There’s a lot to be said for not being in the middle of all the action. Case in point; you can’t see Niagara Falls from the Country Inn & Suites, but you do get to stay in an affordable hotel that opened in 2007 in a quieter location on the north side of town.

This 109-room property is a 15-minute walk to the actual falls, but it’s an easy and direct route. You also have the option to drive and park close to the falls, or utilize public transportation. Within closer range is the Clifton Hill attraction and dining district, the Fallsview Indoor Water Park, Bird Kingdom and Casino Niagara.

After seeing the sights, the cozy lobby with a fireplace offers a pleasant place to relax with a few complimentary niceties: newspapers, coffee from the 24-hour coffee bar and chocolate chip cookies from the jar at the front desk. You can also take advantage of the indoor pool all year long.

Families are warmly welcomed at this hotel by a friendly staff. Accommodations range from standard rooms to whirlpool suites, but all include a valuable extra: a free hot breakfast every morning.

For more information, see Country Inns & Suites by Carlson.

This Country Inn & Suites property has 109 guestrooms, all of which feature standard amenities, including alarm clocks, radios, cable TV, coffeemakers, hair dryers, and an iron and ironing board. You can order an in-room movie for a fee, or watch one of the family-oriented Canadian television networks, like Nickelodeon Canada.

Standard Guest Rooms
Enjoy two queen beds, plus all the standard amenities.

One-Bedroom Suites
In addition to the standard amenities, guests receive one king or two queen beds, one sofa bed, an additional TV and dresser, and a dry bar with a mini-fridge and microwave.

Whirlpool Suites
Enjoy one king bed, plus all of the standard amenities, including a dry bar with a mini-fridge and microwave. Additionally, Whirlpool Suites have a private, two-person whirlpool tub. There is no sofa bed.

Studio Suites
Unlike the one-bedroom suites, which offer a little more privacy, Studio Suites have an open floor plan with one king bed, one sofa bed and a dry bar with a mini-fridge and microwave.

Connecting rooms are available for rooms with two queen beds. Handicap accessible rooms are available, as well.

Cribs are complimentary upon request. Due to room configurations and fire regulations, guestrooms can't accommodate rollaway beds or cots. Children 18 and under always stay free in the same room adults.

Toiletries are provided, and additional travel necessities, including diapers, razors, and even ethernet cables, are available from the front desk upon request.

Wi-Fi is complimentary. A coin-operated guest laundry facility is located on the first floor and you'll need Canadian currency.

Pool
When it's time to relax after a day of sightseeing in Niagara Falls, the Country Inn & Suites does offer a few family entertainment options. The highlight is an indoor pool with an adjoining hot tub that can be enjoyed year-round.

The pool is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are no lifeguards on duty, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Towels are provided. The pool depth ranges from 1 meter to 1.7 meters, or about 3/5 feet to 5.5 feet.

Game Room
There is a game room on the ground floor with two video arcade games and a coin-operated pool table. There is no outdoor playground or green space.

Lending Library
In the lobby, you'll find a guest bookshelf with books for all ages. It's part of the Country Inn & Suites' Read It & Return Lending Library. If you don't finish the book during your stay, you can take it with you, and return it to any other Country Inn & Suites property in the U.S. and Canada. For kids, we found several appropriate titles, including books from the Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones series.

Complimentary Breakfast
Offering a money-saving value, this Country Inn & Suites offers a complimentary, self-serve hot breakfast, which is served buffet-style from 7 to 10:30 a.m. There is a waffle iron, and chafing dishes with two hot items that change each day, such as omelets, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon. A selection of breads and muffins are located near the toaster. Healthy selections, like hardboiled eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, cereal and fruit, are also available.

The breakfast room has sufficient seating at tables for four, and high chairs are available.

Lunch and Dinner Options
For lunch and dinner, you have the option of dining out or having food delivered to the hotel. If you stay in a suite, you can prepare food in your room, utilizing the mini-fridge and microwave.

There are several restaurants located within a 10-minute walk of the property, including Applebee's, TGI Fridays, Hard Rock Café, Subway, and ethnic eateries. Local restaurants will deliver to this property, and the guest directory includes the phone numbers for a few nearby.

All About the Extras
Check-In/Out
Check-in at this 100-percent nonsmoking property is 3 p.m., and check-out is at 11 a.m.

Tickets & Discounts
Tickets for several local attractions are available for purchase at the front desk. You can get discounted rates for admission to the Fallsview Indoor Water Park, the Niagara SkyWheel, and Bird Kingdom. There is a large brochure rack in the lobby with flyers from area attractions and menus from local restaurants. Check these for money-saving coupons before setting out.

Lobby Market
There is a small "Inn Case" market off the front desk where you can purchase travel-sized toiletries, laundry detergent, snacks, drinks, and Niagara Falls souvenirs.

Parking
This hotel has an ample parking lot and self-parking, at a rate of $8 CAD per day.

Business & Fitness Centers
There is a small business center on the ground floor with computers and printers. The fitness center, located on the first floor, includes an elliptical trainer, bike and treadmills.

ATM
There is an ATM on the property that dispenses Canadian currency. The front desk does not offer currency exchange, but the staff recommends the Casino Niagara across Victoria Avenue to provide this service at favorable rates.

Club Carlson Loyalty Program
This property participates in the Club Carlson loyalty program, along with more than 1,000 other Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group properties worldwide, so your stay accrues points that can be used to redeem future free reward nights.

The Art of Smart Timing
Niagara Falls is technically a year-round destination, and most of the attractions are open from January through December. However, some, like the Hornblower cruise to the base of Niagara Falls, are seasonal. The winter weather can get extremely cold, but the winter season -- November to April -- also offers the most affordable time of year to secure lower rates at this property. There are exceptions, such as Valentine's Day in February, because Niagara Falls is a perennial honeymoon destination.

Getting There
For visitors arriving to Niagara Falls by car, the Country Inn & Suites is located just north of the Rainbow Bridge connecting Ontario to New York State. You will need to show your passport at both sides of this crossing.

The closest airports are the small Niagara Falls International airport (20 minutes away), the Buffalo Niagara International Airport (45 minutes away), and the Toronto Pearson International Airport (75 minutes away). To avoid renting a car, you can get to Niagara Falls from the airports using the Niagara Airbus shuttle, and then utilize the WeGo bus system within town.

Getting Around
From May through October, the WeGo bus system runs four different lines throughout Niagara Falls and its outskirts, connecting hotels and campgrounds to attractions. The Country Inn & Suites is a two-minute walk to the Victoria Avenue stop on the Blue Line. The bus will stop here every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day, from 10 a.m. to approximately 12:40 a.m.

For Mom and Dad
Should you be able to get away for a grown-up night on the town, you can walk across Victoria Avenue to the Casino Niagara. This gaming attraction is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.