Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The best guide to hotels and motels is the free
Accommodations
book put out annually by
Tourism BC.
It's available at all information centers, from the website
www.hellobc.com
,
orbycalling250/387-1642or800/435-5622.Thebooklistshotels,motels,lodges,resorts,
bed-and-breakfasts,andcampgrounds.Itcontainsnoratings,simplylistingswithfacilities
and rates.
All rates quoted in this topic are for a double room in the high season (summer, except
in winter resort towns). Expect to pay less for downtown accommodations on weekends,
and to pay less outside of the busy mid-June to September period.
Don't let the rates quoted in this topic scare you away from staying in downtown Van-
couver or Victoria. Although the rates quoted are for a standard room in the high season
(mid-June to September), almost all accommodations are less expensive outside of these
busy months, some cutting their rates by as much as 50 percent. You'll enjoy the biggest
seasonaldiscountsatpropertiesthatrelyonsummertourists,suchasthoseinprimedown-
town locations. The same applies to weekends: Many big downtown hotels rely on busi-
ness and convention travelers to fill the bulk of their rooms, so when the end of the week
rolls around, meaning Friday, Saturday, and sometimes Sunday nights, the hotels are left
with rooms to fill at discounted rates.
Making Reservations
While you have no influence over the seasonal and weekday/weekend pricing differences,
how
you reserve a room
can
make a difference in how much you pay. First and foremost,
when it comes to searching out actual rates, the Internet is an invaluable tool.
Tourism
British Columbia
offersdiscountedratesthroughitstoll-freenumber(800/435-5622)and
the website
www.hellobc.com
. All lodging websites listed in
Moon Vancouver & Victor-
ia
show rates or have online reservation forms. Use these websites to search out specials,
many of which are available only on the Internet.
Don't be afraid to negotiate during slower times. Even if the desk clerk has no control
over rates, there's no harm in asking for a bigger room or one with a better view. Just look
for a Vacancy sign hanging out front.
