Have you traveled to Buffalo, New York? Of course, I received a call from Parris. She wanted to take a trip in February to Niagara Falls. I shared ideas for hotel accommodations, and Parris selected the Hilton Niagara Falls. I would meet her at Midway; she had a connecting flight.

The Chicago and Buffalo Snow Storm

A winter storm was approaching, and we became concerned about our flights. I canceled the hotel reservation. I checked the flight the night before, and we were clear to take off on time. Parris left St. Louis to meet me at Midway. Her flight was on time. However, there was a 90-minute delay from Midway. Yes, I checked the flight before driving to the airport to meet Parris. The flight to Buffalo was short, but the storm had barely passed through New York. I looked out the window, and all I saw was snow on the runway. Scary! Because I was concerned about the departure from Chicago, I did not rebook the hotel until after we were approved to take off. Although the Wi-Fi connection to Phoenix and Rhode Island worked well, the service on the flight to Buffalo was intermittent.

Home2 Suites Buffalo/Galleria Mall

By the time we deplaned, the room I wanted at Aloft was no longer available. I booked at Home2 and hopped on the complimentary shuttle to the hotel. At check-in, the front desk clerk recognized my Diamond Member status. My welcome package included: two bottles of water, two snacks, and a token. The room was spacious. In addition to two queen beds, there was a sofa, desk, full-size refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. The hotel also offers complimentary breakfast. Although it was late, Parris ordered buffalo wings from Cole’s. You cannot leave Buffalo until you try buffalo wings. Parris said the wings were okay; they were not hot enough for her taste. However, the wings were cooked perfectly for my taste. We both agreed the fries were delicious.

Have you Traveled to Buffalo, New York, Niagara Falls?

After breakfast, we took an Uber to Niagara Falls State Park. You can view the falls from the U.S. side. The ride is about 30 minutes. Be prepared to pay between $37.00 and $55.00 for the fare. I am sure the price surge was due to weather conditions. There are two things you should know before finalizing plans for Niagara Falls. Can you get into Canada? Did you check the address of your hotel? I originally booked a hotel in Canada. Parris does not have a passport, and we needed a negative Covid-19 test. In addition, we would have been disappointed if I had booked a hotel near the falls on the U.S. side. The area seemed abandoned. We also would have spent more money staying downtown traveling to the state park and mall. By the way, the Falls are just as beautiful in the winter.

Shuttle Service at Home2

Let me tell you about the customer service at Home2. Milele went above and beyond her job. Every interaction I had with her was positive. Because the shuttle driver was not available, Milele ordered a taxi to take us to the mall. When the shuttle driver was unavailable to drop us off at Marshalls and the airport, Milele made another call to the taxi company. She charged the fare to the hotel. We walked to Burlington. I would have walked to Panera for green tea if it was warmer. I will stay in this area if I visit Buffalo, New York again. There are plenty of hotels near the airport.

The Club Buffalo New York Niagara

We ate breakfast at the hotel and enjoyed lunch at the airport lounge. The Club at Buffalo is across from the airport security checkpoint. Because this was my third trip and my second visit to a Priority Pass lounge, I realized the menu is standard across all locations. Parris had a 4-hour layover in Baltimore, but my layover was only 60 minutes. I tried to take Parris to the lounge at BWI, but we did not have enough time to go through security again. TSA Precheck will come in handy for the lounge at BWI if your connecting flight is less than 60 minutes apart. 

Buffalo, New York Budget

Parris and I split the cost of the hotel. I did not make her pay more when we had to switch accommodations. In addition, we split the rideshare costs to and from Niagara Falls State Park. We had a great time, and Parris would like to return in the summer. Have you traveled to Buffalo, New York? Visit my website for additional travel ideas. Do not forget to buy a souvenir, but if you do, click on the Amazon link below.