I spent $1,000 to stay in a hotel directly facing Niagara Falls. The room surprised me in 4 ways.

I spent $1,000 to stay in a hotel directly facing Niagara Falls. The room surprised me in 4 ways. Business Insider's reporter paid $1,000 to spend two nights in a hotel room with a view of Niagara Falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Forget frills and fancy toiletries.To me, the ultimate luxury of a hotel stay is to feel immersed in the destination without leaving your room.That's why I paid $1,000 for a two-night stay at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel during my first trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 2022.I had front-row views of the iconic waterfalls from the moment I woke up to the second I fell asleep.When I checked into the hotel, I expected to be blown away by the scenery from my room's window, but staying at the Sheraton Fallsview also brought some surprises that made my stay feel worth the price. When I got to my room, I was surprised to find that I'd be able to see Niagara Falls from my bed. Inside the author's hotel room. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I knew I'd be able to see Niagara Falls from my room when I booked it, but I didn't know how the room would be laid out. So, I was surprised to find that due to the open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows, I'd be able to enjoy the epic view from the comfort of my bed.The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel faces all three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls: the American Falls on the left, Bridal Veil Falls in the middle, and the U-shaped Horseshoe Falls on the right.I found it relaxing to watch the water from my queen-sized bed, and I felt excited to fall asleep at night knowing the view would be the first thing I'd see in the morning, without having to face any of the crowds outside.Unlike most other hotel stays I've experienced, the falls were so entrancing that I didn't turn on the TV once during my stay. I didn't expect my room to have a Juliet balcony with a door I could open to hear the water crashing down. The author photographs Niagara Falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider According to the hotel's website, the Sheraton is the only hotel in Niagara Falls to offer this type of terrace, which has a glass door that opens up to the outside, though I couldn't actually step onto it.I didn't expect to hear the waterfalls from my hotel room. With the door open, they were surprisingly loud. Opening the door gave me a better glimpse of Niagara Falls.I found listening to the falls to be calming. It reminded me of the white noise audio I sometimes use to fall asleep, except smoother and more powerful.Usually, I put on a playlist to start my day, but at the Sheraton Fallsview, I hopped out of bed and opened the door so I could get ready to the sounds of the crashing water. After the sun went down, I had no idea the falls would glow in a colorful light show. The falls glow at night. Joey Hadden/Business Insider While the falls are breathtaking during the day, staying in this hotel room made me think they may be even more beautiful at night. After the sun went down, I looked out the window to find the falls glowing in changing colors, courtesy of the Niagara Falls Illumination Board. According to Niagara Parks, the falls glow every night of the year, and the changing colors represent sunrises, the aurora borealis, rainbows, and sunsets.I had no idea the falls would glow in color at night like this before visiting, so if I hadn't stayed in a hotel with a view, I might never have seen them. Each night at the Sheraton Fallsview, I pulled a chair up to the window to watch the show. At 10 p.m., I watched a fireworks show explode over the glowing waterfalls without having to deal with the crowds. Fireworks over Niagara Falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I also didn't realize my room would give me a front-row view of a nightly fireworks show.During my first night in the hotel, after I was already mesmerized by the light show, I was completely awestruck when fireworks started popping off above the falls.The fireworks display happens every night at 10 p.m. from late May to early October, according to Niagara Falls Live. The show went on for about six minutes each night. I thought it felt magical. Seeing the fireworks show from my bed was a happy surprise, and I was glad to avoid the crowds of people rushing to admire them from the same viewpoints below. I felt like a VIP on my own private perch and thought it made the nightly $500 price worth it. Read next Joey Hadden is a travel reporter and photojournalist at Business Insider based in NYC. She covers transportation modes, alternative lifestyles, and luxury travel. Many of Joey's stories are visual features that give readers a front-row seat to her personal experiences at home and around the world.Joey graduated from St. Edward's University in May 2019 with a BA in Photocommunications. Since joining Business Insider in 2019, Joey has traveled by train in seven different countries, including overnight rides lasting up to 53 hours. She's ridden on many different train lines, including Amtrak, Via Rail, Nightjet, and the iconic Orient Express of the 21st century, among others. During her travels, she's slept in countless accommodations — five-star hotels, unique tiny homes, and private train cabins, to name a few.When traveling in North America, Joey takes readers inside the continent's wealthiest enclaves where billionaires hide away, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Medina, Washington. When she's not taking trains, notes, or pictures, Joey spends her time singing and playing drums for the indie-rock band Blanket Approval. Lifestyle Photos Travel More hotel Aspirational Luxury