We'll be in downtown Victoria for 2 nights and then will be driving to Butchart Gardens before taking the ferry over to Vancouver.

We'd like to stay somewhere near Butchart Gardens on the third night so we don't have to backtrack to Victoria again. Any hotel recommendations?

I'm not sure if we would go out of Swartz Bay or Nanaimo on the ferry....haven't looked to see which one is closer to Butchart. Any recommendations there would be helpful too.

Thanks!

Swartz Bay is closer by far. What kind of accommodations are you looking for?

Swartz Bay is 15 minutes down the highway.

Nanaimo is about 2 hours further up the island and is not convenient at all.

Note that the Butchart Gardens are about a 20 minute drive away from Victoria, so you wouldn't be doing much backtracking.

We're looking for at least a 3 diamond accomodation but nothing fancy, just clean.

How about Sidney? Is it a good choice if we're leaving from Swartz Bay?

How far is Sidney from Swartz Bay?

Sidney is only about 10 minutes away from Swartz Bay. You'd have to backtrack a little to get to Butchart's. Do you plan on going to the ferry directly from Butchart's?

Here are a few places to consider but keep in mind I have no first-hand experience with any of them.

http://www.brentwoodbaylodge.com/
Close to Butchart's. Pricey.

http://www.airporttravelodge.com/
In Sidney next to the highway that you blast along to the ferry terminal. My sister stayed here one night before an early morning flight and was satisfied with it.

http://www.beaconinns.com/
I think this inn away from the highway looks charming and is probably the one I would try.

http://www.miraloma.ca/
Nice location but further from Butchart's. Have never heard anything about the place.