Detroit to Canada daily

[zimom]

My daughter has a swim meet in Windsor Canada.  The accommodations there seem to be really lacking.   How realistic would it be to stay in Detroit and just drive to/from over the Canadian border daily??   How long do you think it would take to get through customs?  Would it raise a red flag?  

 

The best thing I found in Windsor is a Ceasers Casino and the kids are limited to one tower and are not even allowed in the restaurants.  There is only one other hotel that I see, a Best Western.   I fully admit that I am a hotel snob :)  

[SproutMamaK]

My daughter has a swim meet in Windsor Canada.  The accommodations there seem to be really lacking.   How realistic would it be to stay in Detroit and just drive to/from over the Canadian border daily??   How long do you think it would take to get through customs?  Would it raise a red flag?  

 

The best thing I found in Windsor is a Ceasers Casino and the kids are limited to one tower and are not even allowed in the restaurants.  There is only one other hotel that I see, a Best Western.   I fully admit that I am a hotel snob :)

Customs is horrid, especially at Detroit as the bridge is under construction at the moment. If they're going over for meets during the day, I would assume that they'd be heading in during usual commuting hours in the morning? I'm pretty non-chalant about border crossing by now, but the thought of that particular one at morning rush hour makes me cringe. I'd allot an hour at least.

[Petrichor]

I wouldn't think it would raise any red flags. They ask why you are coming and for how long. 

 

Is this a weekend or weekday meet? There are times when there is a long line to get through immigration, and other times when there is no line. My experience has always been quick unless I manage to get there at rush hour.

 

I don't bring anything over that would require customs fees or anything like that. They usually ask where are you going/how long are you staying. With kids in the car, I might expect them to ask the kids if they know the driver/make sure they aren't being kidnapped. If you aren't crossing with your spouse, have a letter from him to "prove" you aren't kidnapping the kids. Though, in my experience, they ask fathers for letters more often than they ask mothers. 

 

 

[FaithManor]

If you choose to do it, use the tunnel because the bridge is under construction and really backed up.

[FaithManor]

Kids over 13 must have a photo id or you will get seriously hassled AND you need notarized letters for each.chils from their father stating that hhe agreed to let you takr them across the border. It is the American side that is very unfriendly about minors without passports even though they are not required. You of course will need an enhanced driver's license or a passport.

[Arctic Bunny]

I did a basic search and found at least 27 hotels in Windsor. Given a choice between one of those top 10 or travelling daily through the busiest border crossing... How much a hotel snob ARE you, lol!

[zimom]

I did more searching today and found more hotels.   I don't know why I found only a couple when I looked a few weeks ago????   I also looked closely at the Best Western and it actually looked quite nice, nicer then the typical Best Western that I am familiar with in the US.  

 

Thanks for all the information.   I'll also remember to get the letter from hubby if he doesn't travel as I forgot it last year when she had a meet in Toronto but fortunately was not asked for it.   It was probably because the customs agent was too busy reprimanding my daughter for taking photos at the border and he went through her camera to make sure she didn't take any 'prohibited' shots.  Needless to say I was just sinking down in my seat waiting for them to pull us over for a more thorough search :)

Edited October 1, 2016 by zimom

[Arctic Bunny]

So glad you found more options! Which weekend is it? Thanksgiving is coming up! Not that it compares to US in terms of travel, of course, but the long weekend might affect things?

[zimom]

It isn't until the end of March but the date and location was recently released to the swimmers that will be attending so we know we need to go ahead and book a place to stay.   Swimmers attend from many countries.  

[umsami]

I'd stay in Windsor over Detroit any day of the week.

[Arctic Bunny]

It isn't until the end of March but the date and location was recently released to the swimmers that will be attending so we know we need to go ahead and book a place to stay. Swimmers attend from many countries.

Oh perfect!

[gardenmom5]

with the going back and forth every day for several days?  no way.  going from the US to canada, you're generally just waiting for the lines - which can be slow (an hour MINIMUM).  going from canada to the US?  If I can avoid it - I will.  it is *always* slower.  (even at more rural routes, it's slower.  last time, we turned off the car - it wasn't worth the engine running since the line wasn't moving.  we've been known to do that on the main route through I5 from vancouver.)

[umsami]

Oh, I don't know if you'll have the time, but when I was younger, my friends and I used to take the train from Windsor to Toronto.  VIA Rail had some sort of deal with a hotel near the train station (want to say it was called the Duke of York).  Usually we'd only go for the weekend, but it was fun. :)

[marbel]

Just wanted to say... I have stayed in lots of nice Best Westerns.  They are all quite different.   Check TripAdvisor for recent reviews.  :-)