Everything in life is a trade-off, right?
Such is the case…read morewith this old hotel.
Depending on your priorities, this establishment could rank a 5-star review or a 1-star review.
For me, it's a 5-star, and this is why:
-Charm. This hotel is 115 years old and is built in the quintessential Edwardian architecture of the day. Think Sherlock Holmes movie settings and you get the idea. Lots of woodwork, deep jewel-hued carpets in plum or green, leaded stained glass windows on the stair landings. Very VIctorianesque but less ornate. You get the idea.
-Location. This hotel is on Government Street (Victoria's "main drag"), only 4 blocks from the Parliament Buildings, in a residential alcove, a few blocks from Beacon Hill Park. It's a 6-minute walk down Government Street to the inner harbor and the Empress. Literally.
-Friendliness and helpfulness of staff. As soon as you enter the hotel to check in, you are met by the NICEST European man who greets you and helps you check in and get acclimated to the hotel and area. Everyone I encountered who worked here was genuinely friendly and wanting to help, in any way they could. The staff here honestly was a throw-back to some prior era, in some "old world" town.
-Cleanliness. The hotel and my room was super clean. Unlike other places, I didn't feel I needed to sanitize any areas, or inspect the bed linens with a blue light. And the bathroom was well-stocked too, and all fixtures worked great. (I was a bit skeptical about the tiny old shower, but it surprisingly had great water pressure and got hot).
-Price. I did a lot of research before booking this hotel. (I was in town for a wedding and everyone was staying at hotels in the inner harbor proper). This hotel cost WAY less than any other place in the immediate vicinity. By a LOT. And this hotel has free on-site parking, too. I'm not saying this place is "cheap", but it costs 50-75% less than any others in the area.
-On-site restaurant and pub. I didn't go to these, so I can't speak to how good they might be or how pricey, but it was good to know they were here, in case I wanted to grab a meal or drink close by.
As other reviewers noted, there are some real trade-offs when staying at a historic, older hotel: no elevators, no AC, tiny bathrooms, my room was tiny too, no modern outlets with charging stations, no built-in hairdryers (you need to ask for one at the front desk), no room safes, minimal storage for clothes. Did I mention stairs? There's even stairs you need to walk up to enter the hotel. (Good to know if you have a lot of heavy luggage). If you have mobility issues, please take this into account.
For me, this place checked off all the major boxes, and I would definitely stay here again.