Trails of Hats'n Hospitalitea

Welcome aboard the Island, sit back, tighten your buckle, pull out a pencil for note taking, make a few adjustments – while we fill you in on some travel information that you should know before you go to Prince Edward Island.

The Bridge: Toll to leave
The longest bridge over freezing waters. Crossing time approximately 15 minutes, it is 12.9 km long, 9 years in the making, cost of 1 billion dollars, opened July, 1997. The Confederation Bridge known to locals as “The Straight”, “The Link”, or “The Fixed Link.” Either way you can jump on the bridge to Prince Edward Island and it is a toll bridge collected only when you leave the Island, I believe the cost this year is $42.00 a little less than the Ferry. FYI the bridge is green…vehicles using the Confederation Bridge use 1/10 of the fuel that a Ferry would.

The Red Soil: FYI
Plenty of it, and it is red from all the iron deposits in the ground.

Walking the Green Gables Shore

The Gulf Shore Parkway: Additional Cost
Runs through Cavendish National Park as well as Brackley Beach area. You will notice a toll booth set up to collect fees operating from June 18 to Sept 6. The cost is $7.80 per adult, or $19.60 for a family up to 7 people with a maximum of 2 adults. You can cut these costs if you are only going to catch as sunset because the toll booth is only open from 10am to 6pm. Or pull out your map and find an alternative road that might take you close to the beach and you can walk the distance.

Sunday Shopping: Don’t head out early.
We never had Sunday shopping however we do now. Just for the short tourism season we open the stores on Sunday, however don’t be the early bird as most stores don’t open until 12 noon. In the Spring you won’t find Sunday shopping.

The Island at large: Don’t be fooled by the size of our map.
The Island is 224km long from tip to tip and from 6 to 64km wide. From the bridge to Cavendish Beach it is about a 50 minute drive.

Cows: Not the four legged ones the cone type.
In 2006 Reader’s Digest voted Cows Ice Cream the best in Canada. It is homemade first started at the Cavendish Boardwalk in 1983. They use 16% butterfat, most only have 10%. They started with vanilla and now have 32+ flavours. There are 7 Island locations to get your cows ice cream and it will taste the same at every location, made here in PEI.

The Confederation Trail: It is free to travel.
However it never use to be free as it was the tip to tip rail way here on PEI. The Trail is 470 km and on December 31, 1989 marked the end of the railway and the beginning of the “Rails to Trails Project.” The Province will issue you a ribbon either at the East Point Lighthouse or the North Cape Interpret Centre. When you go to the other location (tip to tip 273km) you can exchange your ribbon for a certificate. The maps read surfaced trail, that means stone dust not pavement and not always packed, may be soft in some areas as well in rainy weather. Not many services along the trail and plenty of nature and mosquitoes. The trail guide will indicate where to locate lodging, food and snacks.

Go sharpen your pencil for the next round of notes. I may have to do this in a 10 part series. We have guests in our Bed and Breakfast over the next couple of nights and they are having a hard time finding places open, that is our next subject.
xo,
Cindy

Tips for First Timers at a Bed and Breakfast

First timers;
If you have never stayed at a Bed and Breakfast before and you’re a first timer then I have some tips that may make your stay a comfortable one for you and your innkeeper. Mark my word, once you have stayed at your first B&B you may never stay anywhere else.
What to expect;
Most bed and breakfast are family run and the owner is also the host. You will find the decor to be usually antiques, thick linens, hand embroidered pillow cases and quilt tops, fine china, and decorated with family heirlooms.
What to bring;
Take only what you need when you go away and ask about special amenities that are available like: shampoo, conditioner, bathrobes, slippers, beach towels, lawn chairs, & coolers or bicycles.
Complimentary;
Several Bed and Breakfasts have an evening complimentary tea coffee tidbit and invite you to sit with them as they don’t allow eating in the rooms. If you’re not sure, just ask.
Your Hosts;
Your B and B hosts are happy to tell you about their home and area. They often provide maps and brochures and will recommend or make dinner reservations for you at a near by restaurant. The attention is personable when staying at a B&B compared to staying in a hotel.
Breakfast and what to expect;
Breakfasts are always the highlight of your stay. You get to enjoy your host’s finest cooking talents and talk over your day’s adventure with other guests. At one time you could have people from 3 or 4 different countries come together at the breakfast table. In most cases a time is set for breakfast; the menu is the same for all and it changes each morning of your stay. Most B & B’s will pay special attention to dietary needs, but always advise the host when booking the reservation if you have a dietary or allergy.
Dietary Needs;
Some Bed and Breakfast’s are able to accommodate your requests, (ie. Starches, citrus, diabetic, carbs, vegetarian, vegan, likes, and dislikes). I alternate the entree and pastry menu over a two-week period. It is best to communicate when booking your B&B if your dietary needs can be met.
Type of Travellers;
Most bed and breakfasts have more than one room and can accommodate small groups. Often you can find backpackers, cyclist, great place for women travelling alone, small business groups, newlyweds, seniors, and college students just before class starts. Some Bed and Breakfast accept young children and babies, not all. Sometimes there is a cut off age because the house is not appropriate for young children.
Book Early;
Some differences between a hotel and a bed and breakfasts are: A B&B doesn’t have a front desk attendant and extra staff on site. B&B hosts do most of the work themselves. A B and B has only a few rooms that fill quickly (so be sure to book early).
Arrival time;
Most B & B’s have a check in time, and a check out time. This time is a set time allowing the host to finish up with the usual daily routine, appointments, shopping or just a 10 minute down time. I like to know when guests are checking in just in case we are out for a walk or happen to go out for dinner.
Shared or Private Baths;
My bed and breakfast is a 2.5 Canada Select star rating as it has three shared baths and four bedrooms. Canada Select only awards a 3 star and above rating to accommodation who have private bathrooms inside each room. If you prefer a private bathroom, look for a B&B at a 3 star rating and above.
One night stay;
Plan to stay in a B&B the length of time it takes to visit that area. The Trailside B&B is in the Charlottetown, Green Gables Shore area. I recommend the minimum of 3 days to see Anne’s Land and Charlottetown area.
Why a Cancellation Policy;
Hotels have anywhere from 25 to 200 rooms and B&B’s have 2 or 3. A cancellation in a hotel could represent 4% of the total days revenue, and a last minute cancellation at a B&B represents as much as 50% of a day’s revenue. When you book a room at a B&B we hold that room exclusively for you booking it off the reservation system means any prospective traveller can’t even see this room. A B&B cancellation period is usually longer than that of a motel. When you make a reservation be sure you understand their cancellation policy. Please read our cancellation policy.

I hope this is helpful for first timers to Prince Edward Island. I know I wished when I visited for the first time I had some heads up. I’ll do my best to try and cover more info PEI ie…weather, bridge, how to drive, travel hints, where to go, how google and the Island work, recycling, dunes oh and Cows.
Until next time
xo
cindy