
