About PEI

Despite being Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island has much to offer vacationers.

From rolling hills, sandy beaches, tranquil woods and a meandering shoreline, PEI is the perfect place for that special getaway.
The birthplace of Anne of Green Gables, the island is commonly known as the Garden of the Gulf and welcomes visitors with a captivating, yet diverse landscape. So whether you are looking to engage in outdoor activities, enjoy some family fun, sample the local culture or simply relax, Prince Edward Island can provide it all!

The island is divided into five touring regions: North Cape Coastal Drive, Green Gables Shore, Red Sands Shore, Charlottetown & Points East Coastal Drive.
PEI is off the east coast of mainland Canada and has a landmass of 5,660 square kilometres. It is a mere 224 kilometres long and between 6 and 64 kilometres wide, with its highest altitude point being 152 meters above sea level.
Incredibly, no point on the island is more than 16km from the coastline, so you are always close to the sea no matter where you are on the island.

Climate

The island's weather is generally mild for the eastern side of Canada, thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence.
Summers are warm with usual temperatures from 21-26°C (70-79°F) and occasional peaks of 32°C (90°F ). The warmest and driest months are July and August.
Winters are cold (26°F to 11°F/-3°C to -11°C), with snowfalls mostly from November to April and snow storms that can be severe.
Spring and Autumn are good times to consider travelling to the island; temperatures are moderate and the changing of the seasons paints the island in a stunning array of colours.

Money

The currency used on the island is the Canadian dollar, which is divided into 100 cents.
One-dollar coins are commonly called 'loonies' because of the picture of the loon (a type of bird native to Canada) depicted on the coin. As a result, two-dollar coins are now known as 'toonies'.

Credit card facilities are widely used across the island with plenty of ATMs available to withdraw cash from.
You can exchange travellers cheques at banks and bureaux de change, with even some hotels offering a foreign exchange service – though their rates will not be as good. Many retailers accept US dollars, though they will give change in local currency. Due to fraud, however, some larger denomination US dollar notes might not be accepted.

Tipping
Tipping in Canada is customary & gratuity is not normally included in the bill.
In restaurants, 15% is the accepted amount with 20% for excellent service & these amounts are calculated before tax is added to the bill.
It is also considered good practice to tip the various hotel staff that assist with accommodating your stay, as well as taxi drivers, hairdressers, manicurists, etc etc.

Tax Information

PEI has a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 10% which is applied to most purchases. This does not, however, apply to clothing, footwear, books, edible groceries or anything under the value of 25 cents.
** Note that 'clothing' and 'footwear' does not include protective sports clothing or shoes, watches, jewellery, purses, and similar items. Ask at the counter if you are unsure whether you will be charged tax on an item.

Additionally, there is a Goods & Services Tax (GST) of 5% that is added to almost everything except edible groceries and financial services. Though it is a value-added tax, it is not always included in the item price.

Time

Local time is GMT -4 (Atlantic Time), which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
The island observes daylight savings from the 2nd Sunday in March to the 1st Sunday in November - when local time is GMT-3.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz with American style two-pin plugs and a standard one with a third round grounding pin.

Language

English is spoken across the island with some French.

Smoking
Smoking bans are in place across Canada and smoking is only permitted in dedicated smoking areas. It is prohibited in public places such as bars, restaurants and shopping malls. Tobacco may not be sold to anyone under the age of 19.

Alcohol
The legal drinking age on the island is 19 and drinking on public beaches is prohibited. Alcohol retailers are open from Monday to Saturday, but are closed on Sundays.  Minors are allowed in licensed establishments between 11am and 8pm; if in the company of an adult and a meal is ordered.