James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage

We had to check in very late and the person at reception was excellent. Process was seamless and she was very empathetic to our tiredness. The room was spotless and everything supplied was great. When we needed to store our bags, also very accommodating and helpful

Only issue was our room was across from staff "lunchroom/set up area". So at 7 am when they came into work it was not as quiet as I would have liked.

Room was extremely clean, restaurant staff very efficient and friendly, location was excellent---walking distance to everything I needed, soft water very welcome, front desk staff very helpful and concerned for my comfort

I was comfortable in my room because of time of year, however without air conditioning, summer months might be uncomfortable. No elevator was a little problem, but since I knew before my stay about the lack of elevator, I was prepared to heave my suitcase and also the front desk manager was very helpful and helped me on a number of occasions.

The suite was spacious, quiet, well-located with a fully-equipped kitchen. The staff was very friendly and cooperative. The meals we enjoyed at the restaurant--a breakfast in the restaurant and a supper in the pub, were excellent, served promptly by friendly servers.

There were few electrical outlets in the kitchen, and one each in the bathroom and the kitchen would not charge everyday items--a cell phone and hearing-aides charger. The shower offered fairly-hot water, but both the kitchen and bathroom sink did not. Finally, although we were comfortable in our suite in early September, we would probably not have been during the summer, as it lacks air conditioning.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and most welcoming. The amenities were very nice. The pub felt like a community pub with a village aura which we enjoyed. The food at the pub was tasty and plentiful and priced well. The restaurant was very good as well with reasonable prices. The building was charming and the location excellent and within walking distance to downtown. The surroundings were pleasant and quiet. We will definitely come back when we are in Victoria again. This has been our favourite hotel of the three we have been at in the past three months.

Nothing for the price that was charged. The room was small but very clean. We have stayed in other hotels in Victoria recently and the James Bay Inn was our favourite.

Breakfast was great! Location was beautiful!

No cream or sugar in the our suite, so we weren’t able to really enjoy drinking coffee from the comfort of our room in the morning. Blinds were needing repair and windows had no screens. Room was very warm when we arrived. There were wasps in the room because there were no screens. The kitchen had a very old, stained kettle for tea. This could have been upgraded a bit I think. The remote didn’t work well for turning volume up etc, so you were out of bed fiddling with tv buttons. None of this really took away from our stay. We really enjoyed it, but these are things that would take things up a notch for next time.

The perfect location if you’re after a peaceful place to stay after a hard day’s sightseeing. (Its just 10 minutes walk into town) The style is Edwardian/art-deco and the place just oozes character. The staff are wonderful and went out of their way to be friendly. Don’t worry if you fancy a bit of life and mingling with the locals, the pub downstairs is like the tardis. You go in expecting it to be empty and all of a sudden you are transported to the best boozer in town with a local atmosphere to boot. If the locals love it then the beer and food must be good. You might think this might impact on the tranquility of the hotel but it really doesn’t, you’d never know it was there. It’s also only a short walk away from Beacon Hill Park (stunning trees, plants and wildlife) and the coast if you fancy a beautiful evening walk and watching the sunset or just fancy a day relaxing watching cricket, bowls, tennis and croquet.

A very small point. Tea and coffee facilities are downstairs not in the room.

The location was excellent. We used transit from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal and was an easy walk from the stop. When we got our bearings we were very pleased to find the hotel close walk to the waterfront, beacon park also a short walk. The room we had was spacious and the bed comfortable. They offered iced lemon water and complimentary coffee in the lobby. We enjoyed our self catered pizza and wine on the hotel balcony and watched the horse carriage tours go by, a lovely place to wrap up the day. The staff were lovely and helpful and always happy to chat. The pub or cafe below was great for food.

We did t mind it and I knew it was like this but bear in mind that it is an historical hotel so there are no lifts so you will have to climb stairs to the lobby and depending which floor you are on you will need to climb there too. The lovely lass on reception offered to help but we are quite independent. Also if elderly you may need to know the shower is in the tub.

James Bay Inn was a wonderful Hotel within walking distance of Victoria downtown. It had a pub and restaurant which, because of our later arrival we decided to go to. We were not disappointed. We stayed in the one bedroom suite with a pullout couch. The owners also allowed our friend to leave her bags at the hotel after we checked out, as her ferry to Seattle was much later than ours to Vancouver.

Not a big deal, but FYI. Did not realize we were going to have to go up steps for our room. When we booked a "cottage," I thought it would be ground floor. The cottage rooms are in a house beside the hotel. Ours just happened to be on the second floor.

Great hotel in a great location, 10 minute walk to the harbour, 5 minute walk to Beacon Hill park. Nicely furnished hotel with a bar and lovely restaurant below

The restaurant itself was lovely but I didn't appreciate being told that I hadn't tipped enough! Waiter told me that he would have to make it up out of his own pocket to pay the kitchen. I said this is not the system in the UK and he said that if he travels he learns the local customs. This was the same waiter that made 2 of our group leave the breakfast room until the remaining 3 arrived. Breakfast wasn't an option with the room but the restaurant is part of the hotel

traditional hotel which has been artfully renovated making a great experience spending the night in a well appointed room, beautifully designed interior, with charming view of the parliament building, horse carriages walking past and all. quintessential Victoria. the bar was fun, the restaurant in the morning pleasant and the neighbourhood beautiful

I have to tell you that there is not an elevator, 2nd fl rooms are a short flight up the main stairway of the building, so for some people that might be a problem.