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Oak Bay Beach Hotel lists itself as:

A LUXURY BOUTIQUE RESORT LIKE NO OTHER

Nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean near Victoria, BC – the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is a luxury boutique resort like no other. Our facility overlooks the Juan de Fuca Strait and offers breathtaking ocean views of snow-capped Mount Baker in the distance.

Unmatched on Vancouver Island, our one hundred-room luxury hotel offers elegant and spacious guest rooms and suites, thoughtfully designed and furnished for those with discerning tastes. Our luxury oceanfront accommodations offer the perfect combination of classic Manor House-inspired architecture and modern in-suite amenities. Whether opting for views of the tree-lined seaside community of Oak Bay, the Oak Bay Marina, or the beautiful Pacific Ocean, we invite you to check-in, unwind and enjoy our best in this intimate setting.

Built in an English Manor House style and reopened in the fall of 2012, Victoria’s Oak Bay Beach Hotel has been completely reconstructed to an international luxury standard on the same spectacular oceanfront lot where the previous hotel sat for more than 90 years.

This review covers one of the two-bed rooms, with an ocean view.

Link to property:   https://www.oakbaybeachhotel.com




1. Common Areas
The common areas of the property are very well decorated and finished. Living true to its name, with lots of heavy wood accents and old victorian-era feel, the common areas certainly give a plush, luxury feel.


2. Living Space
Given that the room booked was not a suite, there is only the single area with two queen beds, and the bathroom. None the less, there was a larger-than-usual entry area, which was surprising and appreciated. There wasn't much to note here, it's a basic room as you'd expect, with a television. There were, however, very large windows for the ocean view, and the windows were openable.




3. Bedroom
This is not applicable for this property, as noted in the point above.


4. Bathroom
The bathroom was very spacious and imparted a high feeling of luxury. Plenty of counter space, a very large walk-in shower with stone walls and floor, and a large separate bathtub. The bathroom floor was ceramic tile, which was heated. The toilet was in a separate small room, with a pocket door, so multiple people could use the bathroom and you could still have some privacy. There were also his & hers sinks, which is always appreciated for non-single travellers.


5. Cleanliness
Exceptionally clean room and bathroom. It is evident that this property prides itself on cleanliness and considers it part of their reputation.


6. Amenities
The resort has numerous amenities available for guests.

There are two restaurants on-site and one cafe, The Snug Pub, Dining Room and Kate's Cafe. If you are travelling with children, then Kate's Cafe and the Dining Room are where you will be eating, if you choose to dine in the hotel. Food and drink in both of these locations is good quality, with the coffee at Kate's Cafe being exceptionally tasty. There is a heated mineral pool, hot tub and full service spa, located between the hotel and the ocean. The pool is designed very well, and even when there are other guests in it, it doesn't seem to feel crowded. One very disappointing note here is that any guests under 16 years old cannot use the pool or hot tub. This was not always the case, but the policy was implemented a couple years ago. Apparently this decision was made due to complaints from spa guests. While this can be appreciated, especially when there are rowdy children and perhaps parents who aren't attending to them as they should be, it's a very disappointing thing for families with responsible children and adults.





Inside the main lobby is a beautiful, large fireplace, accompanied by two victorian-era styled leather couches. These are very comfortable, and you're able to order light food (including desserts) and drinks while seated here. This makes for an exceptionally nice end to a day, and is very relaxing.




7. Noise
There was very little noise or disturbance to report. Everything in the hotel, for example room and hallway doors, are very heavy and solid, which helps keep noise to a minimum.


8. Parking
Underground self-parking is available, albeit it will cost $20.00 per day if you didn't book directly with the hotel. This is a bit disappointing, as the hotel isn't in a "downtown" or high commercial area. However, this certainly encourages one to book directly with the hotel, to avoid this fee.


9. Staff interactions
The staff at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel are very friendly and responsive. Check in was quick and easy. There was an issue with the check in time (the booking had been made by a third party and wrong information was given), but it was quickly rectified and was no fault of the hotel.


10. Location
If you're looking for a luxury ocean front hotel with a view, this one is very hard to beat. A short walk from the hotel is the Oak Bay Marina, where seals are known to frequent, hang out, and try to find a snack (unfortunately, humans aren't allowed to feed them anymore). There is also a walking path right along the ocean front, with some amazing views.


11. Cost
There are 5 cost categories that LuxuryReview.ca utilizes. They comprise of the following:
     Category E - <$100.00 per night
     Category D - $100.00 to $249.00 per night
     Category C - $250.00 to $499.00 per night
     Category B - $500.00 to $999.00 per night
     Category A - >$999.00 per night
Based on this system, Oak Bay Beach Hotel qualifies as a Category C property, based on peak-season rates.


12. Rating
The rating classification system is a subjective opinion, using points allocated based on a first-hand experience. All categories have a maximum of 10 points, resulting in a score out of 100.

Common area - Inviting, warm, clean, beautifully furnished and designed in a victorian-era style - 9.5/10
Living Area - Not applicable, so the same points are awarded as below - 9/10
Bedrooms - Beds were very comfortable, newer TV, furniture in good repair - 9/10
Bathrooms - Easily the most luxurious experience in the room, with heated ceramic floors, a glass and stone shower, his & hers sinks - 9.5/10
Cleanliness - The room and bathroom were exceptionally clean. The hallway had some debris and a few wrapped in a corner, which were unfortunately still there the following morning - 7/10
Amenities - Underground parking at a fee, but waived if you've booked with the hotel directly and not through a third party. The heated mineral pool and hot tub is a very disappointing experience if you've got children under 16 years old. The restaurants and food outlets are exceptionally good - 6/10
Noise - Noise was not a factor in this property in any way - 9/10
Staff interaction - Staff were very friendly and attentive. An issue with the check in, which was not the fault of the hotel, was quickly resolved - 9.5/10
Location - Excellent location in Oak Bay, an area of Victoria, British Columbia. Easy walking access to the ocean, and also the Oak Bay Marina. However, it would be advisable to have access to a vehicle if you want to expand your meal options beyond the hotel - 8.5/10
Cost - As a category C property, points are awarded on a sliding scale without opinion - 6/10

Total score: 83 out of 100


13. Final Thoughts
Oak Bay Beach Hotel offers a very luxurious experience, situated right on the ocean. All aspects of this hotel, from the staff experience to the available food and drink, are excellent and well delivered. The pool and hot tub not being open to families of younger children is a serious draw-back, however, despite this, LuxuryReview.ca absolutely RECOMMENDS Oak Bay Beach Hotel.