This was our third stay at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel since 2014, and it is truly impressive how well-maintained the property is. The rooms look just as fresh and modern as they did a decade ago, and the beds are incredibly comfortable. We love staying in this part of Victoria because it is so walkable, with beautiful parks and charming local spots like The Village nearby. It's also a fantastic dog-friendly option, which made it easy to bring our two pups along for my mom's 70th birthday celebration. While the staff was fantastic and the mineral pools--especially the glass-roofed sauna with views of the ocean--remain a highlight, we did run into some frustrations. The AC struggled to get below 69°F in any of the three rooms we booked, leading to some restless nights. We also had the misfortune of being next to a very loud group that made it difficult to enjoy our outdoor space. The front desk was helpful enough to intercede at 10 PM so our son could finally get to sleep, but the thin walls and noise levels were disappointing given the premium rate. Overall, it is a stunning hotel in a perfect location, but the climate control and soundproofing issues were a bit of a letdown for this particular trip. It remains a beautiful spot for a family getaway, but we're hoping for a quieter and cooler experience next time. read more

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Beautiful hotel located in tranquil oak bay, I can't think of a nicer location for a quick weekend getaway. Rebuilt a few years ago, they kept the original charm of what feels like a fairmont property. There is a lovely pool area with mineral pools and small beach access area. Gym is open 24 hours, there are quite a few options for coffee, cocktails and dining. Our room was spacious with an ocean view, if you open the door you can hear the water running to shore from the balcony. The king size bed was just the right amount of firmness, plush bedding was very comfortable. Small fireplace with wall mounted tv above had a good selection of stations. Big soaker tub with sliding peek a boo doors to the bedroom means you can soak and watch tv or chat with your roomie. Large shower, double sinks and separate toilet area was nice. They have Babor amenity bath and shower products. Nespresso machine with pods and real creamers in fridge, microwave and cooktop for those who want to cook in room. Plush robes and bath salts are a nice touch. Room was $500+, so amenities and comfort were commensurate. read more

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This is... such a beautiful hotel. The rooms are gorgeous and the beds are really comfortable and it's a bit silly but they have fabulous water pressure. The pub has pretty good food and all of the staff are incredibly nice. They have a mineral pool downstairs and two hot tubs. They give you big fluffy robes and lots of towels to go down there and swim around. This has probably been the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed at. A fabulous day and I would like to return. read more

Wonderful flavour, Indian curry/crispy chickpeas and then wonderfully roasted flavour with fresh cut pico de gallo on top Also has veggie burgers and salmon, only thing is limited side salads, only greens or Caesar as choices, would've really loved to see goat cheese and cranberry salad as choice for the side and a few more offerings as a whole, but overall okay prices and for happy hour they have 6 dollar glasses of wine which makes the view of the bay probably even better, deck was great and on a calm day it's heaven, nice bathrooms, good staff especially the south-east Asian waitress who was our waitress, very present, down to earth while being in a lovely hotel restaurant with a view of the Victoria ocean Also their gluten free bun is the absolute best I've ever had but this vegetarian dish has my heart read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Their vegetarian dish - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Omg this place is amazing! The overall review here is for the spa as we didnt stay here but I just need to say how great it is and we will be staying next time. First everyone is helpful and friendly. Also the hotel is super fancy & dog friendly! Thats awesome. The underground parkade is big and the do have valet of course. The place is super classy and thats without even being in a room. Already reviewed their Snug Pub which was a great lunch. Now we had a treatment at the boathouse spa and WOW. I had a facial done by Jordan? and it was amazing. I wasnt planning on a facial but thats all they had open and I loves it, she put me to sleep. My wife got a massage and she also said it was great. If you get a treatment you can use the mineral pools (with a charge) for a couple hours. What an amazing view, they are heated. It is worth it. They also have snacks and a bar down there! It is pretty awesome, next time we are down, staying here!!! read more

Beautiful hotel Romantic, beautiful pool, spa and outdoor area, beautiful lobby area, great cafe and restaurant, amazing location and view. Close to beautiful paths along the beautiful water views. Next to private golf club. Quiet and beautiful safe neighbourhood. The rooms are luxurious and very confiybead, lived the jacuzzi. Room completely stocked with beautiful quality toiletries and sanitizers, bath robes, slippers and nespresso, tea, mini kitchen area. Just a beau fun place to stay. read more

We stayed here for 2 nights. Very clean and the view from the pool is amazing. Loved the mineral pool and hot tub.

Came here with my wife on a date night and honestly it was very romantic but also a little expensive for how little food you get but it was amazing food tho. We had a great view of the water which was nice and the server was friendly as well. I would come back again that's for sure but with more money. read more

Amazing Hotel, Amazing Staff and Amazing food. In my mind the only way to experience Victoria, BC in style. Thanks to the Staff and Management of Oak Bay Hotel for a true luxury, yet affordable experience! read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Beautiful hotel, idyllic PacNW low key luxury escape. The views of Mount Baker on a clear day are stunning. The hotel has enough amenities and selection of dining to enjoy during your stay, but also conveniently located close to Oak Bay Village with nice dining options, or a short drive from downtown Victoria. I love the mineral pools, however, finding loungers can be challenging, especially on busy weekends. I wish they were more creative and added a few more of these, especially since guests enjoying the spa/day pass visitors also have access to the pools. For the spa itself: the various rooms in both the main building or around, or even a massage in the outdoor gazebo are lovely. The waiting area is less than desirable since it doesn't have a relaxing atmosphere, no more than 4 seated at a tome, and staff shuffles in and out often since there seems to be a storage closet access they frequent. And since passing through the spa is one of the ways to access the pools for all guests, unfortunately it just isn't as relaxing as the rest of the atmosphere tends to be. But services have always been high quality. Have had a couples massage in the outdoor gazebo, and the natural sound of the waves and seagulls lulled us to sleep. It was one of the best massages ever! Poolside service (from cocktails and snacks) are great. read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - View from main balcony. Spa house and pools down below. On clear day Mount Baker is visible! - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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A wonderful hotel and absolutely beautiful. I cannot say enough good things about this place other than thank you. We had a wonderful stay and want to thank the staff for going above and beyond. You went as far as getting and delivering aloe lotion for my spouse who got a sunburn to relieve his discomfort. Wow. The rooms were beautiful and the amenities were fantastic. Nestled in a remote location right on the water made our experience in Victoria feel like we were somewhere else and truly added to the experience as first-timers. Thanks again for everything. Ps we really wanted the cute teddy bear in the room but opted to leave it. So darling. read more

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Amazing mineral spa's open till midnight Great location on the water, beautiful views! Complimentary self parking Comfy lovely beds Jacuzzi tub in room- EPIC!!! FRENCH PRESS for your coffee fix Shuttle service in the Oak Bay area complimentary Heated floors in washroom/bathroom- awesome Visited for my bday girls trip in January, off season Note: Lots of over 60's clientele When booking spa treatment confirm you have a registered Message Therapist/RMT Poolside dinning not recommended in winter/off season read more

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My husband selected this hotel for our honeymoon (I left it completely in his hands), and he made an excellent choice. Even before we arrived, we were treated well. They sent a car to pick us up from our arrival location in downtown Victoria (clipper terminal), and they allowed us to check into our room around 11 am because they had a clean room available. We had no genuine complaints our entire 5-night stay. The room is well-appointed. We had a king size bed, a small table with two chairs, an armchair, and a small table and two chairs on the balcony. The electric fireplace kept the room comfortably warm, and the tv is mounted on a moveable wall mount so it can be enjoyed from anywhere in the bedroom and even from the bathtub. The bathroom had an excellent shower stall and large soaker bathtub, but the highlight for us was the heated flooring in the bathroom. It made getting ready in the morning much easier! Our room was on the 3rd floor with a balcony directly facing the Salish Sea. Our view was incredible. We slept with just the sheers drawn one night so we could watch the sun rise over Mount Baker in the distance in the morning. It was magical - and I don't say that lightly. We ordered room service a few times. The food was okay - overpriced as expected, and tasted fine. Dinner was better than breakfast - my omelet was not made with real eggs. But the service was always polite, friendly, and prompt. Our room was cleaned beautifully every day, and the turndown service in the evenings is a nice touch. We never felt in the least bit concerned about security in our room or anywhere on property. The only other thing to touch on is the spa and the mineral pools. The spa was absolutely amazing. The best massage I have ever had. It was a little too cool for us to enjoy the pools to the best extent, but it was still very pleasant to soak in the water overlooking the sea. We would definitely stay here again in the future. read more

I had my travel agent book our reservation on line to be sure that the ocean view we requested was the ocean front they show pictures of on their website. I saw that the ocean view pictures seemed varied for some reason, so specially requested the better view. I paid ALOT of money to be sure we had the nicer view. As it turned out we got the industrial building, distant ocean view. When we checked in, I was so disappointed. I called the front desk & she explained that there are different websites that "replicate" theirs with the same logos and pictures that are on their website, (??) and me and my travel agent must've gotten misdirected. That their REAL website specifies "BEST OCEAN view" vs "OCEAN VIEW" . What? My travel agent was adamant she was on their website (as I was to, not on Expedia or some company replicating Oak Bay's website) to book a full on ocean view for a pretty penny, and I told the front desk "well, yesh, if the other websites that impersonate yours are deceiving, and you know it, yet you still take reservations from them, that's not good" Net result, they comped us a bottle of champagne ....our room didn't get cleaned as we requested during normal cleaning hours but that's a side note... basically, don't trust booking anything with them. Call the hotel directly perhaps, yesh. Nice hotel, but deceptive booking practices on line...beware. read more

The Dining Room. A restaurant to match the other fine dining restaurant in Victoria, Deep Cove Chalet. God, I hope the consistency is as good next time (the hobgoblin of Vic restaurants), because this meal was well nigh perfect. Gorgeous decor, great atmosphere, music. Tiny and intimate. The three most important factors to begin, wonderful server, bread, wine service, all superb. The food was exquisite. Beautifully presented, generously portioned, with amazing flavour. Beet Carpaccio, Seafood Chowder, Duck mains were superb, followed by delicious coffee and very fine deserts. Photos added. Three courses, cocktails, bottle of wine, specialty coffee, tax and tip for two, $310, and worth every penny. read more

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We used to love this hotel. Our family had stayed at the hotel for several times. We all loved the mineral pool and our kids had a lot of fun memories. To our surprise, the hotel notified us recently via email that it would stop allowing kids under 16 to be in the pool. Instead of being one of our favorite hotels, we would probably never go back again. Our kids were greatly disappointed. Over the past 5 years we have visited this hotel for at least once a year. Now they will lose a loyal family customer forever. read more

This hotel is phenomenal. This is our second time staying and we have received wonderful service both times. Upon our late evening arrival we were greeted by Moin who breezed us through checkin, handled our vehicle and luggage, and got us connected to the spa-side employee to make sure our drinks of choice beat us poolside. The room (appointed with hand written welcome back card and delightful desserts) was just as we remembered. Well appointed with a view of the bay. The use of the spa and mineral baths has become well guarded - for guest of the hotel (ages 16+) only. Personally, I welcome this change. Our last visit began peacefully and ended with three loud children splashing in the large mineral pool. Not a relaxing spa environment. The hotel should make it clear that this is an adult only relaxation spot. The view from the pools is exceptional. I always leave the Oak Bay with a wisp of regret that we didn't stay longer, but always well rested and recharged. read more

I wanted to love this hotel because I'm a huge David Foster fan and his theatre there is very cool. After staying there for 2 nights though, I'm reeling in my disappointment! It's a 4.5 star hotel in terms of premises but the service was 2 star. Their front of house staff need some better training in basic guest services. I found the staff at the pool, in the spa and the front desk to come off as generally dismissive and defensive/ argumentative. Completely unhelpful, constantly "checking" that we were in fact staying there (at spa and at pool). They also took my very pregnant friend's water bottle away from her at the pool in the most cringeworthy interaction I've seen in 2019- it was done very untastefully. When we went to get the hotel shuttle to take us to dinner Friday, they said we would have had to book it 2 weeks in advance- that's honestly so ridiculous, the car was sitting outside all night doing nothing. Plus 5 stars for the view Minus 2 stars for the horrible, (unfounded) snobby service read more

Everything about the Oak Bay Beach is top notch. Years ago we stayed at the original property. It was lovely but in this new incarnation it is dazzling. My only regret is that we didn't book 2 nights. We took the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angles to Victoria. The hotel is a short drive from the ferry dock to the town of Oak Bay that is one of the most charming communities on Vancouver Island, B.C. When we arrived our room was not quite ready so we decided since we had not had lunch to go into the Snug Pub for a bite. The Pubs design and interior is reminiscent of the old hotel and English Pubs with white walls and wood trim a long beautiful bar and a warm clubby feeling. Since the day was sparkling we decided to dine on the terrace overlooking the gardens and the sea. We shared an order of excellent poutine and a wonderful seafood chowder along with a glass of local Chardonnay and beer that was recommended by our server. Let me say that the B.C. wine industry has come a long way and it goes without saying that the Canadians know how to brew good beer. Instead of texting us that our room was ready desk staff came to our table with our keys and information about the hotel. The rooms are spacious and tastefully furnished. There is a small refrigerator and micro wave as well as dishes, glass wear and silver. The bathroom is fabulous with a deep soak tub and separate shower. There is a fire place. There are plenty of plugs for all your electronic devises. The wifi is included. In short all the comforts of a home away from home. After an excellent nights sleep we went down to The Dinning Room for an equally excellent breakfast and spent a little time exploring the gardens and public rooms. The David Foster Foundation Theatre is also located in the Hotel. Next time we come we will make it a point to be there for Tuesday Movie night. You could not ask for better staff or service. I'm already planning our next stay. read more

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Had an Oak Bay Beach Hotel Gift Card decided to use it in the new Faro pizza restaurant. Called to pick up at 6:00, showed up had to wait. Staff seemed to have issues with the oven. Arrived home with the pizza, it was cold, obviously there was something wrong with the oven the middle of the pizza was very thin, runny and soft and the crust chewy and burnt. For such a fancy hotel very disappointing. read more

So I'm afraid to write a glowing review for fear that I may never be able to get another reservation! If you can answer yes to all of the following questions, this hotel is sure to exceed your expectations: 1) are you looking to relax? 2) do you want a water view? 3) do you want a luxury suite? 4) do you want spa services? This is not a place for the kids. This is for the adults looking to decompress. Book an ocean view suite and you will not want to leave! 10 minute drive to Victoria waterfront. 30 minute drive from Victoria airport. You will need a car, but free underground parking for guests. Try the dinner show. Think cruise assigned dinner seating. A great way to meet the locals ..... Mostly retired but a friendly bunch. read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Living room in Suite 508. - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We came here to get away for a couple days and fell in love with the place. Gorgeous oceanside hotel with all of the amenities, and none of the attitude. Set in the beautiful neighborhoods of Oak Bay, it is a hidden oasis away from all of the noise of the city and the perfect escape from the usual scene. We spent a few days just dipping in the minerals pools, sipping Mimosas and laying out watching the wildlife on the ocean rocks across from us. The service was impeccable. Matt served us poolside and took care of our every need. The best service we experienced the entire trip. We worked out every morning in the fitness centre by the gardens and soaked in the ocean view and took a stop in the steam room afterwards. And then there is yoga poolside. So good. We will definitely be back! read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

This is one of the best hotels I've ever been! I didn't want to be in the downtown Victoria and this was a great choice. It is by the water with a wonderful view, lovely and quiet neighborhood, and around 15min by car to downtown. The hotel has great luxurious suites with a huge bathroom with shower, two sinks, nice bathtub and a huge window from the bathtub to the bedroom! Loved it! The decor was great with new, cozy furnitures and the most important thing: very clean! I am really picky about cleanness and this hotel is a great example of how hotels should be. No hairs in bathroom, clean sheets etc. Also the staff was very friendly and professional. No surprises either: wifi and parking were included. Didn't have any problem in those points. Food? Awesome! Their restaurant called The Snug Pub is also a 5 stars restaurant. Not very fancy food, but great food. Also they have great activities like yoga and their swimming pool has a gorgeous view of the beach. Of course all those good things comes with a high price, but it's definitely worth it. read more

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A bit pricy for our room without a view but the view from the breakfast terrace was beautiful. We like Oak Bay Area and the marina there. Away from the bustle of downtown Victoria. Next time we will plan to use that beautiful pool! read more

This is a gorgeous hotel. Really, it's one of the nicest I've ever stayed at in Canada or in the U.S.! Our room had a remote-control gas fireplace, large flatscreen TV full of channels, and a beautiful deep soaker tub with all sorts of luxury bath amenities along side it. Hanging on the door were 2 plush robes. But what really made our stay were the outdoor seaside pools. The main pool is very warm, perfect for a dip even on this cold November night. You don't even feel cold when you get out (not for the first minute or 2 anyway). There's 2 hot tubs as well. I love the fact that the whole pool area is a "whisper only" area - no yelling or loud talking on cell phones tolerated! Didn't eat here, but the pub looks cozy and quaint. Location-wise, it's just a few minutes drive from all the cool shops and dining in Oak Bay. We plan on coming back in better weather, probably May or June. read more

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A great stay here... enjoyed the room, the robe, the bathtub with heated bathroom floor, the restaurant, the view, the pools!

This resort is breathtaking, with the most excellent customer service. We came here for our one year anniversary, and had a beautiful sunny weekend (in March!) The mineral pool is 97 degrees, making it feel as if it were a summer day while swimming. Two hot tubs allow you to get nice and steamy if the wind does decide to blow a bit. We stayed three nights. The restaurants and spa are absolutely 5 star on their own. Our room had heated floor tiles in the bathroom, a kitchenette and was clean, warm and spacious. Worth the splurge, we will be back! read more

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Charming place with very friendly service, nice rooms and oh so comfy beds... The outdoor pool is also nice and warm - even in the winter. If you want to schedule spa treatment, try to make advance reservations because this place books up... read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Hotel from the back/water/pool side. - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We really loved our stay at Oak Bay Beach. Beautiful lobby and the room was perfect. Comfy bed, mini kitchen, spacious bath, awesome balcony...my children were having a blast in the pool, but we know some people were annoying by that. Sorry but it's their problem and not ours! We also deserve a vacation! read more

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A few extended stays here - lovely service, spa and views. Happy to accommodate our fluff ball. Loved the coffee French press every morning. Extremely clean! read more

LIPSTICK ON A PIG Oak Bay Beach Hotel can try to present itself as a 5-star luxury hotel but without 5-star service it is simply lipstick on a pig. The hotel failed miserably in housekeeping, grounds maintenance, and customer service. We arrived to find countless cigarette butts littering our Garden Suite and the table covered in bird droppings. At the 5-STAR SPA we found garbage in bushes and uncollected used towels adorning chairs. The next day we were forced to leave our room due to a wedding which spilled into our terrace. The hotel offered no warning or apology for this imposition, and no staff to remove the discarded champagne glasses left on our patio floor. Upon return to our room -- mysteriously -- all our glassware had disappeared. The Front Desk said we should unload dishwasher. Seriously! A Luxury Hotel tells the guest to unload a dishwasher. We were lucky the bed was already made. So much for 5-STAR SERVICE. When you stay at a luxury hotel you expect housekeeping to be impeccable, the gardens to be immaculate, and a manager to respond personally when problems arise. Quality customer service is the experience of feeling valued and heard. None of these standards were met. Overpriced, understaffed, filthy. Save your money. read more

Two words: bagged guacamole. The place is situated in the best location out there. The pool, the views, the property insane perfection. The staff, the food, the execution/follow through is weak. As a local, I would love to patron this place more frequently but when you spend $16 on a tuna poke and it's served with squirts of bagged guacamole and this is seen as acceptable it's hard to justify. Hard pass. What could the cost differential be between 1/4 of an avocado and bagged guacamole? Well, the cost is more than money it cost to make, it also cost the chef his pride because anyone who can put that on a plate at a place that charges $550 a night to stay has given up. We did a staycation and were underwhelmed by the treatment from staff and the overall experience, so it's unlikely we'd do it again... though we would have loved to have made this a regular trip based on facility and location. I mean this was the second stay here in three months and there was zero sense of being taken care of or appreciated as return guests. read more

I would stay here again in a heart beat! We we're exhausted when we got here. Our car was packed from traveling from Alaska. They let us park in front. Helped us with luggage, room service, arranging ferry rides, and directions downtown. We ate at one of the restaurants at the hotel and enjoyed the mineral pools. We we're in paradise! Beautiful views. read more

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Really loved our stay here in Oak Bay! The resort is absolutely beautiful and the view gorgeous. Our room was large, the bathtub overlooked the bedroom and we had a clear ocean view with small balcony. We made use of our bathrobes and slippers and visited the outdoor pools in them. The best part of this hotel is how warm the pools are!! You can stay in for hours... we also got a relaxing massage and it was the perfect touch to the weekend. Had snacks in Kate's cafe, ordering took a while as it was pretty busy but food was alright. The restaurant (kids can't go in) so we are out in the Lounge area overlooking the ocean. Food was good (it was lunch and I just had a Cobb salad but it was so good!) We went for a walk around oak bay and discovered cute beaches and houses along the way.... even spotted a deer Oak bay seems like a seniors place by the looks of it, as we were the youngest ones by far. We didn't mind of course, but we later found out that they have the highest rate of retirees there. Oak Bay Beach Hotel is also on the Victoria hop on hop off bus tour as a stop. Definitely should check that out if you're new to Victoria! read more

Was at the Snug Pub tonight and the food was really good. Had a nice Pinot Gris which complimented the crispy calamari and very fresh Cobb salad. Service was a little slow but the lovely server did her utmost to improve. The raspberry tart was perfect and I'll definitely come back, perhaps to stay here next time, as the views are not to be missed! read more

Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Snug Pub Raspberry tart - Hotels Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We recently celebrated my wife's parents' 40th Anniversary in a private room at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Even though the hotel is presently under construction, I can tell you that the kitchen is already a finely tuned culinary machine, and as a result we delighted in one of the most creative, and delicious meals we've ever had. After we were taken on a tour of the kitchen, Head Chef Brock Bowes and his team prepared an excellent, multi-couse course meal for us that rivals any cuisine I have had anywhere in the world. If this is any indication of what's to come at the hotel, then we are in for a real treat in Victoria. The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is a gem, and we look forward to returning again and again. read more

Second floor King with Ocean view. The room is good, but the noise level is too much for me. You can easily hear every conversation from below during the day. I specifically asked for an upper level room to lesson the noise factor. I was told that none were available, but that noise would not be a factor. At night there is a "Whisper Only" policy at the pool after 7:00. The first night there were several children playing and yelling well past 10:00. Apparently, there is no rule enforcement by hotel staff. Residents shouldn't need to enforce rules. Usually after a negative review, management says that the problem should have brought to their attention. My contention is that should be supervision and rules unforced the staff. read more

SPA Review We did not stay at the hotel, just did spa. Our services were amazing. Brad did my prenantal massage and Candy did my pedicure. They were both professional and fantastic. One of the best massages and pedicures I have ever had. The reason for the spa's -1 star, is the relaxation room. My biggest complaint is the noise level. The relaxation room was the most stressful room I've ever waited in. One of the gals who was in charge of restocking probably came in at least 10+ times in less than 20 minutes, sliding the door, going into the storage room, grabbing dishes/towels/beverages and then going back out. The gal giving the tours, very loudly would say this is the relaxation room as she walked by and slid the door open. It was very stressful and not relaxing at all. It's also very small and couldn't accommodate all the guests, it felt like we were sitting on each other. And because the noise level was so loud guests in the relaxation room were chatting loudly, while they hung out. I would suggest moving the storage closet out of the relaxation room OR calling it a lobby because of all the traffic going in and out. There is a work out room which might be more suitable for storage or conversion to a true relaxation room. read more

Every person working there is genuinely concerned that you are receiving the best service possible. The property is amazing and the pools are worth the stay by themselves. Rooms are wonderful and the tubs are very nice. Book an ocean cruise or fishing trip and have the charter pick you up at the hotels dock. Additionally, take advantage of the driver service. They were fantastic and always available. When we left, and needed a ride to the Victoria clipper, they're valets were booked full and the manager provide a no cost taxi. Truly a remarkable time! read more

My wife and I spent our honeymoon at the original hotel on this location 29 years ago. We finally visited the new Oak Bay Beach Hotel and are staying four nights in a one bedroom suite. The hotel is definitely five star caliber but still retain a very homey feeling. The owners Kevin and Shauna Walker have done a magnificent job of combining the old elements with absolutely modern amenities. The community of Oak Bay in Victoria is as British as it gets in Canada, and is very laid back but very very relaxing. I can't say enough about the friendly and responsive staff - everyone bends over backwards to please the guests. I've had hotel desk staff valet my car when the valets weren't around because they were busy. The spa was gorgeous; noted that the fitness facility while absolutely tiny (three machines) but with free weights, bosu and exercise balls, was never crowded - i guess few people actually use the facility - though I did on three of the four mornings I was here. The only item of note was that with 100 hotel rooms and 20 residences, the dining facilities are a little tight, and you need to make reservations - otherwise you can eat offsite (which we did a lot anyway). If you visit Victoria, this hotel puts the others to shame, even the Fairmont Empress (which really needs work - at least from my last visit of 2009), and the Hotel Grand Pacific which is a nice hotel but feels like a hotel vs. a home like the Oak Bay Beach. It isn't cheap - but quality never is and fortunately we can afford it. However, compared to big city hotels, it's still a very good value. I highly encourage anyone visiting Victoria to try this hotel out for a wonderful experience. read more