Character house near seashore in BC Capital. Low allergen & pet-free
House • Victoria BC Canada
4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Primary home
Exchange types accepted
Simultaneous
Non-Simultaneous
Non-Reciprocal & Globe
Hospitality
Hospitality Description: Happy to host a couple or single for 2-3 nights, especially if reciprocal hospitality possible. Saturday starts best. Ask if you are in a pinch. Guests have own XL bed-sitting room w. en suite bathroom on garden level. Families with 1 older child possible. Share a meal or two. May be able to take you on an outing or drop you off downtown.
Statistics
Listed November 2022
Views 3042
General overview
*Considering 2025 exchanges now. Europe/Scandanavia/New Zealand?*
Our updated heritage house has 2 large bedrooms, a dedicated home office, 3 bathrooms (one on each of 3 floors) and sleeps 4. (Currently converting second home office to third single bedroom.) It's a very spacious home, and various living areas provide privacy. We're a half block from the oceanfront park/beach, 10 minutes walk walk to Cook St. Village (local high street). Catch #3 bus on our street or walk to centre in about 30 minutes.
Built in 1926, extended & updated, retaining character features like inset mahogany/oak floors and coved ceilings. Very comfortable, with hot water radiators and heated floors. On a pretty, leafy residential street a half block from oceanfront park with walking and cycling paths and pebble natural beach with logs and sea life. Close to downtown/Inner Harbour (the tourism centre).
Quality furnishings, lots of art & books. Comprehensive Home Book and local guide books.
Many allergy-friendly features such as mite-busting steam washer/dryer, radiators/hot water floors, (no forced air heating), mostly tile or wood floors with area rugs (wall to wall carpet on stairs and master bedroom only). Absolutely pet-free and unscented home.
Lots of golfing opportunities in Victoria area
The space
2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 office on 3 floors. 316 metres square. Currently converting second office into a third bedroom (single bed).
Multiple living/lounge rooms, well-separated sleeping rooms, large kitchen, character details but enlarged and updated. Well equipped kitchen with extensive granite countertops, and breakfast bar w. stools and open to family room. Enclosed office in addition to 2 bedrooms (one a bed-sitting room with TV , desk & lounge chair, free weights & yoga equipment), both w. en suite bathrooms. A bathroom on each of 3 stories.
Well-maintained garden with abundant birdlife, including very private back garden overlooked by deck w. BBQ & table & chairs accessed from the family room. Dedicated new laundry room with large, steam sanitising appliances.
Top floor just the principal suite - King Tempurpedic bed, ensuite bath (4 pc.), walk-in closet & TV w. Netflix etc. Windows on 3 sides.
Garden level has Queen bed/sitting room w. ensuite bathroom (shower only), desk, TV, lounge chair, desk.
Main floor has foyer, formal living room, dining room, separate office, bathroom w. clawfoot tub, large kitchen open to family room and back deck.
The separation of space makes it ideal for two couples or friends, or family with one or two teenagers. We may be able to set up additional single bed in huge downstairs bedroom, if guests cannot share the Queen bed.
Private back garden, with fig tree, azaleas, rhododendron, ferns and cedars. Watch numerous birds.. Front covered porch to watch the world walk by. Park in driveway. Level 2 electric charger.
This home is not suitable for young children. It is not childproofed or equipped. However, older, children and teens will enjoy their separate space.
Guest access
3 floors with wide stairwells with secure rails. Fairly long stairs to front porch, with railings. Security system. 3 entries, easiest of which is 4 steps down to lower back patio to the guest bed/sitting room.
Notes
-We have an independent basement suite under the formal rooms rented to a mature professional who helps w. trash/recycling
-We ask guests not to bring nuts, sesames or seafood into our home due to allergies.
-Reciprocal car exchange possible.
-Use of bikes possible (and appreciated), but we sometimes take with us on driving exchanges and our bikes are large.
- Depending on season, we may ask for help watering some pots, but we have an irrigation system. You can harvest fresh herbs, lettuce
- Professional (weekly) lawn mowing, and periodic garden beds service.
- We have a weekly cleaner/housekeeper who is experienced at managing exchanger changeovers, and we are interested in hiring your cleaner. Sat or Sunday changeovers preferred.
- We don't have air conditioning, as it's generally not needed this close to the ocean with prevailing inland breeze and our moderate summers. We manage with blinds , fansand open windows (with screens)
-Coffee - We have a Cuisinart grind & brew drip coffee machine & French press & coffee grinder & various teapots & variable temperature kettle.
- House is not suitable for young children
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
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Long term
Romantic
Foodie
Relaxing
City
Village
Mountains
Beach
Water
Culture
Hiking
Cycling
Good public transport
Golf
Accessibility
Accessible stairways
Accessible kitchen access
House rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Unsuitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Dog free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Low allergen
Hypoallergenic
Dates of Availability
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Neighbourhood
Walkable, pretty residential and leafy, near huge urban park (Beacon Hill Park for free bandshell concerts, watching cricket, play tennis or pickle ball, feed ducks, visit formal gardens, tall tree groves and native plant meadows), and long waterfront park.
Walk to Cook St. Village (high street) for restaurants, coffee shops, butcher, green grocer, grocery store, services, senior's centre, pharmacy, etc.
In region:
- Good cycling network and use of our bikes if we aren't on a driving trip.
- Rural wineries, cideries and agriculture on Saanich Peninsula
- Goldstream Park Salmon Runs from Mid-October to Early December
-Many formal gardens (world-famous Butcharts Garden), including some free
-Excellent Whale watching
- kayaking
-walk to tennis & pickle ball courts in Beacon Hill Park
- watch a cricket game or free concert in the Park
- diverse walking and running, including waterfront
-SCUBA diving - dive shops. It's cold but clear with abundant sea life
- hiking - some along the ocean, some up hills/mountains to viewpoints and some around the region's many lakes, in forest. For most abilities.
- driving day trips to nearby communities, mostly on coast or lakes
- fishing
- take a small harbour ferry (pickle boats) to Fisherman's Wharf, on the Gorge waterway
-passenger ferry harbour to harbour to Seattle overnight
- day trips on ferry to nearby, rural "Gulf Islands"
-free tour of the Legislative Assembly (French language too)
- shop historic Old Town and Chinatown
-Take a walking tour
- stroll through historic Ross Bay cemetery
Many fun runs and marathons run by our home.
Running events calendar: Running events calendar: https://www.runguides.com/victoria/runs
Although we are in the city, it is surrounded by rural areas where you can buy produce at honour stands or little markets, ride horses, hike in the forest, swim or paddle in lakes, etc.
You can do ocean kayaking, and diving
Getting to my home
Inter-continental flights arrive in Vancouver (YVR) and then it's less than a half hour hop to the island to YYJ (Victoria International), or take a car or passenger/car ferry. Taxi or shuttle bus from airport.
Can arrive by float plane or ferry from Vancouver or Seattle or Port Angeles, USA (ferry only). Make Victoria part of your circle tour so you can come and go in different modes.
Bus #3 to downtown runs down our street (small neighbourhood bus).
Ferry map shown in photos.
Nearest airport
Victoria International, YYJ -35 minutes cab or take shuttle bus or Uber. Arrive Inner Harbour by float plane from Vancouver or Seattle. International cruise ship terminal and ferry terminal (Coho from Port Angeles, WA, USA or Clipper from Seattle)
Getting around
On a bus route to downtown and James Bay historic neighbourhood. Walk downtown or many tourist sites in 30 minutes. Our home is on #3 bus route.
10 minute walk to Cook St. Village, our local "high street".
Great city for cycling, with regional trails and protected bike lanes in town. During the season, there's a free bike valet downtown.
Park in driveway but plenty of unrestricted, free street parking. Do most errands by walking or biking if you like.
Explore Vancouver Island by car - up the rugged west coast, the rural Saanich Peninsula with wineries, cideries and farm stands, or up the east side for more wine, hiking, biking and to explore other towns, lake and coast. Inter-city bus service: https://www.islandlinkbus.com
Map of Approximate Location
People Like Us Local Guide
Have a drink in the back garden, meet us for an outing, especially if you live somewhere we want to visit in future. Happy to provide local advice.
Feedback
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.