Frequently Asked Questions
VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID is required for all guests. If you make a reservation and arrive without valid ID, your reservation will need to be cancelled and you will be charged for one night's stay as the room was held for you.
PRE-AUTHORIZATION: A valid credit card is required to hold a reservation and it will be pre-authorized before your arrival. If this pre-authorization is declined and we are unable to reach you, your reservation will be cancelled. Upon arrival, your credit card may be pre-authorized for $100.00 for incidentals.
All of our rooms have rates for both single and double occupancy (excluding Group/Family Rooms, which have rates for 3 or 4 people). Dorm beds are always charged per bed. Check out our rates here: Rates & Availability.
We’re in downtown Victoria, just one block away from City Hall, on the corner of Pandora Avenue and Blanshard Street.
From the ferry terminal:
If you’re driving from the ferries, follow BC-17 all the way into town and find us on the corner of Blanshard & Pandora. If you take public transport, take bus #70 or #72 and get off at City Hall. Walk up to Pandora Avenue and turn left, we are the end of the block on your right.
From the airport:
If you have a car, follow Willingdon Road to BC-17 and drive down to Blanshard & Pandora. Otherwise, we advise you to take the YYJ Shuttle which will drop you off in front of the hostel.
From the Inner Harbour (For Clipper & Black Ball Ferry passengers)
If you’re driving, drive up on Belleville and turn left on Douglas Street. Drive up to Cormorant Street and turn right. Drive one block to Blanshard and turn right. Drive up to the traffic lights and you’ll see us on the corner of Blanshard & Pandora.
Walk past the Parliament Building and turn left on Government Street. Walk up to Pandora Avenue and turn right. You’ll find us at the end of the second block.
Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena: about a 5-minute walk.
BC Ferries / Victoria Airport: 30-minute drive, 1 hour by bus.
Butchart Gardens: about a 45-minute public bus ride or a 30-minute drive.
Chinatown: about a 5-minute walk.
Market Square: about a 5-minute walk.
Royal BC Museum & IMAX: about a 15-minute walk.
Victoria Bus Depot: about a 15-minute walk.
Empress Hotel: about a 15-minute walk.
Inner Harbour: about a 15-minute walk.
Legislative Buildings: about a 20-minute walk.
Check-out time is 11am.
Occasionally, we do offer our guests the option to work for accommodation. More information can be found on our website or simply just send your cover letter and resume to hiring@oceanisland.com.
You can find more information on work visas and check your eligibility to work in Canada on the Canadian Government website. Unfortunately, Ocean Island is unable to sponsor working visas at this time.
Unfortunately, we require a credit card to hold your bed or room. When you arrive you can pay by any method you want: cash, credit card, or debit cards. Alternate arrangements may be possible for extended stays. Contact our office for more details: info@oceanisland.com.
No, but Victoria Transit runs from the ferries to downtown, and there are ride-hailing services like KABU and LUCKY To Go that operate between the airport and downtown. Please note that due to COVID-19, the YYJ Airport Shuttle is not currently operating.
PARKING: Limited parking on-site $15/day available on a first come, first served basis & unlimited parking 100m away at Johnson Street Parkade.
You can find many banks within walking distance. Please ask our 24/7 friendly front desk staff for directions. Unfortunately, Ocean Island Inn is unable to exchange money at this time.
We offer a variety of discounts to our guests. Our equipment rental discounts can be found here.
Yes, Ocean Island provides free baggage storage on the day of your check-in and/or check out. Overnight storage costs an additional $5 per day.
Ocean Island happily welcomes your family & friends. Visitors of guests are allowed in the building between 8:00 am until 11:00 pm and they have to sign in at the front desk. Please note that no visitors are allowed in the shared rooms. Overnight visitors can stay for an additional fee.
PET POLICY: Sorry, pets are not permitted at Ocean Island Inn. However, the Ocean Island Suites are pet friendly. Please visit www.oisuites.com for more details.
Our rooms on the ground floor are wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, we don’t have an elevator and our rooms on the upper floors are therefore not wheelchair accessible. As our reservation system automatically allocates rooms, please kindly request a room on our ground floor.
CHECK-IN: Check-in time is 4pm. Should you arrive earlier and your room is not yet ready, we would be happy to store your luggage so you can go out and explore the city.
For late check-outs, please inquire with our front desk on the day of your departure to see if a late check-out will be possible.
GENERAL CANCELLATION POLICY: We have a 1-day cancellation policy. This means that you must let us know before 6 pm (18:00) the day before your arrival if you need to cancel. Cancellations made after this period are subject to a cancellation fee of 1 Night’s Stay.
REFUNDS POLICY: We do not offer refunds after check-in and we cannot offer any refunds related to Covid-19.
MULTIPLE DORM BEDS: Please note that if you are booking multiple dorm beds we cannot guarantee they will be in the same room.
Linens are provided on every bed free of charge, and we actually do not allow guests to bring their own linens. If you need an extra blanket or pillow, let our front desk know and we’ll be happy to oblige! As for towels, they are available for a refundable cash deposit of $10.00 at our front desk. You can also trade out a wet towel for a fresh one anytime at our front desk. Locks are available for a refundable deposit, too!
Generally, we have a rotating menu, with two options available every night to choose from. These options range from soups, curries, and other delicious meals! Our menu is entirely vegetarian (and usually even vegan!), and you are more than welcome to have a second serving so you can try both options. Food allergies or dietary restrictions? Ask our dinner server to see a list of ingredients!
