This is an archive page from the 2011 festival. It was put together for people travelling to Charlottetown who wanted to sort out a place to stay and a car without doing all the digging themselves.
How it worked
The festival partnered with a handful of hotels in the downtown area and a car rental company to offer rates for festival-goers. You booked through the festival or mentioned the festival when you called, and you got a set price that was usually a little better than the walk-up rate. Nothing complicated. Just a way to make the trip a bit easier.
The hotels that took part were all within walking distance of the main venues. That was the point. If you stayed with one of the partners, you could leave the car parked for the whole festival and walk to everything. The car rental side was for people flying in or coming from further away who needed wheels for the drive to the Island or for getting around outside the downtown core.
Why it was useful
August is a busy month on Prince Edward Island. The festival happened in the middle of tourist season, and hotels filled up fast. Having a block of rooms set aside for festival-goers meant you could plan ahead without worrying about whether there would still be space closer to the date.
The car side of things was less about the festival itself and more about the trip. Charlottetown is compact, but getting there from the bridge or the airport is easier with a vehicle, especially if you are travelling with gear, instruments, or a group. The partner rate took some of the sting out of the rental price.
What happened to it
This page is kept for the record. The specific hotel and car partners from 2011 are no longer listed here, and the rates are long gone. If you are planning a trip for the current festival, head to the visiting page for general information about where to stay and how to get around. The tourism folks are the best source for current hotel availability and rental prices.
If you have a memory of staying at one of the partner hotels back then, or you remember how the booking worked, get in touch. We are always adding details to the archive.