I will be visiting Victoria & Vancouver at the end of August - 2 nights in each place. Could anyone recommend places to stay? We will be traveling with our two 13 year old daughters. Thanks very much.

What is your target budget and what features of a hotel are important to you? Do you need a pool for your daughers, for example? Big room for the whole family or two rooms OK?

We stayed at the Best Western: http://www.victoriabestwestern.com
It has a pool, was perfectly located - walking distance to everything including public bus to Buchart Gardens, and had a full kitchen! This was about 3 years ago, but I remember it well. Enjoy your stay - be sure to see the BC Museum - it is a real experience.

We are not looking for a budget hotel, but nothing over the top. We don't need a pool and we are planning on staying all together in one room. Thanks so much for your help.

to californialindy - thanks for the recommendation - I will look into the Best Western. Also, we will have a car with us - do you still recommend the public bus to Buchart Gardens? Thanks for your help.

For two days in Vancouver with 13yo daughters (wow - two of them??), I would hope to have a hotel somewhere near to "Robson" street, as it has plenty of shopping/eateries etc.

Downtown is the Pacific Centre Mall, and you could find that on Vancouver maps. "Gastown" has lots of touristy places that couuuuuuuuuld be fun during daylight hours. (at night this is the club-like area)

Here is a downtown map:

http://www.greatervancouverhotels.co...ctions-map.htm

it is fairly flat so there won't be too many uphill-both-ways trips.

In my eyes, with just 2 nights in town, you could dare to roll the dice using PRICELINE for a 4-star "Downtown" Vancouver hotel and be comfortable with whatever they give you, at considerable savings.

If you secure that first at a low rate, maybe you could ante up for the Empress Hotel in Victoria... if so desired.

FYI - Granville street is another where lots of people go to lots of different places day or night... it is always a crowded people-watching spot, and suitable enough for 13yo girls WITH PARENTS most of the time.

Stanley Park (at the edge of the map) is a great place to drive through... and the Vancouver Aquarium there is excellent!

Vancouver is easily among the safest cities of its size anywhere, as "normal" people seem to be walking the streets there until all hours.

You'll have a great time!

In Victoria, you might want to investigate the Marriott Inner Harbour and the Magnolia Hotel, both newish and very nice. They will likely be more expensive than the Best Western. Other possibilities I recommend are the Executive House Hotel and the Quality Inn Downtown -- they are a little worn, but still quite adequate. The Inner Harbour area is certainly a convenient area in which to base yourself.

If you have a car, I would drive to Buchart Gardens.

In Vancouver, your daughters probably would thank you for staying near Robson Street. The Rosedale on Robson suite hotel has some family-sized suites which might suit you well: www.rosedaleonrobson.com.