The Splendid Great George in Charlottetown, PEI

Charlottetown’s Great George Hotel is a splendid place from which to explore Charlottetown and to lay your head for a few nights. Its location is first rate – in the historic district right across the street from the impossible to miss St. Dunstan’s Basilica. All the major sights are within walking distance as are a number of very good restaurants.

Fifteen heritage buildings with a total of 60 guest rooms complete the Great George Hotel. The main building – the Pavilion where you check in – has an interesting history dating back to 1846. The Pavilion was once a store-house combination selling everything from groceries to corsets. It was later remodeled to become the Pavilion Hotel, where delegates to the Charlottetown Conference on Confederation stayed in 1864.

If you’re visiting from Europe and used to very small rooms you might think you’d entered an elderly aunt’s apartment instead of a hotel room. Many of the rooms have a living room and some have kitchen facilities for longer term stays. Furnishings, some of which are antiques, complement the rooms. Beds are very comfortable and reading lights are on both sides of the bed.You’ll find crisp white linens and Aveda toiletries. WiFi is included in the room rate as is breakfast. All day long you can make yourself a cup of tea or get a cup of coffee along with freshly baked cookies.

Breakfast is quite a social affair. It takes place in the great room adjoining the check-in. Numerous intimate seating arrangements have been set up in addition to a piano displaying autographed pictures of famous hotel guests. Every morning a breakfast buffet is offered featuring a vast selection of baked goodies, some eggs, plus fruit, granola and yogurt. Grab a seat and help yourself to a TV table – though staff are around to help you with this. You can choose to be social or sit quietly in one of the more intimate areas. In the summer you can also take advantage of the outdoor patio tables.

We were warmly welcomed by the front desk staff. Not only did they have a sense of humor they were unfailingly cheery and helpful. Plus they allowed us to store our bike boxes for 10 days!

Improvements could be made in noise reduction. On our first morning (at 7:30) a tour bus sat outside the hotel running its engines for ages. Between the noise and the pollution this is one practice that should come to an end. Also if you have difficulty with stairs inform the hotel staff when making a reservation and be sure to ask for a ground floor room.

To make a reservation call 800-361-1118 or 902-892-0606. Rooms start at $219 per night in high season – between June and September. Expect to pay more if the room is an efficiency or if it comes with fireplace, a Jacuzzi or a claw foot tub.

Leigh McAdam
HikeBikeTravel

Please note I did receive a discount on my two night stay from the kind people at the Great George Hotel.

You might also like: