We are going to Victoria in Sept. Has anyone ever stayed at the Prior house B&B or Oak Bay Beach Hotel?

I haven't stayed at either but I do recommend a great, very reasonably priced B and B within walking distance of the harbour and the Empress Hotel...

www.marketas.com

A GREAT bargain!!

The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is lovely but is not near the tourist area of downtown.

Two lovely B&B type hotels are Abigail's Hotel and the Beaconsfield Inn. Both are within walking distance to downtown and the harbour.

Oak Bay Beach Hotel is very nice, but as mentioned it is a long distance from downtown and the Inner Harbour - but maybe that is what you want.

We've stayed at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and loved it! The view and the location are very pretty, and it's not far from the Oak Bay shopping areas and tea shops. If you don't want to stay downtown, it's a good choice.
IMO I don't think that the drive downtown takes that long, but of course that depends on your frame of reference (do you come from a big city or a small town??).

Oak Bay isn't a long drive from downtown - only about 10-15 minutes, but it's a hassle dealing with parking etc. if one is spending most of their time in Victoria in the downtown area.

If you want to be away from downtown then it's very nice.