Views across the harbor from the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
I peek out behind the curtains of my window at the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA a few minutes before 5am. The sun is just coming up, glowing orange over Victoria’s harbor. In the distance, I can see the twinkling blue lights of the Johnson Street bridge.
I’ve come to Victoria, British Columbia’s harborfront capital, to see what’s new around the city and to check out the Coast Victoria hotel, completed a complete renovation in 2024. The early morning sunrise views were an extra bonus.
Here’s the scoop:
Many rooms at the Coast Victoria Hotel have balconies with harbor views.
Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
The Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA sits on the waterfront, about a 15-minute walk from Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It’s not in the center of the tourist frenzy, but you’re close enough to reach all the local attractions. And if you don’t want to walk, the hotel offers a free shuttle for guests that can take you to area restaurants and museums.
The guest rooms all feature updated artwork.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
The 152 guest rooms all have large windows, many featuring views over the adjacent marina and across the harbor. The rooms in the “premium” category have full-sized balconies, while in the lower-price ranges, units have at least a small Juliet balcony where you can still take in the vistas. Wall murals of cyclists enjoying the city add a bit of whimsy.
Room amenities include 55” flat screen TVs, good Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, microwaves, and one-cup coffeemakers. Next to the beds are small reading lamps and outlets to charge your devices.
All the bathrooms include washlet-style toilets.
Perhaps reflecting the brand’s Japanese ownership, the bathrooms at the Coast Victoria Hotel all include Toto washlets, bidet-style toilets with heated seats — a cool feature. Small origami paper cranes greet guests in their rooms as well.
Robes are provided, as are slippers, sturdy models that can be washed and reused, more eco-friendly than the flimsy disposable varieties. Shampoos and soaps are stocked in large refillable containers.
My one complaint about the bathrooms? While there is a hook on the bathroom door, there are no towel racks. It’s great that the property encourages you to reuse your towels, but we need more places to hang them! #petpeeve
More harbor views from the Blue Crab Seafood House
Facilities, Services, and Nearby Attractions
On the hotel’s lobby level, with walls of windows overlooking the water, the Blue Crab Seafood House is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They’re known for seafood from around the region — crab, oysters, salmon, halibut, and more. You can start your day with seafood, too, as I did, with a tasty crab Benedict — poached eggs served over crab cakes with guacamole and chipotle mayonnaise. The Benedict also comes in a smoked salmon version, or you can include smoked salmon or shrimp in a build-your-own omelet.
On the lower level, the hotel has a small fitness room and an indoor-outdoor pool, half inside and half out in the open. Orca Spirit Adventures, one of several local whale-watching companies, has an office on property, making it easy to book a whale- or wildlife-watching trip.
The hotel is also only about a five-minute walk from Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can stop for a fish and chips lunch or arrange whale-watching or kayaking excursions. Kelp Reef Adventures offers excellent two- and three-hour kayak tours where you might spot harbor seals, river otters, and other wildlife, while float planes buzz overhead and ferries chug past.
It’s worth waking up early for the sunrise at the Coast Victoria Hotel.
Rates
Double room rates at the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA start at CAD$350 per night during the busy summer season, dropping to CAD$225 when the weather cools. Discounts are available for members of the Coast Rewards frequent stay program. You can also compare rates and look for a deal at Booking.com.
And even if you don’t find yourself awake at 5am, the harbor views from this Victoria BC hotel are pretty special.
Looking for more lodging options in Victoria? We have reviews of several other area properties:
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. The Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA arranged my stay for review purposes.
