Vancouver Island Hotel Tips by rpclarke

If you are looking for a 5 star hotel, look somewhere else. Otherwise, keep reading.

The Innchanter is an old ship, and is a continuing work in progress. Shaun is always working on making the experience a better one. It has a rustic old charm to it, with an old nostalgic type luxury feel. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the living area is spacious and the new dining area has an excellent view.

The service was excellent, and there was only Shaun and a helper running the show. The food was absolutely amazing. Fine dining in a casual setting shared with the other guests aboard. No there was not a lot of choice when it came to the meals, but you have to keep in mind that this is a ship with limited ability to provide the selection you would get from a restaurant. The meals served were excellent, a lot of thought was put into the meals. If you have special needs, all you need to do is talk to Shaun before you arrive so he has time to prepare. Otherwise you are stuck with what you get.

If you need to eat at certain times, you may want to bring some of your own snacks to tide you over as the meals are planned based on the groups needs, not individuals though they do work to serve you as best as possible.

There is some running water aboard the ship, either drawn from rain barrels or from the ocean itself which is used for your bathroom needs. The bathroom facilities are unique, so be prepared. The toilet is small and works on a pump with low pressure, so flushing paper products is discouraged and a bin is provided. Really not much different then what you would find on the large cruiseships in that respect.

Due to water issues, showering or baths are not available. You can clean up a bit at the hotsprings, but the best thing to do is just to make sure you are showered up before heading to the Innchanter. Again, its an old ship in the middle of nowhere really, only so much can be done. These things did not bother me in the least and I enjoyed the experience for what it was meant to be.

Unique Qualities: The ship is moored in the hot springs cove, and the entire area is absolutely gorgeous. Night time is absolutely incredible. Bio-luminescence organisms are in the water which you can see glowing. The view of the stars is amazing on clear nights.

The setting on the ship is very comfortable, with lots of mingling of guests. The space is limited so if there is a full booking, expect to have to move around each other in certain areas of the ship.

Everything about the experience is Unique.

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Address: West Coast, Vancouver Island, , Vancouver Island,
Directions: Hot Springs Cove, accessed from Tofino by plane or boat.
Website: www.innchanter.com