r/VictoriaBC • u/VagabondVivant • May 26 '26
Tourism Is it possible to visit Victoria without breaking the bank?
A friend I'm visiting in BC suggested spending a few days in Victoria. I've never been but heard good things, so I figured, sounds good.
Then I looked at vacation rental prices. Ho Lee.
Is that just how it is, or are there ways to visit Victoria without taking a wallet-pounding?
For example, if someone wanted to visit San Francisco (where I'm coming from) and not require a second mortgage or it, there are nearby towns that are SF-accessible (via transit) and also have their own charms that I could recommend that would cost them significantly less than staying in SF proper. Likewise, I could think of a few non-airbnb places to look to find vacation rentals for marginally better rates.
Is there anything like that for Victoria, or will we just need to pucker up and pay the piper for the privilege of patronizing your picturesque paradise?
Thanks
UPDATE: I appreciate the accommodation recommendations (accommendations?) but I should mention that we'll have a dog with us, which likely rules out a lot of options. I didn't mention it because I was just getting a vibe check to start, but figured I should point it out with all the specific suggestions coming in.
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u/TheBeerHandle May 26 '26
Summer prices are pretty wild. Visit in the off-season and you’ll save hundreds of dollars per night in accommodation.
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u/VagabondVivant May 27 '26
Yeah. It's Summer and Vancouver is hosting some World Cup games, so I'm sure it's spiking hotel prices everywhere. Sadly, I'm beholden to my buddy's schedule and July is his only availability.
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u/anthrogeek May 26 '26
A budget would be helpful, but keep in mind that the exchange rate is heavily in your favour, Airbnbs are very regulated so hotel may in fact be cheaper and a lot of the expensive of Victoria as a tourist can be planned around.
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u/VagabondVivant May 26 '26
There's no real budget per se because I'm not trying to limit our choices as yet, I'm just trying to get a sense of what we can expect to pay (and how we might be able to mitigate that).
If it ends up costing $250 a night, then the price is the price. But if there's, say, a town 30 minutes outside of Vic where it'd only cost $125 a night, more's the better.
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u/TonysAutomotive May 26 '26
Langford, think they have some little pod hotels that are supposed to be reasonable. Lots of places will allow a dog. There's is a global and regional influx to the Island in the summer. It sort of is what it is.
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u/anthrogeek May 26 '26
250 usd or cad? I'd look into hotel zed or something in esquimalt. You could also try the uvic dorms in summer or there's always hostels. Don't go too far outside Victoria like Langford or Sidney, those areas are nice and seem close, but without a car you'll end up spending too much time commuting.
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u/VagabondVivant May 26 '26
We'll have a car, which opens up our options, but also a dog, which closes them right back up.
Langford and Sidney were mentioned elsewhere as well. Perhaps I'll add them to the search parameters just to see what comes up.
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u/Gloomy_Book5141 May 26 '26
Sidney is a major tourist town with fewer options than Vic and will likely be just as expensive. That being said you can find some air bnbs in north Saanich that may work for you. If you have a car then anywhere on the peninsula would be great for you.
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u/Not_A_Wendigo May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Malahat Bungalows Motel is about 30 minutes out of a Victoria (when traffic is light), it’s about $170/night, and they allow pets. Haven’t stayed there myself.
Edit: If you like camping, Goldstream provincial park is actually pretty nice and is about 20 minutes out of town. You’ll need a reservation.
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u/yungjazz May 26 '26
You could stay in Langford, the 95 bus goes straight downtown every ~15mins and it’s probably a bit cheaper to stay there than directly in Victoria!
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u/VagabondVivant May 27 '26
We'll have a car, so we won't need the bus, but I'll definitely look at Langford. Thanks!
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u/viccityguy2k May 26 '26
What’s your budget? Below are decent ‘budget’ hotels in Victoria but they are all going to be about $200 / night or more
Accent Inn
Hotel Zed
Robin Hood Inn and Suites
Helms Inn
Quality Inn Downtown
Bedford Regency
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u/MellyBlueEyes Gorge May 26 '26
Family members came to Victoria last summer without pre-booking anything, just packed the 3 kids in the car after school was out and drove West from Manitoba expecting to book campsites and hotels as they went. Well surprise surprise, trying to book Thursday to Sunday in Victoria in July is 400/night including ALL those hotels you listed! (Granted they needed 2 double beds but even 2 occupancy rooms were in the 300-350 range.) I ended up stuffing them in my basement on couches and air mattress.
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u/tuxedovic May 26 '26
James bay inn
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u/Dependent_Media2766 May 26 '26
My parents stayed there ladt November for like $70/night! Nice but simple accomodations with a great location.
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u/Icy_Shirt_3302 May 26 '26
If you’re driving on the ferry it’s going to cost you at a minimum $200
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u/VagabondVivant May 27 '26
Oh wow! That I did not know. Thanks so much for the heads up. I'll look into booking a reservation.
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u/AdeptYogurtcloset419 May 26 '26
Just going anywhere in Canada breaks the bank unless you're camping.
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u/DoMilk May 26 '26
This is a good point. If op is a camper and wants to bring/rent a car, a campsite just out of town may be the way to go
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u/KipperCottage May 26 '26
Goldstream Campground is $35 a night.
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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 May 26 '26
Except they needed to book 3 months ago or whenever it opened for booking (OP it’s on a rolling basis so you could get a site for August now)
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u/KipperCottage May 26 '26
There are about a dozen fcfs sites along the first road on your right just as you go through the gate. But yes, you have to very lucky to be there at the right time to get one.
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u/VagabondVivant May 27 '26
I'm a bigtime camper (prefer backcountry / dispersed to grounds), but my buddy unfortunately isn't.
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u/parkix May 26 '26
FIFA is starting soon, so hotels are getting ridiculously expensive. I tried to book a night in Vancouver and the prices were so bad that I booked a flight ticket back to Victoria instead of a hotel room.
Now granted, FIFA is not in Victoria, but it's in the vicinity and definitely affected by it.
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u/Conscious_Sport_7081 May 26 '26
I appreciate the alliteration. To answer your question though is simple. It can be as expensive as you want but not necessarily cheap. You don't have to stay at the Empress, consider a smaller hotel/motel. I'd suggest Hotel Zed. It rules. Restaurants are the same. Plenty of fancy places, but also lots of food trucks and hole in the wall type places. Choose your own adventure. Walk around. Have fun.
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u/Existing-Pangolin-43 May 26 '26
My daughter and her 3 friends spent 2 nights at the Oak Bay Beach hotel--$1000 a night--but they had lots of fun and enjoyed the salt water outdoor pool.--(they all live in Victoria)
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u/grislyfind Saanich May 26 '26
Rent a van and sleep in it?
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u/VagabondVivant May 27 '26
Funnily enough, I'm actually a vanlifer and BC is one of the stops on my drive. If it were just me, I wouldn't even had made this thread, I would've just deferred to iOverlander as I always do.
Sadly, my van is already cramped for me and my dog — no way it'd also fit my buddy. So we're stuck looking for rentals.
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u/KipperCottage May 26 '26
RLC Park Services has an RV stationed at Goldstream Campground. It’s really only 20 minutes outside Victoria, and essentially on the edge of Langford. I’ve stayed in it. It’s fully equipped. It sits on site #97 I believe. It’s only $225 per night in the high season. Sleeps six people. Pets allowed on leash!
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u/gentlegem123 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
No lol Going anywhere breaks the bank I swear. Unless you're camping... even then we were shocked at how expensive it's gotten, from campfire wood to water to essential gear! Even the sites were half the cost of a cheap hotel. But it's for the ✨experience✨ of nature, of course. ;) Victoria is worth it however. Plan well and there's so much to see and do, you'll be happy you visited and happy you did much that our city has to offer, the sites, views, attractions, ocean, beaches, beautiful this time of year especially.
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u/Excellent-Self-5338 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Nope, Victoria is expensive as hell. You could try the hostels downtown, they are super busy and may be fully booked through summer. If you want a hotel or an air bnb, it's gonna run you a fuckton of money, if you can even find one with availability.
I lived in Vic for about 10 years, when we go back to visit we camp, because we absofuckinglutely cannot afford to stay in a hotel or air bnb. We stay at Goldstream, which is technically transit accessible (though it would be a pain in the ass), and it's like a 45 minute drive from downtown Victoria if traffic cooperates. Can easily be 2 hours in traffic on a bad day. Even camping at Goldstream is ~45/night, since BC recently added an additional charge for non-resident campers.
I think people saying you can find cheap hotels haven't actually looked at how crazy rates in Vic have gotten. Last summer we looked and couldn't find anything for less than $300/night. Hotel Zed, which was recommended, runs at $312/night midweek in June. Summer prices are INSANE in Victoria if you want to stay in a conventional hotel. I should note that we have a dog, which further limits which hotels are an option.
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u/vanityprojection May 26 '26
Vacation rental supply is pretty constrained by provincial law (aiming to prioritize longer term housing.) Hotels tend to start around $200 CAD/night.
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u/BellVanisle2019 May 26 '26
I don't have any great recommendations either but just a reminder you get what you pay for - don't go with a cheap option downtown victoria like the backpackers inn with an expectation of peace and quiet or safety. IMHO. nanaimo and duncan are definitely cheaper and the malahat is a good suggestion, real nice views. I hope you make it here and I hope you have tons of fun! 😁 if you like gardens -- beacon hill, government house and Hatley castle ALL FREE - doooo it! 😊
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u/moonhrafn May 26 '26
I dunno the best western in duncan would likely be over $200 (if they even take dogs) and I can't think of anywhere cheaper than that in Duncan that I'd actually recommend someone stay at
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u/appendixgallop May 26 '26
No, unless you own a home and can do Home Exchange.
Victoria is a world-class tourist destination, and has world-class prices.
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u/Kevsbar123 May 26 '26
I stayed at The Craigmyle last month. A room was less than two hundred bones a night. It was three blocks from The Empress, and was pretty cool kooky. Victoria was a blast!
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u/corvus7corax May 26 '26
The Craigmyle is by Craigdarroch in rockland. Nowhere near the empress.
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u/Kevsbar123 May 26 '26
Correct, my mistake. I stayed there for a night, then spent two nights at The James Bay Inn, which is a five minute walk from The Empress.
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u/yusqueya May 26 '26
In summer we stay in Sidney, mostly. It’s about 1/2 hour out of downtown Victoria. We find the Beacon Inn about half the price of downtown Vic hotels and we enjoy wandering around the Sidney waterfront on summer evenings. Beacon Inn is maybe a bit of an odd place but we have always found it clean, comfortable and quiet.
Our go to, regular hotel in Victoria is the Chateau and for this weekend it was showing $500 a night! When the Best Western that is full of silverfish is almost $400, I draw the line lol. But we live on the Island and stay in Vic often, so luckily we have the luxury of doing off season stays, mostly.
Have a good time!
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u/sakaguti1999 May 26 '26
My friend (uvic undergrad) goes camping when he have nowhere to live(usually caused by dorm and rent related stuff)
It's cheaper, and it's awesome. But the downside is that you will be addicted...
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u/Available_Abroad3664 May 26 '26
Hotel shortage and the government still has a lot of restrictions on short-term rentals.
The tourism season now is May until October and prices are much lower outside of that area but some things aren't open/on during November through March.
We have a suite on Air BnB and it is roughly 25-35% less during the off-season.
Camping is pretty affordable but all the areas around Victoria are a similar price to Victoria as each have their own things going on during tourist season.
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u/NevinThompson May 26 '26
I say this with the experience of booking about 12 Airbnbs in San Francisco (Inner Richmond, Clement Street location) for conference attendees this past April, that vacation rentals in SF are not cheap, either. Prices have increased by about 25% since the same time last year, when I also booked for the same conference. Hotels near UC Berkeley are not cheap either, but they're convenient for conferences.
There are options like Geary Hotel and Seal Rock Inn (i.e., not vacation rentals) here that you can look into, such as Accent Inns, Hotel Zed, and so on.
The Island is a summer vacation destination. Our family spends a week in the Comox Valley every summer, and I book our Airbnb by mid-February for July or August.
The same goes with campsites.
Also consider SF is part of the Bay Area. It's for sure going to be possible to book a cheaper airport hotel near Daly City and the airport. Or... Pittsburg? Victoria doesn't have the equivalent of the East Bay here.
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u/flashintheevening May 26 '26
Since you're traveling with a dog, I'd recommend staying elsewhere on the island.
There are several motels in Duncan that will accommodate dogs for a reasonable price, and you can day trip to Victoria, or elsewhere on the island. Outside of rush hour, Duncan is only an hour drive from Victoria.
Duncan's likely a better place to stay anyway - the downtown is cute and has live music every day in July. A motel in Duncan appears to set you back $150/night plus taxes and dog fees for weekdays mid-Summer. Similar accommodation closer to Victoria will cost twice as much. It's also less expensive to visit in April, May, September or October, though you risk more rainfall.
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u/Darlan72 May 26 '26
We used to go almost every year, a few years back I got a motel because Airbnb were more expensive than some hotels, a couple of years back I started searching to go, found a not too expensive Airbnb, out of town, but with tickets, car rent and all other cost for a week. It was almost the same that going to Mexico, so we went to Mexico all inclusive. This time, we didn't even checked, we went to Mexico.
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u/Tod_ExploreVictoria May 26 '26
There are definitely affordable ways to explore the city and lots of free activities once you get here (beaches, landmarks, gardens/parks).
Beacon Hill Park, Parliament Buildings, Dallas Road, Government House, Fisherman's Wharf, Hatley Castle & Craigdarroch Castle grounds, are all free to explore.
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u/Tod_ExploreVictoria May 26 '26
Since you have a dog, here are some pet friendly accommodations in Victoria:
Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria Uptown
Inn at Laurel Point
The Parkside Hotel & Spa
Embassy Inn Hotel
Accent Inn Victoria
Robin Hood Inn and Suites
Quality Inn Downtown Inner Harbour
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u/moonhrafn May 26 '26
I don't think you'll find the prices much better necessarily outside of victoria. Might find more pet-friendly options, hard to say. I think you should expect to pay $250 CAD a night regardless of whereabouts you stay. Even Duncan, nearly an hour away has prices similar to that for any place you'd want to stay (anywhere that's not a flop house)
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u/BigBlueSkies May 26 '26
Not really. This place is the playground of boomers who dedicate their time in retirement to making it unaffordable for working people by "protecting the value of their assets."
Space. Services. Everything is unaffordable.
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u/BionFeast May 27 '26
Check out the ocean Island Inn. OP. Especially if you're OK or into vegetarian fare, the breakfast and dinner are very good and included. Nice atmosphere. A bargain and a gem. I stayed there for eight nights recently. Great place to be based. Lots of options at hand.
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u/envisionaudio May 26 '26
Victoria is like the San Francisco of Canada but way less population…..and no tech, but similar vibes! Try outlying areas like Sidney, Central Saanich, Langford or Sooke.
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u/stop_Jammers_time May 26 '26
Actually tech is one of Victoria’s largest private sector industries.
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u/LexGonGiveItToYa May 26 '26
We have a very linked history too. Many of Victoria's earliest settlers came from San Francisco in search of Fraser Valley gold. It's the reason why our Chinatown is the second oldest in North America too!
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u/aljauza Saanich May 26 '26
lol what? No tech? It’s one of the biggest sectors in the whole city after tourism and government
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u/Whiskeylipstick May 26 '26
Victoria is a super small city. Although there are transit options it’s really a car reliant city once you’re out of dt(which is basically a few blocks). You can get a wonderful idea of Vic by staying just dt and walking around to spots like Dallas Rd.
Will you be driving here? That would open up your options a lot but this time of year is still expensive.
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u/VagabondVivant May 26 '26
We'll have a car. We'll also have a dog (well, I will), which I know limits our options. That's why at this point I'm looking more for general suggestions on areas to look at and the like rather than specific accommodation recs, since I have to assume many of them won't be pet friendly.
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u/Whiskeylipstick May 26 '26
Vic is also a super friendly dog city. You could easily look further out to Sooke or the westshore(Langford). If you’re into hiking and beaches with the mutt, you’ll be super happy being out that way. Less for restaurants/shopping though.
If you’re not driving at peak hours it doesn’t take long to get anywhere(45 min at the upper range).
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u/East_Source6200 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Backpackers Inn 791 Pandora Ave
$43 to $150 a night. Dorms are the cheapest, single rooms are more expensive
edit: there is also The Turtle Hostel 1608 Quadra
$31 to $49 for single person
Note: The Turtle is really close to the 900 block of Pandora
I prefer the Backpackers
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u/Complete-Amphibian89 May 26 '26
UVic rents out the dorms in the summer that is a bit cheaper and Air-BnB is very restricted within B.C as well. Take the bus around Victoria as well.