Where should you stay on Prince Edward Island? We’ve got plenty of hotel choices for you to check out.
Red cliffs and sandy beaches in Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island has long been popular for its beautiful Atlantic beaches, its traditional lobster suppers, and its “Anne of Green Gables” novels, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s fictional tales of a spirited red-haired girl who was adopted by a PEI family.
But now Canada’s smallest province has another draw for travelers — The Island Walk, a 435-mile (700-km) walking and cycling route that circles the island, an intriguing “slow travel” option for exploring PEI.
Marking the way on The Island Walk
I spent five days walking 75 miles (125 km) of the Island Walk, staying at several different lodgings on different parts of PEI. Whether you’re planning your own Island Walk or considering other PEI adventures, here’s the scoop on where to stay on Prince Edward Island.
Tignish Heritage Inn & Gardens
Tignish Heritage Inn & Gardens, Tignish
The Island Walk is divided into 32 sections, each roughly 12-15 miles (20-25 kilometers), or about the distance that an average fit person could comfortably walk in a day. I chose to walk three sections on PEI’s more remote west end, then two more sections closer to the island’s center, including a route through Prince Edward Island National Park that hugged the north shore.
My west end base was the Tignish Heritage Inn, a friendly 16-room lodging in a 19th-century brick building that once served as a school and convent. Guests can gather in the large living area on the main floor or out in the garden, and the inn is within walking distance of a grocery store, coffee shop, and several restaurants or snack shops.
Living room at the Tignish Heritage Inn
The guest rooms are all traditionally furnished with white duvets topped with paisley coverlets on the queen, king, or twin beds, with bedside reading lights and small bedside tables. The units vary in size and views — the nicest overlook the lawns and gardens away from the parking area — and all include updated en suite baths.
A guest room at the Tignish Heritage Inn
The innkeeper will provide or arrange transportation for Island Walkers, dropping you off or picking you up at nearby waypoints, with the transport fee varying by distance. The inn is also a short walk from the Tignish bus stop on the T3 Transit system, which can take you across the island. I rode the bus to Tignish from Charlottetown, PEI’s capital city, for a fare of only CAD$2.
Rates: Rates at the Tignish Heritage Inn range from CAD$135 to $185 per night from mid-June through mid-September, with slightly slower prices outside of this peak summer season. Breakfast is not included, but the Mermaid’s Kiss café on the inn’s main floor serves morning meals to guests. Café staff will also pack lunch to go — a good idea for Island Walkers, because eateries are few and far between on the PEI’s west end.
A warm welcome at PEI’s Warm House Retreat B&B
Warm House Retreat B&B, Summerside
I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome than the one I received at the Warm House Retreat B&B in Summerside, PEI’s second-largest city. Hosts Cate and Greg operate this four-room bed-and-breakfast in their Victorian-era home, and they’re particularly accommodating to guests who are walking or cycling around the island.
Cate manages the dining room where guests can choose from several different breakfast options, including a hearty and delicious breakfast poutine that was excellent fuel for the trail.
Greg provides transportation, shuttling guests to or from the trail for a fee that, as at the Tignish Heritage Inn, varies by the time and distance traveled. The inn is a few block’s walk from the T3 Transit stop and from several of Summerside’s historic houses and museums.
The “Princess Room” at the Warm House Retreat B&B
Each of the four guest rooms on the second floor of the house is furnished somewhat differently, starting with the Prince Room that has two twin beds and a private bath across the hall. The other rooms have en suite bathrooms and windows overlooking the yard, from the cozy, comfortable Princess Room (where I stayed), to the larger Queen and King units.
Guests can sit outdoors on the porch or in the expansive yard, and both Cate and Greg are quick with travel tips and all sorts of island advice.
Rates: Double room rates at the Warm House Retreat B&B range from CAD$150-200 per night, including an ample hot breakfast. You can also compare rates at Booking.com and book through them if you find a better deal.
Hotel on Pownal, Charlottetown, PEI
Hotel on Pownal, Charlottetown
I started and ended my island adventures in Charlottetown, the provincial capital. When I arrived, I checked into the colorful, budget-friendly Arts Hotel. When I returned to the city after completing my walking days, I stayed at the comfortable Hotel on Pownal.
Built from a former motel, the 45-room lodging sprawls into different sections. The entry-level Standard rooms are basic units that haven’t been recently updated, with a choice of one queen, one king, or two queen beds. The more modern Superior rooms are a better choice, with wood paneling behind the beds and more stylish furnishings. The Superior units come with one queen, one king, or two double beds.
A third alternative are the suites, including a Standard queen studio and the updated Superior queen one-bedroom.
A “superior” guest room at Hotel on Pownal
All rooms have pillowtop mattresses, coffeemakers, and Wi-Fi at no extra charge. After a week on the trail, I was pleased to find a guest laundry to wash my grubby walking gear. The property is located in downtown Charlottetown, a short walk from the city’s many cafes and restaurants and from its urban waterfront.
My one complaint is that noise seemed to carry into the rooms from the exterior walkway, so I clearly heard a boisterous group returning from the pub one night after midnight.
Rates: Double room rates at the Hotel on Pownal start at CAD$199 per night, depending on the room type and season. Rates include Continental breakfast served in the lobby-level dining area. Make your reservations directly with the hotel or go through Booking.com where you might bet a better deal.
Wherever you go on PEI, you’ll likely find lobster for supper.
Island Walk tips
The Island Walk website has lots of information that can help you plan a walking adventure, including listings of Prince Edward Island hotels, and the Island Walk Facebook Group is a good place to ask questions or get advice from other walkers.
While you can walk anytime from May to October, the best months are from mid-May into June (as long as you’re prepared for variable temperatures, some rain, and mosquitos) or the cooler drier autumn season in September and October. July and August are hotter, and accommodations can be more difficult to find.
Always carry water, snacks, sunscreen, and rain gear. And enjoy the adventure!
Looking for more PEI hotel options? See our reviews of The Arts Hotel and Rodd Charlottetown, two very different types of lodgings in PEI’s capital city; Georgetown Historic Inn; and the island’s noted gourmet getaway, Inn at Bay Fortune.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. Tourism PEI provided support for my travels in Charlottetown; I made my own travel arrangements in Tignish and Summerside while walking the Island Walk.
