i like fun things.

March 31, 2008 10:48 PM

The lady & I want to watch some whales in Victoria BC around Memorial day. We'd like to avoid cookie-cutter-corporate hotels. We want a funky mid-price (think $100/night or so) place to stay. When we travel around Washington/Oregon, we like to stay at McMenamins. Is there anything close to that in Victoria?
posted by negative1 to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

The Swans Hotel might be a fit. It's a converted warehouse/granary with a brew pub, bistro and art collection.
posted by lunaazul at 11:59 PM on March 31

I second Swans.

In addition to being a nice hotel, they have a good pub with great food. If you're a drinker try their excellent beers [and yummy beer bread]. They're a little more expensive than your quoted price range, but they're steps from the whale watching operations and walking distance to everything else so you wouldn't have to worry about transport costs. The man who owned it was a serious collector of BC art, and the hotel rooms have pieces* from his collection.



*some of which are by my lovely and talented Father, I'm not biased... no.
posted by rhinny at 12:22 AM on April 1

I third Swans. It's so fabulous - I've both stayed there and eaten there. Definitely Swans.
posted by meerkatty at 5:52 AM on April 1

You can't go wrong with Swan's, except that the neighbourhood is a little grotty at times.

As a minority opinion, then, I would propose the James Bay Inn. It's a fifteen minute walk from downtown, with plenty of trees and nice old houses, and is close to Beacon Hill Park.

I also live in James Bay.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:55 AM on April 1

(could the OP please add tags to this; something like accommodation and BritishColumbia and hotels and travel and whatever else might help people find it in future. Thanks!)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:41 PM on April 1