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Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

Photo gallery for Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
5 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel cot, free WiFi
Smart TV, fireplace, video games
Outdoor dining
Exterior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12278 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary
House Video Tour: https://youtu.be/XqseWmblWiY
The best of what Victoria's character home charm and modern west coast living style has to offer. A beautifully updated 5 bedroom, 3 full bath Character home that is centrally located between downtown, ferries, and YYJ airport yet tucked away in the blissfully quiet neighborhood of Swan Lake with stunning views! With a nature reserve across the street, there is no shortage of beautiful wildlife including humming birds, deer, and bunnies; leaving one feeling at home in a true nature sanctuary. There is also a lower seperate legal home (not a suite) which offers two bedrooms and a full 4 piece bath which can also be rented for larger groups if needed.

Property manager

Gerry Etcheverry

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 6 steps to reach entrance
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • No lift
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Visual alarms in hallways
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Bicycle parking

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Bicycle parking
  • Composting
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Garden
  • Recycling
  • Unit size: 2,992 square feet
  • Water-efficient showers
  • Water-efficient toilets

Similar properties

Living area

1.7 Acres Beautiful waterfront house near downtown and UVIC

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
3.0 out of 10, 2 reviews
The price is AU$1,081
includes taxes & fees
19 Feb - 20 Feb
1.7 Acres Beautiful waterfront house near downtown and UVIC

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number NO BUSINESS LICENCE REQUIRED

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

Property is also known as

Character Stay Across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary Victoria

About the area

Map
Victoria, BC

What's nearby

  • Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre - 7 min drive
  • University of Victoria - 7 min drive
  • Royal BC Museum - 9 min drive
  • Victoria Harbour - 9 min drive
  • Victoria Clipper Ferry Terminal - 10 min drive

Getting around

  • Victoria, BC (YWH-Victoria Inner Harbour Seaplane Base) - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Browns Socialhouse - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary located?

Located in Saanich East, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Lochside Regional Trail, Uptown Center and Princess Louisa Inlet. MayFair Shopping Centre and Topaz Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 60 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 60 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 60 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 60 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 60 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

2.0/10

Amenities

2.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

2.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

David K.

Very cosy and spacious
Our 2 families enjoyed our stay at Gerry’s lovely property. Obviously it is a wee way from downtown but downtown is an easy Uber. Would recommend if you have a big group as lots of space.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kirstin G.

Amazing experience
Gerry was absolutely amazing and was so helpful during our stay! He made us feel so welcome and provided all the extra perks to make our visit memorable and comfortable. We definitely will be returning again
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

William F.

Great for a group of eight
This is a very nice large house with a large deck that worked well for our group for two nights. It is on a quiet street but only two blocks from an arterial. I recommend it and would stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sue P.

Fantastic House
This property was perfect for 5 friends exploring Vancouver Island. It is easy to get to all major highways and so close to downtown. Highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Craig D.

Victoria/Sannich BC
The property was very well looked after and the host had extreme pride in the property and it was evident. We had an excellent stay in Victoria because the accommodations were excellent as described.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

LaJune E.

The Ensz's
It was great! Thanks!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terry B., Austin, TX

Perfect Vancouver area home
We had 3 couples staying for one week. The location was perfect for getting into Vancouver and nearby places, while not being in a high density area. The kitchen was well appointed. The beds were comfortable. We enjoyed breakfast every morning on the back deck. Gerry was quick to address a couple of small issues we had. Recommend this home.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan N.

Awesome property!
Situated conveniently in Saanich with an easy drive to shops and restaurants, this property is high class! It is so well stocked with high end dishes, cutlery, glasses, and serving platters and bowls. It was never a question of finding something but of which to use. Definitely not your often found poor quality, limited supplies. Many spices and basics provided. As we were 4 adult sibling couples, it was easy and comfortable to make meals and spend time there. We even hosted a small dinner party for an extended family of 3 more in the dining room. There were multiple sitting areas with well maintained patio furniture. The owner was more than happy to help with minor issues around how to use things. Loved the park that was just a short walk down the street. Sets the bar very high for future rentals!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Stella T.

Liked: Listing accuracy
Nice place but NOT suitable for older less mobile people
Many stairs. Only 2 of the bedrooms have a bathroom that’s convenient to the room. Dark lighting in kitchen over work area. Poor lighting in many other places. Nice outdoor areas and very well provisioned.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erika C.

Memorable
I am not always the most confident when booking a stay for a group: its a lot of responsibility! So, when my sister got to Gerry’s ahead of me and texted, “It’s amazing!”, I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was attended to: neat as pin, superb communication, incredibly well stocked cupboards, room to congregate but with space for those who wanted to retreat, beautiful surroundings, attention to interior design, and easy to follow instructions. I can’t thank Gerry enough for his kind hospitality and would certainly stay here again….and again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matt F.

Beautiful home in fantastic place
My family stayed here for several days and it was a wonderful time. The house is beautiful and well-taken care of. There is space to sit on the deck and play outside in the grass. There is a large kitchen/living room area for everyone to spend time together but there are also several rooms where everyone can spread out if they would like. Everything you need is pretty much there. The inside of the house is immaculate and updated. The outside is beautifully landscaped. It is near a nature sanctuary which is nice to walk around in the morning or evening. There are many bike trails near by and a gym with a great pool for kids. Downtown Victoria is only 3 to 4 miles away so that is not a bad drive. The owner, Gerry, takes a lot of pride in the work he has done on his home and wants his visitors to have the best time possible. I enjoyed meeting him and I appreciated his hospitality. This was a wonderful house. We had 9 people stay and it was perfect for us.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cassandra J.

Gerry Is The Best Host Ever!!!
Gerry is the absolute best, most attentive, kind, wonderful host I have ever had for a vacation rental. The house is absolutely immaculate. I rented the big house and the smaller unit and popped up from the smaller unit to see the big house after guests had checked out. Gerry was in there with the cleaners cleaning and he was running lemon through the coffee makers to get them spotless. It is not something anyone would ever know that he does, but he does it! The whole house was spotless. Everything is washed, even throw blankets, throw rugs, and pillows. Gerry is always there when you need him. The house is stunning and full of character. It is close to downtown and all of the major attractions. It is a really wonderful place to stay. xo
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patricia, Banff

A wonderful vacation stay
Our 3 generation family of 10 just completed a most enjoyable stay in this beautiful property. This lovely home is located in a quiet area, close to major attractions and services. We loved our early mornings on the large deck surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with hummingbirds and butterflies. After busy days of sightseeing we would again gather on the deck to laugh and share our adventures of the day. The home is as pictured; beautiful, spotless, very comfortable. The dream kitchen is well equipped with everything you need to create interesting meals. The large dining room table accommodates 10 diners, and also provides a wonderful spot for games. We appreciated our host, Gerry who was attentive without being intrusive. If we needed anything we would send a text and he would respond quickly. He dropped off what we asked for at the front door. He did the yard work while we were away from the property. He was generous in answering questions and providing information when we asked. We all loved this home and it’s location. If we can get everyone together again we wouldn’t even look for a different property, we would book this house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

MARLIS H., Cabri, Saskatchewan, Canada

Family Gathering
Our family of 6 adults and 2 teenagers stayed in this beautiful home for three nights in November. It is easily one of the nicest VRBO rentals we have ever had and is as beautiful and as spacious as the photos shown in the listing. It was a cool, rainy weekend, so we didn't use the deck or yard but it would be lovely to sit out there in the summer. The host, Gerry, met us upon arrival, to give instructions and information which was very helpful. We also knew he was close by should any problems arise, (which there were none!) There are some rules, but he takes great pride in this property and it shows. The house is located in a quiet area, near a nature preserve, where we went for our family photo session. It is only about a 15-20 minute drive to any of the attractions we wanted to see in Victoria. Airport 20 minutes away. The house was exceptionally clean, beautifully decorated with attention to detail. Kitchen was well stocked with dishes, glasses, appliances, condiments, spices and so on. We didn't cook any big meals, but everything you would need is there. The beds were comfortable with great quality bedding. I would definitely rent this property again if we go back to Victoria and recommend it to anyone. A +5 star rating for sure.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

6/10 Okay

Alex C.

Liked: Communication, listing accuracy
Great location with helpful but overbearing owner
My family and I stayed here for a long weekend and had a mixed experience. While the owner was very helpful it also felt like he was hovering over us. This meant we couldn't relax as much as we had hoped. Some of his comments also came across as rude as he was very protective of his house and issues with our guests not knowing the parking rules (which we're quickly fixed and didn't require rude comments). In a bit more detail: The positives were: * A great location, easy access to downtown Victoria * Very clean and well kept home (sheets were ironed before our stay) * Owner was receptive to help with home issues The negatives: * In the headline of the listing it said six bedrooms, however it turns out there are only 5 bedrooms (plus space for a provided air mattress) and one of the bedrooms doesn't have a door so it's exposed to any noise in the main living room * Previous issues discussed above about owner hovering over us * The WiFi was not reliable despite attempts by the owner to fix it
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Kathryn K.

Excellent property, not family friendly
This rental is easily the nicest I’ve ever stayed at with any rental service. The house is lovely with excellent amenities. The owner obviously takes very good care of the house. There are many upgrades throughout making it a luxury stay. The house is fully stocked with most everything you need including ample towels, toiletries, dish and laundry soap. The owner is very nice, has excellent communication and was able to work with me on an issue with a change in occupants last minutes. The only issues we had were the slightly overbearing and ever present owner as well as feeling like our kids weren’t welcome. The owner was there for the checkin and took us on a 30-45 minute walk through of the whole house. While some of this was helpful, some of the items he covered were self explanatory or able to be covered in a handbook. The owner definitely takes pride in his home but said some unnecessary things eluding to the concerns that my children were going to break things and cause messes. Halfway through the trip we got a message that our kids were too loud in the morning asking us to keep our 1 and 3 year olds from walking too heavily. The owner was also on site a lot of the time and we felt as if we were being watched. Overall this home would be great for friends or a family without little kids.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

2/10 Terrible

Lesley

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The house in this rental has another basement unit renting out, we were asked not make any noise after 11pm, don’t think this is kids friendly house. The check in process felt overbearing and during it, Gerry made a few remarks, like some India guest get his oven dirty and some Filipino guest took away his olive oil bottle, that made us feel uneasy. Without any prior notice, one of his workers walked into the backyard, where we were having dinner, to start watering the plants and violating our privacy. The checkout process was very unpleasant with the owner accusing us of ruining his dining table with ‘Chinese characters’ as we were a Chinese group. The markings on the table didn’t look new and after attempting to dispute them with Gerry, we were given a $600 incidental charge for something that we didn’t cause and was told that Gerry would be wanting more incidental charges to replace the table entirely. Gerry just simply believes his “well trained” cleaner will check every inch of the house every time the guest leave, just like he said he told the worker not watering the plants while guest inside, but the worker still showed up. We would NOT recommend this house to anyone. If you do stay, we strongly recommend you take detailed photos and videos of everything when you check-in and before you check-out to prevent you from running into a similar experience like ours.

10/10 Excellent

DOUGLAS T.

Thanksgiving at the coast
This was a great place to house our family of 8 for the weekend. Plenty of space, very well stocked kitchen and great indoor and outdoor spaces.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carrie B.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

judith m.

Stunning house
This is a stunning property in a wonderful location. The house is beautifully furnished and very comfortable. This was a long anticipated family reunion; we enjoyed the outdoor spaces for dining, and we all took walks around the Swan Lake Sanctuary. at the end of the street. The host is extremely helpful and gracious. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ken S.

One Word: “Amazing”
Gerry was very gracious and thorough introducing us to his lovely home. He thought of everything that a guest might need or enjoy; from the multiple tabletop fire pits on all the patios to the fully stocked kitchen. Bedrooms were spacious, clean and comfortable. The photos in the listing do not do the property justice. We hope to return sometime soon. Thank you, Gerry!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Salma W.

Beautiful home, very comfortable stay, great host
Stayed for 3 nights with 12 family members for a reunion Host, Gerry is attentive and quick at communication. Very clean home. Home is stocked with everything you need and more - air mattress, towels, beach towels, kitchen has everything you need for cooking dinner like spices, utensils, tupperware, BBQ. High quality linens. Outside seating areas are spacious with fire tables and pleasant garden. Gerry takes so much pride in making this a perfect stay for all. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rick H.

Family Fabulous
Perfect for larger groups wanting a place to unwind after a day of visiting the Victoria area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lydia K.

Nice stay in Victoria
Very clean and well stocked home, beautiful property and close to the nature preserve. Host was very attentive and involved.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

AIMEE G.

"Character Stay" is a great place!
We had a great stay & Gerry is a fantastic host!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024