Vancouver Island Lodging
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
With the Pacific Ocean to the west, the majestic Coast Mountain range to the east and separated from the mainland by archipelago-dotted straits and passages, Vancouver Island is a retreat in every sense of the word. The full spectrum of lodging options is available island-wide; amenity-filled hotels, backcountry accommodations, campgrounds, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, eco-lodging and boat accommodations are all found here.
SOUTH ISLAND
A lovely mix of urban flair, natural beauty and cultural wealth composes the physical and emotional tone of this vibrant region, home to the provincial capital and island hub, Victoria. The southern tip of the island offers an abundance of unique experiences and accommodation choices, including heritage bed and breakfasts, waterfront hotels, budget-friendly hostels, self-catered vacation rentals, and family-friendly camping and RV resorts. One-of-a-kind accommodations aboard floating cottages are available in Victoria and nearby Sooke, where lodging on a moored 24-m (80-ft) vessel is a definite novelty. Those seeking convenient access to the airport, ferry terminal and surrounding attractions need not venture farther than Sidney, where an array of comfortable chain-brand and independent properties await. In terms of price range, the southern region offers it all, from affordable campsites to luxurious stays in lavish, historic hotels like the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria.
COWICHAN
Rural lifestyles and exquisite countryside best characterise this distinct region, which extends along the eastern coast of the island from Mill Bay in the south to Ladysmith in the north and across the Lake Cowichan interior. A haven for nature lovers and solitude seekers, the region offers an abundance of cosy bed and breakfasts, cabins, waterfront vacation rentals and campgrounds. Those in search of town conveniences can find comfortable lodging at chain and independent hotels and bed and breakfasts in pretty Duncan, which offers a good mix of amenities and easy access to nearby recreational opportunities.
CENTRAL ISLAND
Overlooking the Strait of Georgia and the distant mountain range, the central island region is home to bustling Nanaimo, the sandy beaches of Qualicum Beach and Parksville, and quaint, whimsical towns like Coombs. Nanaimo, a harbour and island gateway city, features a variety of lodgings to suit any need or budget. Family-friendly, well-appointed hotels from the Best Western, Days Inn, Howard Johnson and Ramada chains are available, as are an array of independently run budget motels and bed and breakfasts. Beachfront resorts are abundant in Parksville, where visitors appreciate the ease of access to beach activities, shopping, dining and area attractions. Geared toward families and extended-stay vacationers, Beach Acres Resort offers self-contained cottages and condo units, an all-season pool complex, tennis courts, an expansive playground and direct access to long stretches of safe, sandy beaches. Fanny Bay is another popular beachside destination and offers tranquility and the comforts of home at a number of vacation rentals.
PACIFIC RIM
Along the Pacific Rim, rugged mountain interiors, awe-inspiring coastal rainforests and the majestic Pacific Ocean create a recreational landscape of immense beauty and wonder. Port Alberni, located inland, and the coastal villages of Bamfield, Ucluelet and Tofino each offer unique lodging experiences sure to remain in the minds and hearts of travellers. With big-box shopping centres and plentiful restaurants, Port Alberni offers urban conveniences and a handy mid-point orientation between the Nanaimo ferry terminal and coastal adventures. Lodging there spans the full range of options, including amenity-filled chain hotels, small-scale motels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and affordable, seasonal backpacker hostels.
Located along the southern section of Pacific Rim National Park, Bamfield provides quaint, rustic lodging in a number of seaside resorts, some of which feature comprehensive charter and guide services for fishing, diving and kayaking enthusiasts. While budget-friendly options are limited during the peak summer season in the popular coastal villages of Tofino and Ucluelet, select motels, hostels and campgrounds provide affordable stays and convenient access to attractions and amenities. For the most discerning traveller, upscale resorts, lodges, vacation rentals and hotels are plentiful along the western coast and include notable properties like A Snug Harbour Inn in Ucluelet and Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. Eco accommodation and backcountry lodging providers in Tofino offer unique and remote alternatives to standard choices. Early reservations are highly recommended for any planned stay in the Pacific Rim region, particularly during the May-to-September season.
NORTH CENTRAL
Wilderness in its purest form is the hallmark of the north central part of the island. The region encompasses a large geographical area spreading north from the Comox Valley to the Discovery Islands and west through the Vancouver Island mountain range to the Pacific. The moderately urban centres of Campbell River, Courteney and Comox collectively provide an excess of accommodation options, including mid-scale chain hotels, quaint bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, campgrounds, lodges and resorts. Boundless opportunities for close encounters with nature are available in the traditional logging communities of Gold River, Tahsis and Nootka Sound, where lodging selections are of a more rustic and tranquil style.
NORTH ISLAND
A proverbial last frontier, the island's north is a sanctuary for outdoor adventure and ultimate solitude. The largest geographical area on the island but the least populated, the north offers remote escapes like no other. Wildlife viewing, sports fishing, cultural exploration and hiking are preferred activities in the north's remote wilderness. Many small, remote enclaves like Zeballos, Winter Harbour, Telegraph Cove and Kyuquot offer superior hospitality and comfortable lodging in charming, family-run lodges, fishing resorts and bed and breakfasts. Hotel and motel-style lodging is more abundant in larger centres like Port Hardy and Port McNeill, where overnight accommodations are diverse and cater to a wide range of travelling needs. Visitors choosing to tuck in at either of these towns will appreciate creature-comfort conveniences and handiness to abundant recreational opportunities.
SOUTH ISLAND
A lovely mix of urban flair, natural beauty and cultural wealth composes the physical and emotional tone of this vibrant region, home to the provincial capital and island hub, Victoria. The southern tip of the island offers an abundance of unique experiences and accommodation choices, including heritage bed and breakfasts, waterfront hotels, budget-friendly hostels, self-catered vacation rentals, and family-friendly camping and RV resorts. One-of-a-kind accommodations aboard floating cottages are available in Victoria and nearby Sooke, where lodging on a moored 24-m (80-ft) vessel is a definite novelty. Those seeking convenient access to the airport, ferry terminal and surrounding attractions need not venture farther than Sidney, where an array of comfortable chain-brand and independent properties await. In terms of price range, the southern region offers it all, from affordable campsites to luxurious stays in lavish, historic hotels like the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria.
COWICHAN
Rural lifestyles and exquisite countryside best characterise this distinct region, which extends along the eastern coast of the island from Mill Bay in the south to Ladysmith in the north and across the Lake Cowichan interior. A haven for nature lovers and solitude seekers, the region offers an abundance of cosy bed and breakfasts, cabins, waterfront vacation rentals and campgrounds. Those in search of town conveniences can find comfortable lodging at chain and independent hotels and bed and breakfasts in pretty Duncan, which offers a good mix of amenities and easy access to nearby recreational opportunities.
CENTRAL ISLAND
Overlooking the Strait of Georgia and the distant mountain range, the central island region is home to bustling Nanaimo, the sandy beaches of Qualicum Beach and Parksville, and quaint, whimsical towns like Coombs. Nanaimo, a harbour and island gateway city, features a variety of lodgings to suit any need or budget. Family-friendly, well-appointed hotels from the Best Western, Days Inn, Howard Johnson and Ramada chains are available, as are an array of independently run budget motels and bed and breakfasts. Beachfront resorts are abundant in Parksville, where visitors appreciate the ease of access to beach activities, shopping, dining and area attractions. Geared toward families and extended-stay vacationers, Beach Acres Resort offers self-contained cottages and condo units, an all-season pool complex, tennis courts, an expansive playground and direct access to long stretches of safe, sandy beaches. Fanny Bay is another popular beachside destination and offers tranquility and the comforts of home at a number of vacation rentals.
PACIFIC RIM
Along the Pacific Rim, rugged mountain interiors, awe-inspiring coastal rainforests and the majestic Pacific Ocean create a recreational landscape of immense beauty and wonder. Port Alberni, located inland, and the coastal villages of Bamfield, Ucluelet and Tofino each offer unique lodging experiences sure to remain in the minds and hearts of travellers. With big-box shopping centres and plentiful restaurants, Port Alberni offers urban conveniences and a handy mid-point orientation between the Nanaimo ferry terminal and coastal adventures. Lodging there spans the full range of options, including amenity-filled chain hotels, small-scale motels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and affordable, seasonal backpacker hostels.
Located along the southern section of Pacific Rim National Park, Bamfield provides quaint, rustic lodging in a number of seaside resorts, some of which feature comprehensive charter and guide services for fishing, diving and kayaking enthusiasts. While budget-friendly options are limited during the peak summer season in the popular coastal villages of Tofino and Ucluelet, select motels, hostels and campgrounds provide affordable stays and convenient access to attractions and amenities. For the most discerning traveller, upscale resorts, lodges, vacation rentals and hotels are plentiful along the western coast and include notable properties like A Snug Harbour Inn in Ucluelet and Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. Eco accommodation and backcountry lodging providers in Tofino offer unique and remote alternatives to standard choices. Early reservations are highly recommended for any planned stay in the Pacific Rim region, particularly during the May-to-September season.
NORTH CENTRAL
Wilderness in its purest form is the hallmark of the north central part of the island. The region encompasses a large geographical area spreading north from the Comox Valley to the Discovery Islands and west through the Vancouver Island mountain range to the Pacific. The moderately urban centres of Campbell River, Courteney and Comox collectively provide an excess of accommodation options, including mid-scale chain hotels, quaint bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, campgrounds, lodges and resorts. Boundless opportunities for close encounters with nature are available in the traditional logging communities of Gold River, Tahsis and Nootka Sound, where lodging selections are of a more rustic and tranquil style.
NORTH ISLAND
A proverbial last frontier, the island's north is a sanctuary for outdoor adventure and ultimate solitude. The largest geographical area on the island but the least populated, the north offers remote escapes like no other. Wildlife viewing, sports fishing, cultural exploration and hiking are preferred activities in the north's remote wilderness. Many small, remote enclaves like Zeballos, Winter Harbour, Telegraph Cove and Kyuquot offer superior hospitality and comfortable lodging in charming, family-run lodges, fishing resorts and bed and breakfasts. Hotel and motel-style lodging is more abundant in larger centres like Port Hardy and Port McNeill, where overnight accommodations are diverse and cater to a wide range of travelling needs. Visitors choosing to tuck in at either of these towns will appreciate creature-comfort conveniences and handiness to abundant recreational opportunities.
4,000+ Worldwide Hotels
Adventure Resort
Air Charters
Atleo River Air Service
Seaplane Vacations and Charters - Scenic flights and Vancouver Island air taxi!
Adult Only Retreat
A Snug Harbour Inn Ucluelet
Adult-oriented, luxury accommodation on the west coast of Vancouver Island!
Family Resort
Beach Acres Resort in Parksville, BC
Offering beachfront cottages and townhouses. The way life was meant to be!
