7 Best Hotels in Vancouver Island, British Columbia

On a rocky ledge at the edge of a shallow inlet, Black Rock Resort is Ucluelet's first upscale, full-service resort. The decor combines glass, granite, and wood against a backdrop of dramatic views of the black-rock coastline. Watch for waves coming right up to the lobby; the hotel straddles a surge channel. Studios and one- and two-bedroom accommodations in two waterfront buildings are spacious and have fireplaces, balconies, and kitchens or kitchenettes. The Big Beach Lounge, behind a two-sided fireplace, serves cocktails, sushi, and small plates, while Currents Restaurant offers contemporary cuisine. The property, which is right on the Wild Pacific Trail, has two ocean-view hot tubs and a plunge pool, as well as the soothing Drift spa.

The centerpiece of this 22-acre Relais & Châteaux seaside estate—with its gardens, meadows, and harbor views—is a 1939 country house, built in the style of an 11th-century Sussex manor. Guest quarters, which are in the manor, in renovated historic outbuildings, and in a newer addition overlooking Ganges Harbour, are decorated in an English-country style, with antiques, locally crafted woodwork, and fireplaces. The Post, a stand-alone two-room cottage, is a honeymoon favorite; a pair of two-story suites in the century-old Farmhouse boast water views and country charm; the more modern Hillside Suites overlook the harbor. Elegant dinners in the manor house or on the enclosed water-view veranda include local seafood and herbs from the inn's gardens. Rates include a lavish breakfast and complimentary shuttle service on arrival and departure. The former barn houses the petite Wellspring Spa.

The newest outpost of the funky Victoria hotel chain features swanky '70s style including rotary-dial phones and a retro arcade, as well as the world's first bike path running through a hotel lobby. The property is nestled in the rainforest just off the main road, a 10 minute walk from Chesterman Beach.