Pre-booking Maritime Lodging?
 

We are planning a 2-week driving trip in August focussing primarily on Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, PEI and a smattering of New Brunswick. How necessary is it to pre-book our accommodation or will we be able to wing it? We are two adults and a preteen.

Hi, cem! Well... it depends on where you want to stay. Keltic Lodge on Cape Breton Island may already be booked to capacity. You will be travelling in prime time....people book months in advance. The better places in PEI also fill up early. However, this year bookings are generally down over past years so you may get lucky. But why risk it?

Hi,

I traveled to Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton, last July and the only reservations I made were in Halifax. It was not a problem finding something (often a "cottage") late afternoon. A few years ago, we went to Nova Scotia and PEI and again had no problem finding accommodations.

I hate having commitments, but I suppose if you want to stay in places similar to Keltic Lodge, you should reserve in advance. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

Enjoy! It's beautiful!

Dear cem If your planning to visit Cape Breton Island during August you had better make reservations August is one of the most busy months on the Island. There is a chance that you might find a place for one night but not for a few together. Best to be safe than sorry. Enjoy your stay & have FUN.

I'm like the previous poster: cant stand having advance plans. I think it depends on what type of traveller/personality you are :)

Two summers ago we spent about 3 weeks touring around NS and a bit of PEI and NB. No advance reservations, and the only night we got caught was late one night, looking for a place to stay before grabbing the early morning ferry to PEI. Sure lots of places are full: they say: but we were never turned away at any of our choices. Now, if you wanted to stay a week in one place, I think that would be a different story, but we were happy to travel around as the mood and road took us. As another poster said, sure there is a risk and I guess it depends on if you are willing to take that risk or not, and for us it didnt appear to be a risk at all.
Happy travels.

I would not prebook and just move around as the spirit moves you. I agree that Keltic Lodge may require advance booking, but that is the only place I would lock in.

In 1992 we home exchanged outside of Halifax and did a lot of driving around and overnighting. We never prebooked and had no problems. There is a tourist information in every town in NS as tourism is big business there. They can always find you a place to stay.

We did our trip in July, not August, but I would presume it would be about the same deal getting housing as July is high season too.

Thanks for all the feedback. I think we'll book our first night in Halifax and then play it by ear for most of the trip. We did want to splurge on Keltic Lodge so will probably go ahead and book that as well - so far there is availibility in the "Cottages" - comments? Should we head up to Cape Breton Island first and then loop over to PEI, NB and NS ending in Halifax or do it vice versa? i.e. saving the best for last?

How are your entering the Maritimes?

We're flying in and out of Halifax.

With Halifax as your beginning and end point you could do it either way - NB, PEI and then Cape Breton or visa versa. The Cabot Trail is definitely considered an eye candy treat! I probably would save lots of time for Cape Breton - you may not want to leave as quickly and if you save it for the end, you might run out of time! If you like to relax on a beach - PEI is it! Although there are lovely beaches in Pictou County (where you can catch the ferry to PEI). Try out Melmerby which is a provincial beach with amenities. You find warmest waters in Nova Scotia along this stretch. Big Island is another nice beach but rockier - more isolated - no amenities. The drive between New Glasgow and Antigonish on the Sunrise Trail is a wonderful slow route - a mini trail!