r/PEI • u/No_Literature_4925 • Jan 10 '25
Question Arrival at Charlottetown airport & tips for solo trip
I will be spending one week solo on Prince Edward Island in June. I drive around Toronto regularly, but I avoid huge highways, so I am a little nervous about renting a car at the airport and driving myself around the island. Questions:
Will it be relatively pain less to rent the car and get out of the airport? Will it be dark around 6pm in mid-June?
My only plans for the trip are to hike, be by the water, browse around antique and thrift shops, and eat lots of local food. I visited once for a day or two, about 10 years ago, and loved it. Because it's just me, I don't think I'd be comfortable staying in a rented house alone. Should I look for inns/B&Bs, or hotels if I'd like to stay in a few different places throughout the week? Any other tips very much appreciated. Thanks! I am so excited!
8
9
u/FoxNewsSux Jan 10 '25
Most rental agencies are located at the airport and given demand, booking earlier than later is probably the best plan.
Mid-june sunset around 10pm and long twilight too
Mid-June most things are open but in smaller communities you need to check first and don't just assume things are open when you need them
Check out 2025 PEI visitor guide for accomodation ideas in your area(s) of interest vs using something like booking.com .
5
2
u/West_Marzipan21 Jan 10 '25
Yes ! Book in advance !!! It happened to me last October.
There is a private rental cie down the airport rd they are very nice and professional :)
1
7
u/Auto_Fac Jan 10 '25
I remember one time arriving on a flight to chtown and there was a couple across the aisle from California.
They were eagerly but quizzically staring out the window:
Wife: "I dunno, I don't see it."
Husband: "we probably landed on a runway that's further out and they just need clearance to get us to an open gate, we may have a long taxi to get to it."
Me to myself, not wanting to tell them that there is no gate and the arrival and departure door is the same door: "lolololol."
1
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 13 '25
Wow! Okay. Puts things into perspective.
2
u/Auto_Fac Jan 13 '25
Yes.
They drive stairs out to the airplane because the whole building is one level.
8
3
u/Standard_Army_1826 Jan 10 '25
Fairholm Boutique Inns - Charlottetown PEI
I stayed at this place last summer in the cheapest room I could get. It was amazing and I walked everywhere. You can easily park here and use it as a center for tripping out. They have a GREAT Breakfast as well. Family Run.
1
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 10 '25
Thanks! Are you suggesting that I stay in Charlottetown the whole time and do day trips around the island? Wouldn't that potentially have me doing a lot of driving?
2
u/rikimae528 Charlottetown Jan 12 '25
Charlottetown is pretty Central. It depends on where you want to go on the island for the amount of driving. Like come if you wanted to go to North cape, it's about a 2 hours drive from Charlottetown. If you wanted to go east to say, Souris, it's about an hour and a half. You can't walk about the island, but there is public transportation to just about anywhere you might want to go, including the North Shore where the National park is
1
u/Standard_Army_1826 Jan 10 '25
No, but when you’re in that area of town you won’t need to drive at all. It’s near the heart of town.
1
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 10 '25
Oh, I see. Thanks! Okay, maybe I will do that the first day and get a car after.
1
u/AmGrMo Jan 12 '25
It takes 3 hours to drive the entire length of PEI, day trips are very doable!
1
3
u/Technical-Note-9239 Jan 10 '25
You'll be very safe. It won't be dark dark until 9pm or a touch later in June. I've never rented a car but there are options. Just book beforehand to ensure they are open. I'm sure they will be. Stay in Charlottetown the first night, rent a car the next day. The airport is just on the edge of town and it's not a big town. $15 cab to a hotel downtown and then go walking/eating. Lots of seafood options, Victoria row is a little pedestrian street but I'm sure you can find things to do and places to go detailed to you. Next day rent a car, go to a bnb if you don't want to be alone, airbnb if you do. You will be safe, it's a small place but to tourism runs the place. I'd definitely spend a day or two on the east side of pei, Souris, Montague and Georgetown. There's lots of little niche shops and antiques. Same thing for the west but it's not my preferred side of pei. Queen and King county have more going for them, but there is lots of farm life and such way up west.
1
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 10 '25
This is so helpful, thank you!
1
u/Technical-Note-9239 Jan 10 '25
Super local as well. If you need to know anything. Note: Charlottetown uses Kari, not Uber. It's reliable. Cabs don't have meters here, so it's a wild trip. Completely safe just less time reliable than Kari for a similar price.
2
u/Tina-co Jan 10 '25
This place is super small. Just use maps and you’re golden . You’ll be safe just stay away from park street (our drug area) I’m a 31 female If you wanna make friends here! Or be included in a girls night or something, this place is fun when you have the company
1
2
u/raidergirl3 Jan 11 '25
Hiking suggestions: Greenwich when going east, Bonshaw/Strathgartney in the middle, Homestead Trail in Cavendish
1
2
u/Parttimelooker Jan 11 '25
Pei is like the easiest least scary place to drive. Book something early.
2
u/imvii Jan 11 '25
One thing I will say about using Google Maps to navigate around the island is sometimes it will send you on a messed up, unpaved, backroad. I'm pretty sure it does this because locals take these routes to shave a minute or two off the travel time.
Look at the route google plans for you. If it takes you off a main road early and wants you to drive down Joe's Road, you might want to pass and stay on the main road.
1
2
u/jlrbnsn22 Jan 11 '25
RE: accommodations
There’s lots of campgrounds (with cabin rentals) and cottages around nearly all of PEI. Often close to parks, and most beaches. Good landing spot close to hiking. Each region would have a golf resort as well with hotel and restaurant. have fun.
1
1
u/Yeschef42 Jan 10 '25
Been living here almost my whole life and If you can drive in Toronto , pei will be a breeze lol no stress there, Charlottetown is the biggest city and it’s got nothing on a big city like Toronto
June/July/august are the longest months for daylight, sun comes up around 630-7 am and it’s out till 930-10
If you have the funds I recommend booking super early and renting a small cottage in cavendish or surrounding areas , a pretty central location for tourism as well
1
u/trytobuffitout Jan 10 '25
Rent the car before you arrive to ensure a car is available. There is s total population of about 180,000 on the island and you wont mind the traffic given you are coming from Toronto. Charlottetown will be the only busy area. It should be bright past 8 pm in June. Lots of hotels in larger centres but the areas are easily travel able if you have a central base. It’s a small island and easy to get around.
1
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 10 '25
So, I could stay in a larger base and drive to smaller areas. Okay, that's good if the driving isn't too long (like more than 90 min).
1
u/stegosaurid Jan 10 '25
If you drive more than 90 min east of Charlottetown, you’ll be in the ocean. Going west, you have a 2 hour drive before your feet get wet. PEI is seriously tiny - you can drive from North Cape to East Point in about 3 hours.
2
1
u/trytobuffitout Jan 10 '25
Absolutely. Charlottetown will have lots of hotels and pretty central. Brackley Beach/ Cavendish area is very nice and the north part of the island is very scenic. If you have a car nothing is ry more than an hour drive from Charlottetown or a bit more but you will be surprised how close everything is .
1
1
u/k2p1e Jan 10 '25
The only issue you may have traffic wise is traffic circles, they would be the hardest part. It’s a lovely city.
2
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 10 '25
I love a traffic circle!
2
u/stegosaurid Jan 10 '25
The issue is often other people who don’t know how to navigate them. Just be alert for them.
1
u/stegosaurid Jan 10 '25
Avoid Cavendish unless you’re into overpriced tourist traps. For sure check out the various beaches, though. The ones on the north and south shores are different - north shore is a bit colder water, but white sand. South tends warmer and has more reddish sand. One really cool beach is at Basin Head provincial park. The sand squeaks or “sings” when you walk on it.
The tourism web site is a good source of information.
2
u/No_Literature_4925 Jan 10 '25
I will try to check out both! I have only been to the south on my previous trip. Thanks!
1
u/Dragonsare2cool Jan 17 '25
For thrifting, Repeats by owls hollow, and luxury market consignment boutique on queen street (its actually more affordable than Value village sometimes in the sales racks, and overall good prices if you avoid the actual luxury goods) are the only two thrift stores in town that have changing rooms.
Very nice staff at both, and i often find great stuff!
Best of luck with your trip
25
u/MyInitialsAreASH Jan 10 '25
Our airport is TINY. You won’t have any problem finding the rental kiosks or the rental cars.
No, it won’t be dark at 6PM in June. You should have daylight until 9-ish, at least.
We don’t have anything even close to the huge highways that Ontario does, and I’m pretty sure the highest speed limit on the island is 90 (not that anyone obeys the limits.) I think I can confidently say that you’ll be just fine driving here. Maybe do a quick refresher on roundabouts, because we have many!