Frequently Asked Questions
All guests must be at least 17 years of age and reside outside of the Greater Victoria area and will need to have a valid, government-issued photo ID and credit card. If you book a room and do not meet these requirements upon check-in we will still have to charge you for one night's stay as we have kept the room or bed for you.
The maximum length of stay we allow for is 2 weeks to ensure availability for travelers.
We may require to pre-authorize your credit card on the day of or the day before your reservation. If this pre-authorization is declined your reservation will be canceled.
Ocean Island has 70 private rooms although in the summertime we change a few of these into dormitories. When we’re completely full, we can accommodate nearly 200 people.
All of our rooms have rates for both single and double occupancy (excluding Group/Family Rooms, which have rates for 3, 4 or 5 people): check the price chart on each individual room page to see the exact prices.
We’re in downtown Victoria, just one block away from City Hall, on the corner of Pandora Avenue and Blanshard Street. Visit our Directions & Contact page for more information.
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 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.
We are able to offer discounted accommodation and food & drinks for those employed in one of our casual positions. This is a great opportunity for those looking to save some money while traveling. Find out more information on our casual employment page.
Information of working permits/visas can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca.
If you are interested in a working holiday visa to Canada, there is a wealth of information on the Internet about the specific requirements for your country. Your first stop should be International Experience Canada, a government website with tons of information about obtaining a Working Holiday visa.
And be sure to take a look at the SWAP program.
To make a reservation online or on the phone, 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, bank card or traveler’s cheques. If you’re in Victoria, you can book your room in person and pay upfront. That way it is reserved for you and you do not need to use a credit card to hold it. Alternate arrangements may be possible. Contact our office for more details: info[at]oceanisland.com.
Check out our vending machines on the second floor for a wide array for sweet and savoury snacks. We also have an in-house licensed café lounge, open 5pm to 11pm, where you can get a cold beer for a really good price. If you book direct - dinner is included and served between 6-8 pm. If you’re the type who likes to cook their own meals, visit our Victoria Guide to see a list of the grocery stores closest to Ocean Island.
No, but Victoria Transit runs from the ferries to downtown, and the YYJ Airport Shuttleoperates a shuttle bus between the airport and downtown. See our Directions & Contact page for more transportation options.
