Frequently Asked Questions About Dashwood Manor and Victoria, BCWHERE IS DASHWOOD MANOR? Dashwood Manor is a heritage bed and breakfast and winter vacation rental located in Victoria, BC, Canada on beautiful Vancouver Island. Our address is #1 Cook Street, at the corner of Dallas Road, Victoria’s Marine Scenic Drive. We are located at the end of the Cook Street Village in the popular Fairfield neighbourhood, steps from the ocean and across the street from Beacon Hill Park. Walking trails and beaches are a short walk away. Dashwood Manor Bed & Breakfast is conveniently located in walking distance to downtown Victoria, fine restaurants and neighbourhood pubs, shopping, theatres and many of Victoria’s major attractions. Our GPS location is Latitude: N 48° 24.292 Longitude: W123° 21.272 WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT DASHWOOD MANOR? Dashwood Manor is a 1912 heritage mansion with a fascinating history. It’s huge! Four standard sized homes could fit inside this building, which is over 10,000 square feet in size. Granite fireplaces, ornate, original paneling, stained glass windows, high ceilings and very spacious rooms give this bed and breakfast a unique and worldly charm. The ocean and mountain views are unmatched in the city. We serve a full, memorable and delicious breakfast each morning to our guests staying on a daily basis. Our rooms are comfortable and spacious, even for guests staying on a weekly basis. Each guest room has a spectacular ocean view, private bathroom, comfortable sitting area with two, upholstered armchairs, a bar fridge. And, we have Jacuzzis for those special romantic getaway experiences. Dashwood Manor is proud of its Canada Select 4 Star status as one of Victoria’s finest bed and breakfast inns. We are affiliated with the best professional organizations: Victoria’s Finest B&B Association, Best B&Bs of Victoria, British Columbia Innkeepers' Guild, Tourism Victoria, Tourism British Columbia, Canada Select, and British Columbia Automobile Association. WHY SHOULD WE VISIT VICTORIA? Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia. An historic, beautiful city situated in a most unique region and climate. Vancouver Island was selected as the Best Island Destination in North America by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. Victoria was also selected as the Best City in the Americas. A recent study of retirement cities designated Victoria as the Best Retirement city in North America when comparing many criteria such as climate, culture, environment, safety and affordability. Victoria boasts many delightful attractions, from outdoor adventure with hiking, biking, kayaking, whale watching, tremendous fishing to incredible gardens like Butchart Gardens, Abkhazi Garden and Hatley Park Gardens. We can work with you to create a package that suits your interests and fondest desires. We know this area well, and we are well-connected with local tour suppliers, restaurants and suppliers. Count on us for the best the city has to offer! AS A US CITIZEN, DO I NEED A PASSPORT TO VISIT VICTORIA? Although passports and visas are not required for entry into Canada, passports are required for air entry and air re-entry into the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security changed official requirements as of January 23, 2007 for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States when arriving from any part of the Western Hemisphere by air. SO, the new requirements are summarized as follows: PASSPORTS ARE NOW REQUIRED FOR ENTRY BY AIR TO THE UNITED STATES ALL PERSONS traveling by AIR between the United States and Canada are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to re-enter the United States. LAND AND SEA TRAVEL CURRENTLY: U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (available in spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document such as a NEXUS card, CANPASS, FAST card or an Enhanced Driver’s Licence; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Verbal claims of citizenship and identity alone will not be sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States. LATER: On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document such as a NEXUS card, CANPASS, FAST card or an Enhanced Driver’s Licence. The Passport Card: U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for this new, limited-use, wallet-size passport card beginning February 1, 2008. Cards will be available in spring 2008. These will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the final rule for passport regulations in the first week of April, 2008. The final rule requires travellers "to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States" effective June 1, 2009. Passports and Enhanced Driver's Licenses have been formally identified as acceptable documentation requirements for land and sea crossings. Washington State and British Columbia have already begun issuing Enhanced Driver’s Licences to the general public. See the US State Department's website for the most up to date information. HOW CLOSE ARE BEACHES AND WALKING PATHWAYS? We are within three blocks of the public transit, a very fine system that will take you to Butchart Gardens, the British Columbia Ferries at Swartz Bay or off to places further afield. CAN WE WALK TO DOWNTOWN? Yes, it’s a lovely, relaxing and quiet walk through Beacon Hill Park, or through the Fairfield neighbourhood, or along the ocean and through the James Bay neighbourhood. The walk takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes, depending on how many gardens or character homes you stop to admire. IS VICTORIA A BIKE FRIENDLY CITY? Yes, we have great bike rental outlets nearby and wonderful access to safe bike lanes on city streets and to designated bike and walking trails leading north to the Saanich Peninsula and on to Sidney and west to Metchosin and Sooke. Dashwood Manor has a safe storage area for bikes. DO YOU HAVE SELF-CATERING ROOMS FOR LONG TERM STAYS? Our rooms do not have operational cooking facilities. Photos show stoves in some guest rooms that were in use during the house's previous incarnation as self-catered lodging, however, these are being removed as we renovate and upgrade. So far, six of these dated mini-kitchens have been removed as we rip up floors, contend with dismantled plumbing, electrical and wall repairs. We appreciate the patience guests show for this lengthy and costly process. Each guest room is spacious, and each has a small fridge for your convenience. Each room has an ocean view as well! This neighbourhood has a great variety of interesting and affordable restaurants and little eateries, so lunches and dinners are easily accommodated. Walk to the Cook Street Village in less than 10 minutes and sample the fare at the Beagle Pub, Rosie's Diner, Bubby Rose's Bakery, Mocha House, the McKenzie Market with its Japanese, Thai and Ethiopian foods, or hit the Starbucks for a light bite! WHICH MAJOR ATTRACTIONS CAN WE VISIT FROM DASHWOOD MANOR? Beacon Hill Park is Victoria’s oldest and largest city park, and it’s right across the street. The British Columbia Provincial Museum and Imax Theatre are within a 15 to 20 minute walk - a very nice one through Beacon Hill Park. Royal London Wax Museum, the Empress Hotel and the stately Provincial Legislative Buildings are steps away from the museum. Head further into the downtown core and wander along the Inner Harbour, enjoying the buskers, artisans and all the activity on the water. Wander up to the Maritime Museum or Victoria’s historic Chinatown. Head in the opposite direction to downtown and tour the Cook Street Village. Craigdarroch Castle, The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the inspirational gardens of Government House are a casual 20 minute walk from Dashwood Manor. For more information on these and other attractions, look at our Attractions and Day Trips pages. CAN YOU HELP US PLAN SOME DAY TRIPS? Yes, Victoria has so much to offer! We have lived in the area for 29 years, and we have been advising guests on the area attractions for over eleven years. We can help you plan day trips to Metchosin, Sooke and further to the beaches towards Port Renfrew. We have day trip packages for excursions to the wineries and towns north to Nanaimo and off to the Gulf Islands. Want to see gardens? We have a list and directions to 13 local, outstanding gardens. DO YOU OFFER PACKAGES? Yes, we offer a number of vacation packages for your convenience. We can also work with you to create a package that suits your interests. We can have flowers and wine put in your room; we can arrange whale watching or a fishing expedition; we can reserve a spot for afternoon tea or make dinner reservations ... we can get you there by horse and carriage. Want to have a personal, guided tour of local gardens, including some private gardens? Yes, we can do that too. Email us and ask! WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN VICTORIA? Victorians enjoy some of the most moderate weather in all of Canada. Victoria boasts an average of 2,200 hours of sunshine each year. The average annual rainfall is 26 inches, almost half the rainfall for Vancouver or Seattle. Daily temperatures rarely rise above 30 °C (86 °F) or fall below 0 °C (32 °F). In the summer Victoria enjoys the moderating effects of the Pacific Ocean, averaging a daily high of 20 °C (68 °F) and low of 11 °C (52°F). The city’s moderate temperatures allow for year-round outdoor fun and activity. Many Victorians enjoy hiking, cycling, fishing, whale watching, boating, golf and scuba diving year round. |
Dashwood Manor Bed and Breakfast
One Cook Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 3W6
Tel: 1 (250) 385-5517 * Toll Free: 1-800-667-5517 * frontdesk@dashwoodmanor.com
One Cook Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 3W6
Tel: 1 (250) 385-5517 * Toll Free: 1-800-667-5517 * frontdesk@dashwoodmanor.com