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Premium
#29619
Vancouver Island Oasis, British Columbia
House • Courtenay BC Canada
Exchange types accepted
Hospitality Description: Whenever we have the space, we are available to host in emergency situations where a night or two is needed.
Statistics
Listed April 2024
Views 1900
General Overview
Please consider the following details to determine if our home meets your needs:
- 2 bedrooms, each with a queen-sized bed, and an office with a lounge which converts to a bed (maximum 5 people)
- Suitable for older children, as toys are not available, but games are provided.
- Vehicle exchange is an option; we have an automatic primary vehicle and a manual secondary vehicle to chose from.
- We own a hypoallergenic dog. Pet exchange is possible, or we can make alternate arrangements for Waggie Maggie to stay while you are at our home.
Our home is situated in a quiet residential area on the edge of town. It adjoins a wilderness park, featuring hiking trails that link it to other parks and provide access to one of the island's prominent salmon-spawning rivers. We live in a renovated duplex, complete with a covered back deck and a cozy, sunlit garden.
Downtown Courtenay, with its shopping options, is only a 5-minute drive or a 30-minute walk from here. You'll discover boutiques, dining choices, and high-quality souvenir stores, as well as our preferred local grocery store, butcher shop, favourite cafe, and restaurant. We are also inter-connected to two other towns, Comox and Cumberland, each with its own downtown area. Our location provides access to an extensive network of mountain biking trails and numerous beaches. Additionally, we benefit from convenient access to both inland and coastal highways, which are perfect for day trips.
If you are visiting in the winter, we are 35 minutes from the main ski resort on the island, Mount Washington Alpine Resort, where you can enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as snowshoeing (the nighttime ‘snowshoe fondue’ is extremely popular). In the summer the resort offers downhill mountain biking, and zip tours. And just down the road is hiking at Strathcona Provincial Park (British Columbia's oldest provincial park).
The Space
The house is a well laid out two-story duplex. The ground level features a cozy living room/lounge, a dining area, and a bright kitchen boasting an oversized sliding door that dominates the rear wall. This door leads to a sheltered deck, complete with a patio table set, a BBQ shelter, and a carefully designed perennial garden.
The living area, styled more as a lounge than a formal space, offers comfortable recliner seating, Bill's collection of guitars, and an armoire filled with games, DVDs, and a smart TV (Netflix and Roku included for guests). There is also a gas fireplace, which is currently not in use, as we are unable to sufficiently lower the heat to prevent the area from becoming too warm.
The kitchen is organized for maximum efficiency. As foodies, Bill and I have equipped it with quality kitchen tools, ensuring everything needed for cooking is easily accessible. It’s perfect for efficient meal prep and enjoyable dining experiences, both indoors and out.
Additionally, this level has a two-piece washroom/laundry room.
On the upper level, you'll find two bedrooms, each with a queen-sized bed. There are two bathrooms: one is an ensuite with a shower, while the other is the main washroom equipped with a tub and shower. There is an office on this floor, complete with a lounger which can be converted into a single bed. A standout feature of the primary bedroom is the large window, which offers a beautiful view of the garden.
.The house has baseboard heating and two heat pump units. These can be used either individually or in combination.
There is fast wifi throughout and two smart tvs (one in the ‘lounge’ and one in the primary bedroom).
Guest Access
This is our primary home. We have a keyless entry. (The code is included in our welcome email.) We have a side entrance, and our half of the duplex is easily distinguishable by the tall bush and rose garden, with a rustic walkway arbour, and gate.
Notes
Our house guide includes details on the house, the area, and many activities available for guests to enjoy during their stay.
We use a French Press for coffee. If you prefer, we can provide you with a drip coffeemaker.
There are two all-terrain bikes in the garage for guest use.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
BBQ
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Bikes
Travel Styles
Long term
Adventure
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
Eco
Village
Mountains
Beach
Water
Skiing
Culture
Hiking
Cycling
Golf
Cross-country skiing
House Rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Unsuitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Low allergen
Hypoallergenic
Dates of Availability
Click on availability periods to see exchange types and descriptions.
Neighbourhood
A real benefit to our location is a hiking trail system accessed outside our back gate (for after dinner strolls down to the river to full day hiking adventures). It gives you access to the Puntledge River (a favourite place for a cool dip in the summer, and salmon fishing in spring and fall). We even have a salmon hatchery within walking distance. For more local adventures, we are close to a network of hiking/mountain biking trails. It is a quick 5 minute drive to downtown Courtenay, 15 minutes to downtown Comox, and 7 minutes to downtown Cumberland. Due to our central location on the island, there are many opportunities for day trips both north and south of us.
PLACES TO VISIT: a few examples of the 'places to visit' from our guest book:
1) 05 min walk to Puntledge River beach
2) 10 min drive to Nymph Falls - multiple falls, trail network, swimming areas
3) 20 min drive to Seal Bay Nature Park - named due to the number of seals you can watch from the shore.
4) 24 min drive to Goose Spit - Sunsets, wind surfers, and beach walks
5) 35 min to Mount Washington Alpine Resort - summer hiking, mountain biking, and zip tours - winter downhill and cross country skiing.
6) 40 min drive to Strathcona Provincial Park - Paradise Meadows, and surrounding hiking/snowshoeing trails - ratings: easy to difficult
7) 55 min drive to Cathedral Grove - hike among huge old growth trees
Getting to my home
Vancouver Island is a place where a car is necessary. International flights will have a connection flight to the Comox Valley Airport through Vancouver (most likely), Calgary, or Edmonton. If there is a car exchange involved, taxis are available at the airport to get you to our place. For those driving, there is ferry service from Vancouver to Nanaimo (closest) or Victoria. For those driving from the United States, there is ferry service from Port Angeles, Washington. All ferries to Vancouver Island should be booked well in advance.
Nearest airport
Our nearest airport is the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) and is a 20 minute drive away. It offers daily flights with Air Canada, Pacific Coastal Airlines and WestJet.
Getting Around
The island is best explored by car. It does not have a train system, and buses do not connect all communities. There are several rental car options at the airport.
Map of Approximate Location
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People Like Us Local Guide
We love meeting other PLU members. Let us know when you'll be in the area!
Feedback
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We hosted Bill and Carolyne for a hospitality stay for a night and enjoyed it so much, asked if we could do likewise at their home for a night when travel brought us to the area. We did. It was lovely. Jan and I really enjoyed wonderful conversation, a terrific supper and capped the evening off with a fun game. We did a stroll in the neighbourhood. Very peaceful. A cozy home and pleasant good conversation meant for an enriching experience. Thank you very much. Hope we can again. -
If it’s a quiet, relaxing stay you are looking for then the home of Carolyn and Bill is the place to be especially enjoying the comfy sofas on the covered patio after a days outing. We enjoy walking and exploring nature so the location provided us with many opportunities, from riverside walks, literally outside their back gate , to beaches, falls and mountain hikes within short drives - all recommended in their excellent, easy to read, home manual. We tried several of the varied restaurants recommended as we were taking a break from daily main meal cooking! A well stocked fridge and pantry were appreciated. We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Carolyn and Bill prior to the reciprocal exchange and are thankful for their generosity in opening their home to us. ◦ -
We enjoyed Carolyn and Bill's home in Courtenay. It was just the right size for us. Her back garden is just the place to relax after a long day of sight seeing. I felt safe in her neighborhood, and the neighbors were pleasant. It was not far from town, and we enjoyed riding our bikes along the waterfront. I'd recommend their home!
Premium
Bill & Carolyn
We are an active, semi-retired couple who live in a region of Canada rich in outdoor adventures and opportunities for wildlife observation. Our area is renowned for its beautiful ocean beaches, glacier-fed lakes, many waterfalls, dynamic arts scene, and flourishing local food culture. Before moving to Vancouver Island, we operated a vacation rental out of our log cabin, in Muskoka, Ontario (where we also produced maple syrup). Bill and I love the outdoors with our favourite activities being skiing, hiking, and kayaking. We generally need a vehicle when travelling and are open to discussing the inclusion of a vehicle in the exchange. We love the atmosphere of a small town, but also enjoy the music, history, and arts a larger city would have to offer. In our last home we provided vacation rental space to travelers and miss the social interaction it gave us. We are excited to be a part of the Peoplelikeus community, and the friendships it fosters. We have a golden doodle named Waggie Maggie (which may be part of the exchange, or we can make alternative accommodations for her when we travel). We are non-smokers. And lastly, we will treat your home as if it was our own, with great respect.
Travelling group
My Desired Destinations
Open to any destination
Dates Flexible
"Preferred Travel Times:
Spring - Mid April to end of May
Autumn - September and October"
Dates Flexible
"Preferred Travel Times:
Spring - Mid April to end of May
Autumn - September and October"
Dates Flexible
"Preferred Travel Times:
Spring - Mid April to end of May
Autumn - September and October"
Dates Flexible
"Preferred Travel Times:
Spring - Mid April to end of May
Autumn - September and October"
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