Need Peace? Go East!

  • About
  • Beside the Trail B&B
  • Granny
  • Our Other Sites

Tag Archives: accommodations

HST is coming to PEI

Posted on 2013/01/10 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

the peddler needs $1.04 to collect tax

Harmonized Sales tax is coming in April.  So what does this mean for the traveller? For the next few months, we will be charging 5% federal sales tax and 10% on top of that.  So this means we are charging 15.5% tax on most purchases.  On April 1, the tax will be blended into one harmonized sales tax (HST) at a rate of 14%.  This means that for most purchases, the price will go down by 1.5%.

 

If only life were so simple.  Some goods are currently exempt from provincial sales tax.  On those, you are paying only 5% federal tax today.  Come April 1, the tax on some previously exempt items will rise to 14%. 

Confused yet? Let’s add in another wrinkle.  Some small businesses do not need to charge federal tax.  With the coming of HST, these businesses will have the option of charging the new HST or not.

Let’s take a small Bed and Breakfast as an example.  Let’s say your room rate is $100. Because they are exempt from GST, you would pay just 10% provincial tax for a total of $110. After April 1, this Bed and Breakfast decides to opt into the HST: your room will cost $114 or an increase of about 4% to you the visitor.  The other B&B that also charges $100 for their room decides not to opt into HST and your cost for a room is $100.  That is about 10% less than you were paying last year.

So it pays to check.  When you are making your accommodation reservation, ask for the full price with tax.  That way there will be no surprises. See that the Beside the Trail Bed and Breakfast has decided to charge no tax next year.

Enjoy your PEI holiday.

 

Guy

 

 

 

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI .

Bed and Breakfast or Hotel?

Posted on 2012/09/19 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

When you travel, do you prefer to stay at a Hotel/Motel or do you prefer to stay at a  B&B/Inn?

 

Privacy in a hotel room If you are looking for privacy, luxury, or special services, a hotel may be a better choice.  You can find hotels and motels in various price ranges to suit any budget. In Prince Edward Island, the prices range from $50 to $300.

The price of Bed and Breakfasts ranges from $50 to $200.  So if I am looking for value for money or simply the lowest priced accommodations, why pick a Bed and Breakfast instead of a hotel?

Bed and Breakfast

 When you stay at a Bed and Breakfast, you are a guest in Someone’s Home. That usually means that each guest room is decorated according to your hosts’ tastes and preferences. So at a B&B, you will be getting away from the cookie cutter rooms of many hotel and motel chains.

BreakfastThe Price of the Bed and Breakfast usually includes the cost of Breakfast.  I say usually because there are some regional differences. If in doubt, check with the owners when you make your booking. Breakfast can be the highlight of your day.  If you are at a 4 or 5 star B&B, you will probably get a breakfast menu, similar to a small restaurant. At a 2 or 3 star establishment, you will often get “cook’s choice” with a  few options or substitutions. Some Bed and breakfasts will offer a continental breakfast similar to what you might find in some motels.

My most important reason for choosing a B&B is  the personal touch.  The owners will often greet you, and you will have a chance to chat with your hosts during breakfast.  Many will offer suggestions for your next day’s adventure.  They might also take a genuine interest in your previous day’s experience and offer ideas to make your next day more enjoyable.

For the most important question: Shared or Private Bath? In Canada, we have a standard star rating for B&Bs. You cannot get more than 2.5 stars unless you have a private bath.  A Bed and Breakfast might have luxurious accommodations and extensive breakfasts, but if they do not have private baths, they will not get 3 stars. So if a private bath is an issue for you, check the star rating.

You may find your Bed and Breakfast on a booking site or on a government tourism site like peiplay.com. Before making your choice, I suggest you visit the establishment’s web site.  Look for pictures of the grounds and the rooms. Look also if the web site has an “about us” or “faq” section.  Since your B&B stay amounts to a personal experience, you would like to see that the website portrays the type of atmosphere you think you will enjoy. For example, look at this “about us” page of Beside the TrailBed and Breakfast. You see pictures of the hosts and a short biography.  You also see they have pets. Looking at the sidebar, I also see rooms and rates, FAQ, and reviews. They also provide a link to their Trip Advisor reviews to show confidence in the ratings provided by their guests.

In later posts I will explore accommodations choices in greater detail. I would love to hear the reasons you might have chosen to stay (or not) at a B&B.  Happy trip planning.

Guy

 

1 Comment .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI .

Tourism Inspection Fees in PEI

Posted on 2012/08/04 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

 Tourism Inspection Certificate

Inspection fees are on the rise in PEI.  There has been considerable negative feedback on this:

  • We have to pay for government’s extravagances in other areas
  • We’ll have to pass the cost along to the customer
  • Government is taking money out of my pocket that I could direct to improvements
  • This is a disincentive to new operators who will go underground

I’m not ready to take sides yet.  Let’s try to have an objective look at the situation.

Currently, Tourism establishments pay a licencing fee which includes inspection.  Starting next year, the rates will increase to almost double by 2014.  This year, I paid $100 for my licence.  This includes about an hour visit from an inspector, issuing the licence, preparing the inspection reports, keeping records, and publishing the inspection reports on the Internet. Even at the reportedly low salary rates for PEI (minimum wage here is $10.00), you be the judge if this is getting your money’s worth.

Others think the inspection system is archaic and should be forgone, relying on user reviews on Twitter, Facebook, Trip Advisor, etc.  See Robert Patterson’s blog for one such opinion.  While I agree with much of what he says, those of us in the industry know that some Trip Advisor reviews are faked.  Some are written by the owners to boost their ratings, and some by the competition to lower their ratings.  Still, it is true that an official scheduled inspection only provides a sometimes rehearsed snapshot of the establishment.  While there is no perfect system, it seems that licenced establishments should be inspected by some governing authority.

Come back tomorrow for more information for tourists in PEI.

 

Guy

 

 

 

 

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, PEI, Travel PEI .

PEI Information

Posted on 2011/06/05 by Guy Posted in First Timers, Uncategorized .

info

It is wise to be informed before coming for your prince Edward Island Vacation.

Fortunately, the Internet is always ready to help. In case you forget the address for the PEI Tourism site, use my favourite equivalent: peiplay.com. They have been making many changes this year.  There may be occasions where one part or another may not work as advertised . . . be patient.

From the home page, you can do your accommodation search – this is probably the most important part of your planning.  This year, campgrounds have been added to the search criteria so you can find all accommodation types.  Remember to have cookies enabled in your browser or the search will not work.  You can refine your search criteria in many ways.  I asked for a B&B in Charlottetown under $100 with internet access available for July 1 for 2 people.  See the 21 search results. Note also that the search from the home page never seems to work.  You have to repeat the search criteria again on page 2.  I hope they will have that fixed soon.

Now that you have found a place to stay, click on THINGS TO DO at the top of the page.  The select Beaches for a list of beaches and tide times.  Or select Culinary, Sights, Outdoors, or whatever strikes your fancy.  There is lots from which to choose.

You can also search by type of activity on this page. Pick from tours, bird watching, agri tourism, seafood, or water sports.

Other sources

While the government website is a good source, you can also rely on other websites.

Trip Advisor has several reviews – mostly for accommodations. Beware of the quality of the reviews.  Overly exuberant reviews are sometimes written by the owners to beef up their popularity.  It is also rumoured that horrible reviews are posted by the competition for similar purposes. Look for reviews that seem to come from the heart and are written in plain language.

I found a site that offers campground reviews.

You can also visit one of many travel blogs to find information about PEI.

Lunch Online offers listings and reviews for restaurants.

The Tea Guide has reviews of tearooms.

But the most important reviews are from people like me (me is important) who give you first hand experience and advice.  For example, If you visit PEI outside PEAK SEASON, check to see what is open. Peak season is generally from June 15 to September 15. Some places are open year round, others start to open in mid May. The biggest mistake you can make is coming to PEI in May with your heart set on having a traditional Church 5-course lobster supper. Come in the early spring or late fall for the scenery and a get away from the hustle and bustle.  Prefer to stay at a B&B and ask your hosts for help in finding out who is open.  You will find some operators very helpful – even calling attractions to confirm if they might be open for you tomorrow.

Tomorrow, back to the animals with Llamas.

Granny ~oo~

 

Leave a comment .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI, Visitor's Guide .

Your cYcling holidaY in PEI

Posted on 2011/05/25 by Guy Posted in The Confederation Trail .

Gulf Shore Parkway

The last time we visited the letter “Y”, I spoke about the trail, the trail guide and finding roadways with paved shoulders. There is one important cycling lane that deserves a second mention. The Gulf Shore Parkway runs along the waterfront from North Rustico to Cavendish. This 10 km trip between the two villages is much more scenic and full of places to stop and step down to the beach.  Last year, they added a dedicated cycling lane several feet away from the main roadway.  This will make cycling the parkway much more enjoyable.

Red Island Relay

Have you heard of the Red Island Relay? Cycling PEI puts on several events weekly to promote cycling and other outdoor activities.

Cycling loops

The Government has put together 5 cycling loops ranging from 40 to 75 km. They have full turn by turn directions but unfortunately have not included a Google-Map type reference so you can see exactly where you will be going.  So drive to a destination, take a 50k ride and drive to your evening rest spot.

self guided tour

I found a self guided tour that plans out your itinerary along the trail with side jaunts to find food and accommodations.

Accommodations

If you are looking for Accommodations close to the Confederation Trail, there is no easy answer. You can consult the cycling guide, but you may need some help finding accommodations in the more remote areas.  A Goolge Search for “accommodations close to confederation trail pei” yielded no useful results.  I determined that there probably are not many motels and hotels ON THE TRAIL, so I tried “b&b close to confederation trail”.  I got several indirect results form Trip advisor, Tour PEI and BB Canada for http://besidethetrail.ca/ and another reference to http://www.islandhomebandb.ca/.  Then I tried “b&b confederation trail” and I got Country Charm B&B.  Although a nice enough looking establishment, they are in Murray River which is not close to the official trail.  I did get several references to Trailside B&B again.

Wherever you go on Prince Edward Island, look for the Cycle Friendly logo.  This means the owner has special amenities for cyclists. Whether that be suitable parking while you shop or extra amenities at a B&B.

Enjoy your cycling holiday.

Granny ~oo~

1 Comment .
Tags: accommodations, cycling, outdoors, vacation PEI .

Hotels in PEI

Posted on 2011/05/08 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

hotel

Prince Edward Island has a few hotels.  However, the distinction between hotels, motels and inns is sometimes blurred.  The Holman Grand Hotel, still under construction, will be the newest addition this year.  The other major Hotels in the downtown core are the Delta and the Rodd Charlottetown.  The latter is part of a family of accommodations in PEI.  For a comprehensive list of hotels and motels, consult the list of 85 on the tourism website.

Hotel and Motel

The difference between a hotel and a motel is usually the drive up. Motel comes from Motor Hotel which means you can usually drive up to your room. Many motels are two stories but seldom more.  Some motels have banquet and entertainment facilities but not usually as elaborate as you would find in a hotel.  The other major difference is valet and room service that you usually only find in a hotel.  Hotel rooms open to an interior corridor whereas ground floor rooms in motels lead directly outside.  On the second floor there may be direct access via a balcony but sometimes you use an interior corridor to reach the parking area.

Whatever your preference, you have plenty from which to choose.  Read the listings, check the websites, and make your reservations.

Granny ~oo~

3 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, Visitor's Guide .

Accommodations in PEI

Posted on 2011/05/01 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

motel

If you are coming to Prince Edward Island, you have plenty of choices for accommodations. However, you have to remember that the Island is very seasonal and that some accommodations are only open in the summertime. Here is sampling of the number of establishments open:

  • January 122
  • March 124
  • May  273
  • June 557
  • July  640
  • September 631
  • October 421

So as you can see, the warmer the weather gets, the more accommodations are available.  In July and August there are 11,000 rooms available per day, dwindling to 2,000 in the winter. Whether you think that is a big or small number, I still strongly recommend reservations for a summer stay.  If you happen to come during one of our major events, availability may be limited.

Busy Time

For example, this summer Will and Kate will be here July 3-4. This comes on the heels of the week long Canada day celebration.  In addition, the yearly Cavendish Country Music Festival runs from July 7 to 10.  So the beginning of July is guaranteed to be busy.

Types of accommodations

You have plenty of accommodation styles to explore: Inns, B&B, Cottages, Hotels, and Motels.  In Eastern PEI, called “Points East Coastal Drive”, there are about 2,000 rooms per day.  In Western PEI, called “North Cape Coastal Drive” there are about 1500.  The greatest concentration of rooms is in the Cavendish area (5,000),  and in Charlottetown (2,000).

Centrally located

However, the Island is small.  If you are driving, you can stay near the centre of the Island (between Kensington and Charlottetown). From there, any point on the Island is less than a 2 hour drive.  If you are like me, you don’t like packing and unpacking every day so plan a central destination.

Search online

The government website has an online accommodation search. However, if you are planning to stay centrally, it is only easy to search for accommodations located in Charlottetown. If you are planning on staying West of Charlottetown, you need to check both the Red Sands Shore (south of Route 2) and the Green Gables Shore (North of Route 2) areas.  Then consult the map to see if the location is central enough for you.

Use Google Maps

You can also use Google Maps for your search. At a certain zoom level, you will see businesses appear directly on the map. Form there you can explore the visitor’s guide or the company website to get more information. Look at this map and work your way “down” towards downtown Charlottetown for an example.

Order guides and maps

Looking online is good but you should also have a paper visitors guide with you.  You can pick one up as you arrive on the Island (Ferry, Airport or Bridge).  You can also order maps and guides online form the department of tourism . . . please allow a few weeks for delivery

 

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, Visitor's Guide .

Inns and Bed and Breakfasts

Posted on 2011/04/12 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

Inn, Bed and Breakfast (B&B), or Tourist Home, Homestay Home?  What’s the difference?

Inn

An INN is usually a “business” with 10 or more rooms, a common area and a dining room.  It is common but not expected that you can get meals all day in an Inn – you should check if you are planning to have more than breakfast at the Inn.  So what is the difference between an Inn and a Motel?  A Motel is usually run by a manager and employees and an Inn is usually run by the owner and employees.  So you are more likely to get a personal experience at an Inn.

There are 15 Inns in PEI that range in price from $100 to $300 per night.

bed and breakfast

A Bed and Breakfast is a private home where one or more bedrooms have been converted for guest use.  B&B are also called Tourist Homes or Homestays.  Usually, a B&B will have 1 to 4 guest rooms but I have seen as many as 7.  A Bed and Breakfast is usually run by Mom and Pop – the owners.  Except for the 5-star establishments (see below), they do not usually have front desk staff, porters, chefs, and elaborate menus.   Often, the bedrooms are on the second floor and, particularly in a “heritage” home, it could be a bit tricky to haul your large suitcase upstairs.

The nice thing about a B&B is the feeling that you are a guest in the host’s home.  You will probably feel at ease talking about your holiday and by all means feel free to ask your hosts for advice or recommended attractions.  B&B operators usually like to get to know their guests.  Some feel they cannot get to know you in one night, so it is common to see a minimum 2-3 night stay.  If you are driving, remember that PEI is small.  If you pick accommodations centrally located (say between Kensington and Charlottetown), you could spend your entire stay at the same place without doing a lot of extra driving.

Breakfast

The name Bed and Breakfast implies Breakfast is included but you should check if that is a hot breakfast, continental, full breakfast, etc. Unlike an Inn, breakfast is usually cook’s choice and the only menu variation is likely to be for food sensitivities.  It is best to advise your host ahead of time.  Rest assured that you can usually count on a good hearty meal.

Amenities

Amenities vary greatly in B&B’s.  There are usually one or more sitting rooms also referred to as common areas where you might find a TV, books, movies, board games, etc.  With the internet gaining popularity, you will find the majority have high speed Internet.  From what I have seen, it is not obvious if this means a computer for guest use or that they have wireless.  Something else to check.

Bathrooms

One of the biggest concerns about staying at a B&B is a shared bath.  Even if you have a private bath, it may be outside the room.  Read the room descriptions for clues and if not clear, get the necessary clarifications prior to making a booking.

Star Rating

Shop by the stars!  In Canada, an organization called Canada Select inspects accommodations and awards stars.  The more stars the better you say?  Perhaps so, but the more stars the more the price!  Don’t be fooled by the relationship between stars and price.  A 4 star B&B in  a rural area may be less expensive than a 3 star B&B in the city – It has to do with property values, taxes, etc.  If you check Canada Select, they say that you get better amenities including private bath at the 3 star level.  I know for a fact that a B&B cannot get a 3-star rating unless it has a private bath, but it is possible for an accommodation to have a private bath and still have only a 2.5 star rating.  The budget minded should look at 2, 2.5 and 3 star B&B.  If you expect luxury and special services, go for the 4 and 5 star B&B.

Cancellation Policy

I mentioned that B&B typically have 1 to 4 guest rooms.  Particularly in Prince Edward Island where the HIGH tourist season is about 10 weeks, losing out on a room rental can mean a significant loss of yearly income.  Read the fine print and ask if it is not specified.  Cancellation policies can fall in many categories:

  • 2-day notice
  • non refundable administrative fee even with several day’s notice
  • one full night’s fee
  • the entire cost of the stay unless rooms can be re-rented
  • the entire cost non-refundable

This summer, there are 154 bed and breakfast listed on the government website.  The online vacancy listing makes it easier to find vacancy for your planned stay.  You can also refine by amenities, location, stars or price.

I hope you come visit PEI this year.  I also hope this information on accommodations has been useful.  If you have experiences with B&B, Inns, Motels, etc., I’d love to hear about them.

Tomorrow, “Just crafts”

Granny ~00~

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI .

Pages

  • About
  • Beside the Trail B&B
  • Granny
  • Our Other Sites

Archives

  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • January 2014
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011

Categories

  • Anne of Green Gables (4)
  • Beachcombing (16)
  • Crafts (5)
  • Experiences (33)
  • First Timers (8)
  • Food (2)
  • Frugal (2)
  • Hospitality (11)
  • Moving to PEI (2)
  • PEI the Garden Province (43)
  • road trip (56)
  • The Confederation Trail (10)
  • Uncategorized (11)

WordPress

  • Log in
  • WordPress

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Pages

  • About
  • Beside the Trail B&B
  • Granny
  • Our Other Sites

Archives

  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • January 2014
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011

Categories

  • Anne of Green Gables (4)
  • Beachcombing (16)
  • Crafts (5)
  • Experiences (33)
  • First Timers (8)
  • Food (2)
  • Frugal (2)
  • Hospitality (11)
  • Moving to PEI (2)
  • PEI the Garden Province (43)
  • road trip (56)
  • The Confederation Trail (10)
  • Uncategorized (11)

WordPress

  • Log in
  • WordPress

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

© Need Peace? Go East!