Trip Report - The Huntingdon Hotel - Victoria
Dec 3rd, 2008, 05:35 AM
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Trip Report - The Huntingdon Hotel - Victoria
I was in Victoria for my annual viewing of Handel’s Messiah in December and wanted a nice place to stay for the night. I had been told that the Huntingdon Hotel in the Belleville Park complex was a great value. The hotel is the perfect location for people looking to be close to downtown in the Inner Harbour area.
When I arrived, I was happy to learn that my modest single room had been upgraded to a suite due to a large event that was taking place in the dining room. The room cost $80 a night, which was a good deal already, but with the upgrade made it a spectacular bargain.
When I walked into the room I was immediately stuck by how it was decorated. It instantly reminded me of my grandmothers house, and brought with it the most intense feeling of nostalgia and comfort. The walls were decorated with English floral wall paper, and the carpet was a dark forest green. The furnishings were also reminiscent of an old English manor house, and I liked the warmth of the room.
The suite was laid out well, with the bathroom, small kitchenette, TV and living room all located on the main floor. Upstairs there was a TV, queen sized bed, and desk. The bed was fairly comfortable, and the noise from other suites was non-existent.
There was a nice view of the park and gardens on the south side of the hotel, as well. My only warning for potential visitors is that it might be hard to access the upper levels of the suite if you had mobility issues. Also, it was a bit of a pain to have to walk down the stairs in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and could have proven quite hazardous if I had more than a couple of drinks that evening. I would recommend this hotel for visitors looking for a quaint English-style room within walking distance to the Inner Harbour.
Ambience: 2 out of 5
Amenities: 4 out of 5
Dining Room: N/A
Beds: 3 out of 5
View: 3 out of 5
Price: 2 out of 5
Value for Money: 4 out of 5 (without the complimentary upgrade 3.5 out of 5)
Overall: 3 out of 5
For more reviews, travel stories and information about Vancouver Island, visit my travel blog: http://www.explorevancouverisland.ca
When I arrived, I was happy to learn that my modest single room had been upgraded to a suite due to a large event that was taking place in the dining room. The room cost $80 a night, which was a good deal already, but with the upgrade made it a spectacular bargain.
When I walked into the room I was immediately stuck by how it was decorated. It instantly reminded me of my grandmothers house, and brought with it the most intense feeling of nostalgia and comfort. The walls were decorated with English floral wall paper, and the carpet was a dark forest green. The furnishings were also reminiscent of an old English manor house, and I liked the warmth of the room.
The suite was laid out well, with the bathroom, small kitchenette, TV and living room all located on the main floor. Upstairs there was a TV, queen sized bed, and desk. The bed was fairly comfortable, and the noise from other suites was non-existent.
There was a nice view of the park and gardens on the south side of the hotel, as well. My only warning for potential visitors is that it might be hard to access the upper levels of the suite if you had mobility issues. Also, it was a bit of a pain to have to walk down the stairs in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and could have proven quite hazardous if I had more than a couple of drinks that evening. I would recommend this hotel for visitors looking for a quaint English-style room within walking distance to the Inner Harbour.
Ambience: 2 out of 5
Amenities: 4 out of 5
Dining Room: N/A
Beds: 3 out of 5
View: 3 out of 5
Price: 2 out of 5
Value for Money: 4 out of 5 (without the complimentary upgrade 3.5 out of 5)
Overall: 3 out of 5
For more reviews, travel stories and information about Vancouver Island, visit my travel blog: http://www.explorevancouverisland.ca
Dec 6th, 2008, 12:27 PM
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This isn't a "trip report" ellelit. It's a promo for a pretty tired modest hotel and a way to drive people to your website. I hope you don't get extra ad revenue for additional hits to your site... cause you know, that smacks of advertising.
Dec 6th, 2008, 07:48 PM
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Well... I went on a trip to Victoria, wrote a "report" about it, and am giving prospectiv travellers insight into potentially staying there. my blog is a travel site, yes, but i'm not advertising for the hotel. i was honest in my review.
Dec 7th, 2008, 05:45 PM
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I have looked at this post for a few days wondering what to do and now I must post that I am pretty sure that Handel's Messiah has not been staged in Victoria yet for the 2008 season, so I am wondering what year "ellelit" was refering to??
Your post was for Dec3 which was a Wed and I am sorry I cannot imagine what company would showcase Hadel's Messiah in the middle of the week???
If you are a true trip writer, then kudoes to you, but it looks real fishy as you say you were in Victoia in Dec, but your post was Dec 3
Your post was for Dec3 which was a Wed and I am sorry I cannot imagine what company would showcase Hadel's Messiah in the middle of the week???
If you are a true trip writer, then kudoes to you, but it looks real fishy as you say you were in Victoia in Dec, but your post was Dec 3
Dec 10th, 2008, 08:23 PM
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Ellelit, we can't nail you for sure in terms of your advertising but you make yourself pretty obvious. The giveaway is that you're touting your blog at the end of most of your posts. That business about Nanaimo being a tourist destination in the winter (on another post) is pretty laughable. Give it up.
Dec 11th, 2008, 05:59 AM
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In the previous post, I believe my exact words were, "I currently live in Nanaimo, and it has a mild, rainy sort of climate in the winter. It has a lovely harbour, great arts and theatre, some great dining options and some nice boutique hotels, such as the Dorchester."
Am I touting it as the best place to visit among the 3? No. Am I offering some insight into what is available in Nanaimo in the winter? Uh... yes, as the poster requested. I gave my thumbs up to Victoria and Tofino. I live in Nanaimo and love it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone travelling to the island. Vancouver Island encompasses more than Tofino and Victoria.
If you don't like my posts, don't read them. I've received alot of positive comments from people remaking on my honesty and helpfulness and how thorough I am in my reviews.
Am I touting it as the best place to visit among the 3? No. Am I offering some insight into what is available in Nanaimo in the winter? Uh... yes, as the poster requested. I gave my thumbs up to Victoria and Tofino. I live in Nanaimo and love it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone travelling to the island. Vancouver Island encompasses more than Tofino and Victoria.
If you don't like my posts, don't read them. I've received alot of positive comments from people remaking on my honesty and helpfulness and how thorough I am in my reviews.
Dec 11th, 2008, 09:43 AM
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Your posts may indeed be helpful to people. The difficulty I have with you and your posts is that I suspect you are weaseling around the "no advertising" rule by directing people to your own website. You're not supposed to do that here, and you know that. That's what's getting under people's skin. The fact that I find your writing style overblown and some of your comments inaccurate is beside the point.
Dec 11th, 2008, 06:14 PM
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The main reason for my post here was because I do not like people with "adgenda's" cluttering the Fodor;s web site with their self promoting agendaa. That said "ellelitt", as you spout off about the merits of Victoria's hotels and landmarks and their merits............how do you know if any/ all are still standing if your post was for a year old visit???????????????????????
Dec 12th, 2008, 10:29 AM
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I haven't weighed in until now and I must say that I agree with Meetshare and amygirl. As a Victoria resident I find it most annoying that elleit writes such "trip reports" especially when they are outdated and slanted towards certain properties. Visitors want current and accurate information and input from fellow fodorites who have had experience with the accommodation and area. Unfortunately your info isn't always compeletely accurate and unbiased. You have posted in other threads with the same type of post. As an example - Handel's Messiah is not on during the Christmas to New Years week. The Nutcracker is on in Vancouver not Victoria etc etc. This was info you gave in another thread regarding a visit to Victoria over Christmas. So if you are not advertising your website perhaps you should stop posting it with your replies.
