Niagara Parkway Court

Situated in an unattractive two-story building with outdoor entry to every room, the cramped lobby of the Niagara Parkway Court is, save for the modern flat-screen on the wall, a blast from 1980s. Green mottled walls, dressing-room style light fixtures, lots of exposed wires, and pink formica surfaces give the space a cheap vibe that isn't helped by an aquarium or a rack of brochures dominating an entire wall. There is an outdoor patio area with a couple of lounge chairs and picnic tables, but besides the unattractive breakfast room, equipped with small tables and folding chairs, there are no public areas. The hotel sees a mix of tourists, mostly families, couples, and solo travelers.

Located about four kilometers southeast of Niagara Falls where the Niagara River meets the Welland River, the area surrounding the motel is a mix of residential and commercial buildings, with a few restaurants and shops on one side and homes on the other. Directly across from the hotel is a little park with a gazebo. The Falls Upper and Lower Funicular stations are a five-minute drive up the road. The busy town of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and its casinos and attractions (like family-friendly Bird Kingdom) are a 10-minute drive up the road. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is a 40-minute drive away and Toronto Pearson International Airport is an hour-and-20-minute drive away.

Each room has its own decor, which ostensibly follow some sort of theme, but on the whole, the patterns and upholstery are rather dated -- think floral bedspreads and wallpaper, gaudy drapes, and unappealing fabrics, much of it loud and not matching. Furniture is outdated, though is well-kept, and wall art looks straight off of a bargain rack at Michael's Craft Store. That said, rooms are clean and most have kitchenettes for guests looking to save some money by preparing their own meals. Every room has a modern flat-screen TV, individually controlled air-conditioning, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffeemaker, dishes and some come with toasters and stovetops. A couple of rooms also have their own private in-room hot tubs, a staple in many of the motels that populate this region. Every room is external-facing and entered from outdoors, and many pick up noise from the street outside, and some of the decor prevents any decent natural light from coming in. Bathrooms are compact but are equipped with hairdryers and shower/tub combos, though we did notice some dirty caulking in the bathtub/showers and there have been reports of stained linens and towels. 

This is a no-frills motel and features are limited, though it does offer a free continental breakfast buffet including toast and cereal options, though the Breakfast Room barely musters threadbare-cottage charm. Outdoor parking is free as is Wi-Fi throughout the property. The hotel claims to offer a free summertime shuttle to the Niagara Falls sights, but guests have reported that this feature has been discontinued and patron should check ahead before booking here if that will be an issue. The motel also has a deal with a daycare company that provides in-room child care for an extra fee. There is no restaurant or bar on-site and no pool or fitness center.