The Parkside Hotel & Spa

Built in 2009, The Parkside Hotel & Spa is chic and modern with thoughtful decor from the inside out. The white-and-red brick exterior features angular square balconies and strips of glass windows. It's surrounded by well-landscaped mini-gardens, pools, and a brick drive. The lobby is open and airy, with high ceilings, lots of windows, rich brown tiled floor, dark gray walls, and light stone accent walls. Modern square pendant lights hang above seating areas set with black couches, large ottomans, and substantial wood coffee tables. Canvasses depicting forest scenes hang on the walls. A long, modern fireplace with silver trim stands near one of the windows, to provide a cozy glow. The lobby leads directly into a beautiful three-story central atrium with a brick floor, greenery, and a central koi pond. With its trendy decor, central location, and on-site spa, this is a hotspot for leisure and business travelers.

The Parkside Hotel & Spa is located on the southern border of Downtown Victoria. It's a seven-minute walk from the Inner Harbor and a four-minute walk from the Royal British Columbia Museum. The busy part of Government Street, a major road that's host to restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions, is about an eight-minute walk from the hotel. City Hall is 15 minutes away on foot. Victoria Inner Harbour Airport is a five-minute drive, while Victoria International Airport and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (with BC Ferries from Vancouver) are both about a half-hour drive from the hotel. Self-parking is available on-site, but this costs an extra fee. 

Parkside's guest rooms are all spacious apartment-style suites. The smallest One-Bedroom Suite measures at least 500 square feet and the largest option is up to 1,200 square feet. Decor is sleek and modern, if a bit generic, with light wood floors, white walls, brown wood furniture, and brown leather armchairs. All Suites include kitchenettes, usually with two-burner cooktop stoves, compact fridges and dishwashers, coffee/tea service, toasters, blenders, washing machines, and microwaves. Full cookware and cutlery are provided. Suites also include roomy sitting areas with flat-screen TVs and electric fireplaces as well as balconies with outdoor seating. Wi-Fi is free. Bathrooms are neutral with beige tiling and white walls. These include combination shower/tubs, vanities, hairdryers, and free green tea scented toiletries. Upgraded Suites feature free-standing soaking bathtubs. Note that there's no air-conditioning (each room includes a tower fan), and guest rooms, especially those facing the street, can be noisy -- which is why earplugs are provided. 

The Parkside has a host of features aimed at relaxation and convenience. The Parkside Spa is a full-service spa with four treatment rooms (including one for couples). Spa treatments cover a long list of pampering procedures, including massages, body scrubs, aromatherapy, beauty treatments, manicures, and pedicures. An 85-foot indoor swimming pool and a hot tub are also housed in the spa complex. For working out, there's a wide range of cardio and weight-lifting machines, a full rack of free weights, exercise balls, and medicine balls in the fitness center. 

For dining, Tre Fantastico serves up baked goods and local coffee, as well as a la carte breakfast and lunch. Beers are served on tap in the evenings. A continental breakfast is served here daily, though it's somewhat sparse considering the extra fee. There is no room service.

The hotel has a host of common areas, including an outdoor rooftop patio and gardens with nice views of downtown, in addition to the lobby and atrium. A private movie theater shows free movies every night and has individual oversized armchairs, surround sound, and a 132-inch screen. Rooms available for meeting and events include a ballroom and the eighth-floor City Club Lounge with panoramic views. 

The front desk is open 24-hours, and the hotel has a concierge who can assist with laundry, luggage storage, and transportation options. Self-parking is available, but it costs an extra fee. As a sustainable, green property, the hotel offers alternative-fuel vehicle charging stations and bike storage, but some guests find the lack of air-conditioning to be an issue during the summer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.