should we rent a car in Halifax?

[Michigan honey]

We have booked a rental car with Hertz for our day in Halifax. Our plans is to drive to Peggy's Cove in the morning and return in the afternoon to tour Halifax on our own. Is this too ambitious a project for us? Should we skip the rental car and just do Halifax on our own? How is the parking in Halifax? Thanks.

[maryann ns]

This is not too ambitious. In Halifax after you have driven up Citadel Hill, you may want to return the car as the most interesting things are near or on the waterfront. Parking can be a problem the closer you get to the harbour.

 

Go back to the Ports of Call section, click on Canada and then look for the 'search this thread' to the right of the blue bar near the top of the page. Put in terms like Peggy's Cove, rental car, map and you will find lots of information.

[MonaCD]

Not ambitious. It's less then an hour's drive to get to Peggys cove and suggest you do that first thing to avoid the crowding when the bus tours arrive. As maryann says, once you've visited the places to which you can't walk, return your car and enjoy the boardwalk which goes from the casino to Pier 21 where you'll be docked.

[01Sweetpea]

That's what we are doing. We've rented a car thru Budget, we'll head out to Peggy's Cove first thing to beat the busses, then drive along the coast making a full cirlce back to Halifax, I'm figuring 4 hours max to do this. Then we'll stop to see the public gardens, then return the car and walk along the waterfront to get back to the ship.

[Naps]

That's what we are doing. We've rented a car thru Budget, we'll head out to Peggy's Cove first thing to beat the busses, then drive along the coast making a full cirlce back to Halifax, I'm figuring 4 hours max to do this. Then we'll stop to see the public gardens, then return the car and walk along the waterfront to get back to the ship.

 

Sweetpea, we haven't made any plans for Halifax. What is there to see along the way to/and return from Peggy's Cove. We booked this cruise last minute, so I don't know too much about ports. Really our first cruise except cruise to nowhere overnights.

[01Sweetpea]

Sweetpea, we haven't made any plans for Halifax. What is there to see along the way to/and return from Peggy's Cove. We booked this cruise last minute, so I don't know too much about ports. Really our first cruise except cruise to nowhere overnights.

 

Honestly, I have no idea...but I figured rather than drive to Peggy's Cove then straight back on the same road, we'd make a big circle and see what is around. :) Hopefully we can find a cute local place on the water for lunch.

 

Besides, I rented a convertible Mustang as a suprise for DH so there is NO WAY he is going to want to give that baby up after 2 hours. :D

[piratesmate123]

Is there easy parking at the Citadel and Public gardens in Halifax? Thanks.

[maryann ns]

I forget about the Citadel. I think there is expensive pay parking.

 

For the Public Gardens there are meters on Summer and Sackville Streets and there is parking in the Spring Garden Road area. The latter would also work for the Citadel if you can walk up steep hills.

http://www.springgardenarea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=873

[NSgal]

Is there easy parking at the Citadel and Public gardens in Halifax? Thanks.

 

There is pay parking for 80 cars at the the Citadel. Cost of $3.75 (according to the website, if it is up to date). Public Gardens has metered parking on all sides of it, at least they used to. Parking there can be a nightmare though depending on the day of the week and the time of day. Spring Garden area is very popular with shoppers and people at lunchtime.

[flashdog_1]

I've looked at the comparison car rates on line for Halifax and St John ($87 and $55 respectively including tax for a comfortable car for 3) but could not find a place to ask if they would pick us up at the pier. Do you know if they will do this?

 

Are the maps the rental agencies give good ones that we'll be able to plan out our day without spending too much time figuring out where we are?

[maryann ns]

My experience with rental agency maps is that they are poor. You can take a GPS with you or do some advance planning with Google Maps. They will give detailed directions from A to B. Also go to novascotia.com and ask to be sent a road map.

 

Some rental agencies in Halifax will pick you up at the port (Enterprise, I believe). Others are a very short distance away. Do a search here on the Ports of Call/Canada section and you will find many previous postings about car rentals.

[tortigabby]

This is our first trip "North" on a cruise. Eight of us need to know the best way to get around. I checked with a tour director who told us he was sold out because so many ships were going to be in port that day (Oct. 5), not fun to hear. What's our best shot for going ashore without taking a ship's shore excursion. Renting a car seems like a good idea, but we'd need an 8 passenger van or two cars! A tad costly also.

Thanks for your input.

Tortigabby:)

[Underwatr]

Renting a car seems like a good idea, but we'd need an 8 passenger van or two cars! A tad costly also.

Renting a car or two is probably cheaper than the package excursion for that number of passengers. You just have to be independent and resourceful.

[maryann ns]

Rent two cars and get to Peggy's Cove ahead of the crowds. It will be less expensive, I'm sure. You had better book them right away if there are several ships in port.

[Underwatr]

What time do the buses normally arrive in Peggys Cove? We had planned on a leisurely day, picking up the car around 10 AM (8 AM docking). Should I just tough it out with a 10 AM rental?