Plan on spending one night at the airport Fairmount Hotel...any news on that hotel? What about the food at the hotel? Also, spending one week on Pender Island...good or bad? What about the islands around Pender, anything we should not miss?

A whole week on Pender sounds like a long time, unless you really, really want to relax. I would include a trip to Saltspring and go up Mt. Maxwell.

We are also staying one night at the airport Fairmont and wondering how it'll be. I think it was on this website, in the accomodations section, that I read fairly good reviews. For us it made sense rather then travelling 14 hours by plane then having to deal with getting the car and to the ferry the same day. <BR>Where is Pender Island?

Summer Visitor: This ferry site page has a map that will show you where Pender is.<BR><BR>http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/schedules/southern/<BR><BR>Just curious which ferry you're referring to. If you're going to Vancouver Island, depending on the time of year, you might consider getting a car when you get there instead of before.

April,<BR>Our destination is Nanaimo to visit my Mother. Despite some rather scathing posts on this site, I think it'll be fine as it is sort of central to every where. We plan on doing a lot of day trips plus one overnight in Victoria. Do you think we should reserve hotels there now or take ur chances reserving while in V. Island? I don't know when we'll want to go. My friends would keel over if they knew how flexible I'm trying to be on this trip, usually I have everything planned to the nth degree!<BR>Because there are so many of us we have rented a mini-van. For some reason cars seemed cheaper to rent on Vancouver than on the island. I am a bit concerned about how busy the ferries will be as it is summer but am hoping because we will be going over mid-morning it won't be too busy, but just looked at the calender and saw it's a Friday. I have been on them before but not as a driver, so this should be interesting! I'm not sure about reserving as I don't know how long it'll take us to pick up the car, and drive to the terminal. after such a long flight I don't want to rush the kids too much in the morning, although with the time difference they may wake up early. <BR>Any thoughts?

Summer,<BR><BR>I've been wrestling with this same question this year - to book a room or not to book a room. If you're not stuck on staying at a particular hotel, you might trying winging it, although I had trouble getting my Aunt and Uncle a room in Victoria one year in February! On the other hand, I had no trouble finding a room for another relative on Swiftsure weekend later this month . I don't know what month you plan to visit.<BR><BR>The problem with reserving on the ferry, if you don't make that sailing you lose your money. If I'm not in a big hurry, I just take my chances.<BR><BR>I don't know if your kids are interested but there is a new facility at the observatory in Victoria (Saanich) - 'Centre of the Universe'. I believe it will be open Wednesday and Saturday nights in the summer.

April,<BR>We are going to be there in August. The observatory sounds great, we'll look it up, thank you. <BR>I think I'm just going to take my chances on the ferry trip.<BR>Have you been to any of the vineyards on V. Island? Just wondering if they're worth a look.<BR>

Summer,<BR>No I haven't, but my Mom went on a tour of them once. She didn't rave about it but seemed to enjoy herself.