Inn at Laurel Point

Set on the Victoria Harbour waterfront and overlooking Laurel Point Park, the Inn at Laurel Point offers a quiet spot for tourist couples and business travelers to unwind. Tucked away off the road, the building resembles a cruise ship, with silver-blue glass balconies jutting out from the guest rooms. Grounds are perhaps the best common space, filled with leafy Japanese gardens and featuring a peaceful sundeck. Inside, the Asian accents continue, such as in the glass-enclosed exhibit of art and artifacts that occupies one hallway. Otherwise, interiors can feel a bit dated and uninspired, especially the lobby with unattractive beige floors and dark floral-print rugs. A restaurant terrace, set beside a tree-lined walking path, is more appealing. Most guests are out exploring the city or in meetings during the day anyhow, and this woodsy peninsula is a nice place to come back to. For a livelier, more stylish setting, The Parkside Hotel & Spa could be a better choice. 

Inn at Laurel Point has a great location for travelers who want to be close to, but not directly in, the action. Set right on the harbor, it's only a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal, as well as a whale watching operator. The Inn also overlooks Laurel Point Park, which is surrounded by a walking path that is accessible from the property. There are a few restaurants and bars within a five-minute walk, but for more options, downtown Victoria is only 10 to 15 minutes away on foot. Downtown is filled with restaurants, brewpubs, shops, and galleries, as well as sights such as the BC Royal Museum and The Maritime Museum of British Columbia. The trip from Port Angeles in Washington State is about two hours long, while the trip from the city of Vancouver is about three and a half hours by car and ferry. Garage parking is available at the hotel for a fee. 

Rooms and suites at the Inn are separated into two wings: suites are in the more high-end Erickson Wing, and guest rooms occupy the Laurel Wing. Decor is more modern in the suites, with contemporary furniture, leather accents, Canadian artwork, and a warm palette of gray and brown. Rooms are somewhat dim and have a more dated look that features simple wooden furniture and older-looking blue carpet and bedding. However, all rooms extend to furnished balconies with full or partial harbor views. The best options are Sunset Guest Rooms, which have larger balconies with full views of the water. Bathrooms in guest rooms have basic shower/tub combos with dated fixtures, and come with Aveda products and bathrobes. Suites offers marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, and some have two-person hot tubs. In the Mayr's Suite, a spiral staircase leads to a bedroom with a 360-degree view of Victoria, plus a wraparound terrace with Victoria skyline views. All rooms have safes, flat-screen TVs, fast and free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and coffee/tea facilities. 

There are many room options that can accommodate families. Laurel Wing Guest Rooms and Inner Harbour Guest rooms can come with two double beds or a king-size bed and a hide-a-bed, while Sunset Guest Rooms come with a king-size bed and pull-out sofa. Some Studios come with two queen-size beds. 

The indoor pool is glass-enclosed and a good enough size for modified laps. It extends to an outdoor terrace for post-swim relaxing. The hotel has a gym but it's very small and only has several pieces of cardio/weight equipment. In-room spa treatments such as massages are available on request for a fee. Bike rentals are also available along with Tesla charging stations as part of the hotel's eco bent. The Aura restaurant is open for all meals and serves sustainable local seafood. Breakfast is served, but not included in rates, and some guests find it to be pricey. The restaurant has a small bar area as well. 

A business center with two desktop computers is in the lobby. The hotel also has several meeting facilities that range from small conference rooms to ballrooms to a suite with views of the water. The Inn is pet-friendly and has special options for pets that include beds and gourmet treats, for a fee.