Victoria mid July
 

My husband and will be in Victoria 4 nights
A car was suggested to go to Saltsping.
My husband has a bad knee and cannot do a lot of walking.
We are considering the Haterleigh or Abigails for a ground floor guest room.
Any suggestion on car rental or inn.

I agree that a car will be necessary if you're going to visit any of the Gulf Islands, including Saltspring. It's much easier to see everything that interests you if you don't have to depend on the very few taxis that might be available. I've always found good rates in Victoria with Avis.

I am having SO much trouble posting to this, so let me try one sentence.

Okay, how about one paragraph? Of the two I would pick Haterleigh because it is closer to the sights... and it's a great-looking house.

Also in the area is Laurel Point, which has a splendid harbour location by a waterfront walkway where you can sit and watch the activity or sun set.

Sorry, this is going to be very tedious - seems I can only do a line or two at a time.

On the other side of the harbour is the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort - lovely but it is also across the water from downtown which might be awkward for your husband.

Cont'd...
Harbour ferries run frequently but are busy in summer. Landscaping not as nice as Laurel Point side.

I have never heard anything good or bad about the Regent. Something about it leaves me a bit cold, but it is in town right at the base of the harbour by float plane docks and restaurants. I wouldn't stay there unless I had a water view. It's an easy, flat walk to the Empress/museum/tourist-centre area along Wharf Street or you can go along the lower causeway which has some stairs.

Eureka! A whole paragraph went through (but the next wouldn't).

I'd rather not even mention this poorly landscaped monstrosity but the Hotel Grand Pacific is in a good location too, by the parliament buildings.

Kabuki cabs can be found around the inner harbour, should your husband tire of walking.

While you have a car, you could drive out to Butchart Gardens if that is on your list.

http://www.laurelpoint.com/
http://66.207.210.125/hotels/hotels.do?hotelId=51
http://www.victoriaregent.com/
http://www.hotelgrandpacific.com/

Lastly, I haven't stayed at any of the places mentioned here and can comment only on their location or appearance. The end.

April, that took you 16 minutes to get your thoughts through. You have more patience than I.

For a 'mobility challenged' couple I would recomend the 'asthetically challenged' Grand Pacific or Harbour Towers.

A car will be required for the scenic drive around the waterfront or a trip to Saltspring or Buchart Gardens.

Buchart might not be a good move for a bad knee as it has many stairs and requires walking for hours.

More stubborn than patient, icithecat. ;-)
Yes, Harbour Towers would be a good location too.

We are considering the Grand Pacific and the Victoria Regent for the first part of August - both have water view suites available. The Grand Pacific has air-conditioning, but we can get a two bedroom suite at the Regent for the same cost as a one bedroom at the Pacific.

Any suggestions as to which might be a better place to stay? Would we need air conditioning in August?

I always say Victoria gets three days of summer a year - that is, about three days where I actually feel warm enough to want to turn a fan on. The Regent water-view rooms probably get the afternoon sun so they might get warmish in the afternoon.

Here we go with the posting problems again.
ScubaMom, both are in great locations. Grand Pacific is across the street from the harbour; Regent is right on it.

Cont'd...
For me, the Regent would edge out the Grand Pacific mainly because I would find it more fun for watching the float planes and ferries.