Xmas trip Nanaimo/Tofino/Victoria
Dec 11th, 2008, 03:44 PM
#21
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Found this link:
http://www.bcaa.com/wps/portal/membe...s.xsl/7549.htm
I just copy it out of the top line on my screen. This has some interesting info! Thanks so much!
http://www.bcaa.com/wps/portal/membe...s.xsl/7549.htm
I just copy it out of the top line on my screen. This has some interesting info! Thanks so much!
Dec 13th, 2008, 04:41 PM
#23
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Wow great info! thanks - we have formalized out trip -
Xmas eve in Vancouver
Ferry to Victoria Xmas Day, stroll around . eat
26, 27 prob in Victoria also
28-29-30 in Sooke and environs
30- back to Victoria
31 - to Vancouver
Jan 1 - home
Now to go book car, rooms etc. We'll likely just get the car in Victoria and return it there. Driving to YVR is a pain and takes more time than taxi, plus we have an early AM flightt and every minute extra of sleep will count!!
Thnkns for ALL the great suggestions -
Xmas eve in Vancouver
Ferry to Victoria Xmas Day, stroll around . eat
26, 27 prob in Victoria also
28-29-30 in Sooke and environs
30- back to Victoria
31 - to Vancouver
Jan 1 - home
Now to go book car, rooms etc. We'll likely just get the car in Victoria and return it there. Driving to YVR is a pain and takes more time than taxi, plus we have an early AM flightt and every minute extra of sleep will count!!
Thnkns for ALL the great suggestions -
Dec 13th, 2008, 04:54 PM
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Actually, I just checked myself. It's looks like they run on the holidays and have extra ferries around the holidays. I'd suggest you call them, though. You may need to arrive early or consider reservations around the holidays.
See you in Victoria! I'll be the one with the red scarf (hahaha).
You can get really good rates on hotels on the internet.
See you in Victoria! I'll be the one with the red scarf (hahaha).
You can get really good rates on hotels on the internet.
Jan 2nd, 2009, 05:31 PM
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By way of thanking all of you for your great suggestions, I would like to give a mini trip report on our Xmas excursion. I've read Aduchamp's review of Vancouver as well as others' recent trips and hope this adds to the wealth of knowledge about our northern neighbor. Feel free to post any specific questions.
First as a side note - I have known aduchamp online for many years form the old AOL boards and he is a true citizen of the world, as well as a helpful and knowledgeable poster. I would not be as harsh on Vancouver as he is but I share some of his sensibilities.
Anyway - we totally lucked out on weather, and I feel a pang of sadness to know that so many people who wanted to make it home, or on a trip for Xmas, were stuck in SEA or YVR or otherwise in a mess. Our flights went off perfectly although those same flights had been canceled or severely delayed in the days prior. Even our little AC Jazz Dash-9 propelled its way through the rain and snow to get us to SEA yesterday!
If you ever need an airport hotel in YVR, the Delta Airport Hotel is great - clean rooms, altho 80's decor, good food via Room Service 24/7 which at 10 PM on Xmas eve was a big plus, and right across from the public bus to Tsawassen for $2.50.
We booked the Fairmont Empress in Victoria for 2 nights, with a special AAA rate of $153/night CAD plus a $25 CAD rebate at the end of the stay. We had a lot of email and phone problems prior to our arrival, with misdirections around getting from the Victoria Ferry (there ARE public buses , very inexpensive) as well as the fact that dining reservations etc need to be booked online but their email system is a bit batty. No one answered the phones in the dining rooms when we were trying to book Afternoon Tea, the front desk kept me on hold - so we had some doubts. We've stayed n Fairmonts (the old CP chain) in Banff , Lake Louise, SF and others and loved them, but this new internet system has got to go. I agree w/ the reports on tripadvisor and elsewhere - it's nowhere near the belle of the Fairmont chain, the rooms need some freshening but the staff are amazing.
Since I had let them know it was my birthday when I made the rez. I got a special birthday dessert for free and wound up getting 2 because on Xmas night the kitchen was closed for all but the Curry Buffet so they gave me some truffles instead and let me come back the next night! Which was the dessert buffet - which was amazing - tiny tarts, cakes, mousse! We did have the Curry Buffet for Xmas dinner and I highly recommend it. Not just curries but tandoori and all kinds of indian breads - and that elegant rice pudding, kheer.
Their location is great, pool and hot tub were relaxing and the spa is one of the best. But it's the staff that made the stay really exceptional.
Walking around Victoria, I have to say since I live in a large city, seeing another city with a ton of chain stores and crazed shoppers on Boxing Day wasn't really my cup of tea. I know people scoffed at me thinking it was overbuilt, but I think for my taste it wasn't really what I 'd hoped. We didn't go to Butchart Gardens as the $22.50/person put us off and it was bitter cold. I did enjoy the Dutch Bakery ad walking around OldTown and browsing the antique stores.
We then picked up a rent a car and headed off towards Sooke. We had done some preliminary checking on the internet about B+B's but wanted to get there before we decided.
Sooke was much smaller than we imagined - I think I was thinking more like Mendocino CA or something - but that made it all the more charming Even in winter it was beautiful and the B+B we found was perfect. We had gone to the visitor center just as it was closing, but the volunteer pointed us to the OUTDOOR computer which gave listings of al the ldging that had room that night - a great idea!
We chose the Ocean Wilderness Inn- run by an American couple who were born to run a B+B. They have a large building with ground floor pet-friendly rooms, and then a smaller building of which we took the top floor with a soaking tub and king bed. Amazing views and the sound of the surf...We spent 3 mornings over breakfast (we were the only guests) talking and sharing experiences and the rest of the time walking down the (slippery) path to the beach or just drinking tea in the great room. There's also a hot tub in the gazebo building but it was to cold for us to walk the short path! (especially since we had our own soaker tub) I wanted to stay longer....especially after the great breakfasts of local fruit and delicious pancakes. It was a bit pricier than we'd hoped $170 CAD plus tax - but well worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
We walked around town as well to the bookstore, the Spit and we got very relaxed. We had one dinner at the Stone Pipe Grill that was very good and the berry crumble is buttery and rich. Didn't see anyone on a red coat tho. If we'd had internet I might have posted for a meetup
After 3 days it was time to make our way back - the weather was getting a bit dodgy and we were scheduled to bring the car back. We debated going straight back to Vancouver for a couple of days but we decided to go back to Victoria for one more night. We took a room at the Marriott Inner Harbor ($84 USD on the priceline non-bid site)
We really liked the Marriott - better than the Empress in terms of the room, the location, and the staff were just as nice. We ate in the bar/restaurant as it was blowing a gale and were incredibly impressed with the food. I had a pasta primavera with chicken and fresh egg pasta which was really one of the best pasta dishes I've had anywhere, and Mr. Mztery had a crab cake and tomato/fennel soup that was also out of this world. I know it sounds weird to extol a hotel restaurant with such praise but the food was some of the best we had on our trip.
The only downside was the rude families in the pool who let their kids scream and yell and do cannonballs inches away from my head. I think ALL hotels with pools need someone at least walking thru once in a while. For a longer stay I would have complained.
We then took the public bus express - $2.25 - back to Swartz Bay Ferry and then the Pacific Coast bus back to Vancouver. From the Bus depot there we took the Skytrain directly to our hotel the Pan Pacific ($84 on Priceline bid site)
We LOVE the Pan Pacific! We have stayed there once before and even though it's a cruise ship hotel with 100 rooms and they have a lot of package tours etc - they staff are incredibly gracious, the rooms are spotless and very comfortable, they have milk for your coffee/tea in the mini bar and the beds are dreamy! It's on the Skytrain route and just a couple of blocks form the downtown buses which take you anywhere in the city.
We did have the dilemma that we had a 7 Am flight on New Years Day, and of course for new years eve there would likely be room parties etc. We explained this to the desk clerk when we checked in ,and she was gracious enough to give us a room overlooking the city on the 21st floor, high enough that we wouldn't hear the party downstairs, away from any suites or other large rooms that might have groups for the evening. It worked great - we went to bed at 9 PM and didn't hear a sound till the alarm woke us at 4 AM.
We did have a very early light dinner in the bar area (the dining area was closed for the New Years Festivities) and it was good. Excellent chowder, onion soup and a small choco-raspberry mousse.
About Vancouver- I've been to Vancouver over 10 times. It used to be one of our favorite long weekend getaways, we have some family nearby and we have always had a good time there indoors or out. This trip was not so pleasant in some respects .
We have always liked walking around the different neighborhoods - Kitsilano, University, Yaletown for dinner or drinks - but walking around this time, we found that people were rude (one man holding his BABY in a front-carrier knocked me down as I was walking out of a store on Macdonald Av, and shouted back "You're in the way of traffic, watch out" As he scurried away; another, a jogger downtown, waved to my husband to get out of his way as he jogged down the icy sidewalk where there really wasn't anywhere else to go) and prices had skyrocketed since our last visit a year ago. Shopkeepers and restaurant personnel were positively unfriendly which we have never experienced before. I am guessing it was the economy, and the bad weather, but I don't know. I was shocked and disappointed and I don't know that we'll visit again anytime soon.
We did have the thought to prebook a car service for New Years Day to the airport and am VERY glad we did (Taxis are about $25-30 w/ a tip and the car service was $39 plus tip) Because of the snow and sleet that AM, even at 5:30 there was a line of people waiting for taxis l and it seemed like they were not coming quickly. our car dirver had worked in Europe for several years as a driver so habdled the bad conditions very well and it was a pleasant ride even with the weather.
Our flights left on time, our luggage came too, and we are home safe and sound. Next trip will be to Sooke and Tofino!
Thanks to everyone who helped make the trip a success!
First as a side note - I have known aduchamp online for many years form the old AOL boards and he is a true citizen of the world, as well as a helpful and knowledgeable poster. I would not be as harsh on Vancouver as he is but I share some of his sensibilities.
Anyway - we totally lucked out on weather, and I feel a pang of sadness to know that so many people who wanted to make it home, or on a trip for Xmas, were stuck in SEA or YVR or otherwise in a mess. Our flights went off perfectly although those same flights had been canceled or severely delayed in the days prior. Even our little AC Jazz Dash-9 propelled its way through the rain and snow to get us to SEA yesterday!
If you ever need an airport hotel in YVR, the Delta Airport Hotel is great - clean rooms, altho 80's decor, good food via Room Service 24/7 which at 10 PM on Xmas eve was a big plus, and right across from the public bus to Tsawassen for $2.50.
We booked the Fairmont Empress in Victoria for 2 nights, with a special AAA rate of $153/night CAD plus a $25 CAD rebate at the end of the stay. We had a lot of email and phone problems prior to our arrival, with misdirections around getting from the Victoria Ferry (there ARE public buses , very inexpensive) as well as the fact that dining reservations etc need to be booked online but their email system is a bit batty. No one answered the phones in the dining rooms when we were trying to book Afternoon Tea, the front desk kept me on hold - so we had some doubts. We've stayed n Fairmonts (the old CP chain) in Banff , Lake Louise, SF and others and loved them, but this new internet system has got to go. I agree w/ the reports on tripadvisor and elsewhere - it's nowhere near the belle of the Fairmont chain, the rooms need some freshening but the staff are amazing.
Since I had let them know it was my birthday when I made the rez. I got a special birthday dessert for free and wound up getting 2 because on Xmas night the kitchen was closed for all but the Curry Buffet so they gave me some truffles instead and let me come back the next night! Which was the dessert buffet - which was amazing - tiny tarts, cakes, mousse! We did have the Curry Buffet for Xmas dinner and I highly recommend it. Not just curries but tandoori and all kinds of indian breads - and that elegant rice pudding, kheer.
Their location is great, pool and hot tub were relaxing and the spa is one of the best. But it's the staff that made the stay really exceptional.
Walking around Victoria, I have to say since I live in a large city, seeing another city with a ton of chain stores and crazed shoppers on Boxing Day wasn't really my cup of tea. I know people scoffed at me thinking it was overbuilt, but I think for my taste it wasn't really what I 'd hoped. We didn't go to Butchart Gardens as the $22.50/person put us off and it was bitter cold. I did enjoy the Dutch Bakery ad walking around OldTown and browsing the antique stores.
We then picked up a rent a car and headed off towards Sooke. We had done some preliminary checking on the internet about B+B's but wanted to get there before we decided.
Sooke was much smaller than we imagined - I think I was thinking more like Mendocino CA or something - but that made it all the more charming Even in winter it was beautiful and the B+B we found was perfect. We had gone to the visitor center just as it was closing, but the volunteer pointed us to the OUTDOOR computer which gave listings of al the ldging that had room that night - a great idea!
We chose the Ocean Wilderness Inn- run by an American couple who were born to run a B+B. They have a large building with ground floor pet-friendly rooms, and then a smaller building of which we took the top floor with a soaking tub and king bed. Amazing views and the sound of the surf...We spent 3 mornings over breakfast (we were the only guests) talking and sharing experiences and the rest of the time walking down the (slippery) path to the beach or just drinking tea in the great room. There's also a hot tub in the gazebo building but it was to cold for us to walk the short path! (especially since we had our own soaker tub) I wanted to stay longer....especially after the great breakfasts of local fruit and delicious pancakes. It was a bit pricier than we'd hoped $170 CAD plus tax - but well worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
We walked around town as well to the bookstore, the Spit and we got very relaxed. We had one dinner at the Stone Pipe Grill that was very good and the berry crumble is buttery and rich. Didn't see anyone on a red coat tho. If we'd had internet I might have posted for a meetup
After 3 days it was time to make our way back - the weather was getting a bit dodgy and we were scheduled to bring the car back. We debated going straight back to Vancouver for a couple of days but we decided to go back to Victoria for one more night. We took a room at the Marriott Inner Harbor ($84 USD on the priceline non-bid site)
We really liked the Marriott - better than the Empress in terms of the room, the location, and the staff were just as nice. We ate in the bar/restaurant as it was blowing a gale and were incredibly impressed with the food. I had a pasta primavera with chicken and fresh egg pasta which was really one of the best pasta dishes I've had anywhere, and Mr. Mztery had a crab cake and tomato/fennel soup that was also out of this world. I know it sounds weird to extol a hotel restaurant with such praise but the food was some of the best we had on our trip.
The only downside was the rude families in the pool who let their kids scream and yell and do cannonballs inches away from my head. I think ALL hotels with pools need someone at least walking thru once in a while. For a longer stay I would have complained.
We then took the public bus express - $2.25 - back to Swartz Bay Ferry and then the Pacific Coast bus back to Vancouver. From the Bus depot there we took the Skytrain directly to our hotel the Pan Pacific ($84 on Priceline bid site)
We LOVE the Pan Pacific! We have stayed there once before and even though it's a cruise ship hotel with 100 rooms and they have a lot of package tours etc - they staff are incredibly gracious, the rooms are spotless and very comfortable, they have milk for your coffee/tea in the mini bar and the beds are dreamy! It's on the Skytrain route and just a couple of blocks form the downtown buses which take you anywhere in the city.
We did have the dilemma that we had a 7 Am flight on New Years Day, and of course for new years eve there would likely be room parties etc. We explained this to the desk clerk when we checked in ,and she was gracious enough to give us a room overlooking the city on the 21st floor, high enough that we wouldn't hear the party downstairs, away from any suites or other large rooms that might have groups for the evening. It worked great - we went to bed at 9 PM and didn't hear a sound till the alarm woke us at 4 AM.
We did have a very early light dinner in the bar area (the dining area was closed for the New Years Festivities) and it was good. Excellent chowder, onion soup and a small choco-raspberry mousse.
About Vancouver- I've been to Vancouver over 10 times. It used to be one of our favorite long weekend getaways, we have some family nearby and we have always had a good time there indoors or out. This trip was not so pleasant in some respects .
We have always liked walking around the different neighborhoods - Kitsilano, University, Yaletown for dinner or drinks - but walking around this time, we found that people were rude (one man holding his BABY in a front-carrier knocked me down as I was walking out of a store on Macdonald Av, and shouted back "You're in the way of traffic, watch out" As he scurried away; another, a jogger downtown, waved to my husband to get out of his way as he jogged down the icy sidewalk where there really wasn't anywhere else to go) and prices had skyrocketed since our last visit a year ago. Shopkeepers and restaurant personnel were positively unfriendly which we have never experienced before. I am guessing it was the economy, and the bad weather, but I don't know. I was shocked and disappointed and I don't know that we'll visit again anytime soon.
We did have the thought to prebook a car service for New Years Day to the airport and am VERY glad we did (Taxis are about $25-30 w/ a tip and the car service was $39 plus tip) Because of the snow and sleet that AM, even at 5:30 there was a line of people waiting for taxis l and it seemed like they were not coming quickly. our car dirver had worked in Europe for several years as a driver so habdled the bad conditions very well and it was a pleasant ride even with the weather.
Our flights left on time, our luggage came too, and we are home safe and sound. Next trip will be to Sooke and Tofino!
Thanks to everyone who helped make the trip a success!
Jan 3rd, 2009, 09:05 AM
#31
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mztery, thanks for your detailed trip report! Sooke sounds like it was lovely. We'll have to go sometime!
We were actually at the Empress Bengal Lounge the same night as you(Dec 26). Too bad we didn't have a fodor's balloon above our table or something. The Empress said they only had the buffet because their refrigerator had broken. It was lovely - very cozy. We sat close to the jazz trio and not far from the big fireplace.
We arrived on Boxing Day and I felt it was too commercial at first, too, at first blush. Some of the more unique stores, like the hat store, were closed. We returned the next day and targetted certain stores that we found interesting and had a great time. I mention these stores in the trip report I posted.
There are lots of really intersting galleries too, but many were closed on Boxing Day and on through the week. We were disappointed by this, but we'll be going back in spring for DH's work, so I'll get to check them out.
We were actually at the Empress Bengal Lounge the same night as you(Dec 26). Too bad we didn't have a fodor's balloon above our table or something. The Empress said they only had the buffet because their refrigerator had broken. It was lovely - very cozy. We sat close to the jazz trio and not far from the big fireplace.
We arrived on Boxing Day and I felt it was too commercial at first, too, at first blush. Some of the more unique stores, like the hat store, were closed. We returned the next day and targetted certain stores that we found interesting and had a great time. I mention these stores in the trip report I posted.
There are lots of really intersting galleries too, but many were closed on Boxing Day and on through the week. We were disappointed by this, but we'll be going back in spring for DH's work, so I'll get to check them out.
Jan 3rd, 2009, 08:15 PM
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So glad you enjoyed Sooke! And I'm delighted that you were pleased with the food at Stone Pipe. We were there for dinner last night with some friends.
I'm surprised to hear that people in Vancouver were rude, but I'm sure you're right that it had something to do with the weather. Vancouver never, ever gets this kind of winter. I was briefly stranded at the airport on Boxing Day on my way home from Toronto, and ended up sharing a cab to the ferry instead of waiting around for the planes to start flying again. Cabs were in short supply and tempers were pretty short too. I think this has been a very stressful Christmas season for a lot of people.
Do come back in the summer, when it's even lovelier here and I can guarantee there won't be any snow!
I'm surprised to hear that people in Vancouver were rude, but I'm sure you're right that it had something to do with the weather. Vancouver never, ever gets this kind of winter. I was briefly stranded at the airport on Boxing Day on my way home from Toronto, and ended up sharing a cab to the ferry instead of waiting around for the planes to start flying again. Cabs were in short supply and tempers were pretty short too. I think this has been a very stressful Christmas season for a lot of people.
Do come back in the summer, when it's even lovelier here and I can guarantee there won't be any snow!
Jan 10th, 2009, 05:03 PM
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Yes, I have noticed that everyone is a bit..well a lot...frustrated by the weather. I arrived back from my 2 week trip (in Mexico) and was quite shocked by how moody everyone was. Well, now I'm that way too! Snowed again tonight, not expected...again. Sooke was even shut off from everyone else do to flooding. Not a good situation theres...Please forgive us...
Jan 11th, 2009, 08:42 AM
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Well, strictly speaking, Sooke wasn't cut off - the highway was closed but you could take the long way around through Metchosin if you had to. And it was only closed for a few hours. I was lucky and got to work (in Victoria) and back before and after the road closing.
West of us, though, the road is closed "indefinitely" according to this morning's newspaper. The two communities of Jordan River and Port Renfrew really are cut off. The only access is on the old logging road which isn't in much better shape than the highway, and people have to go at low tide because that road gets flooded at high tide. Weird times!
West of us, though, the road is closed "indefinitely" according to this morning's newspaper. The two communities of Jordan River and Port Renfrew really are cut off. The only access is on the old logging road which isn't in much better shape than the highway, and people have to go at low tide because that road gets flooded at high tide. Weird times!
Jan 20th, 2009, 03:47 PM
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Excellent trip report Mztery but do give Vancouver another chance. Vancouverites experienced winter weather not seen since the late 60's. Snowfall after snowfall after snowfall with some periods of very low temps (for Vancouver). Lots of complaints to City Hall about snow clearing or lack thereof!
