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Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Character Stay across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

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

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12278 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Victoria, BC
  • Uptown Center
    17 min walk
  • De Dutch Pannekoek House
    14 min walk
  • Victoria Bus Station
    8 min drive
  • Victoria, BC (YWH-Victoria Inner Harbour Seaplane Base)
    16 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

Property grounds

1.7 Acres Beautiful waterfront house near downtown and UVIC

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Parking available
1.5 out of 5, (2)
The price is CA $399
per night
CA $984 total
includes taxes & fees
5 Jan - 6 Jan
1.7 Acres Beautiful waterfront house near downtown and UVIC

About the area

Victoria

Saanich East stay.With a stay at this Saanich East vacation home, you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Lochside Regional Trail and 2 miles (3 km) of Uptown Center. Princess Louisa Inlet and MayFair Shopping Centre are also within 2 miles (3 km).
View more Vacation homes in VictoriaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • MayFair Shopping Centre - 5 min drive
  • Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre - 7 min drive
  • University of Victoria - 7 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

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

  • Free WiFi, with speed of 500+ Mbps (good for 6+ people or 10+ devices)

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Coffee grinder
  • Toaster
  • Kitchen island

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

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

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

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

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

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.
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • No elevators
  • 6 stairs to reach property
  • 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 the lake

Safety features

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

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Composting
  • Recycling
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Unit size: 2992.4 sq ft (278 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out

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

Special check-in instructions

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

Pets

  • No pets 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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number NO BUSINESS LICENCE REQUIRED

Property is also known as

Character Stay Across Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary Victoria

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

Marion M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family wedding visit
We were in Victoria for a family wedding. This home was the perfect place to host our group. So spacious and comfortable. The home is absolutely beautiful and so well stocked with anything you may need. Our host was very friendly and welcoming. Definitely would stay again and recommend to any group visiting the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

DOUGLAS T., Edmonton

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

judith m., Redmond, WA

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

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

10/10 Excellent

Susan N.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

David K.

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

MARLIS H., Cabri, Saskatchewan, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Terry B., Austin, TX

Liked: Cleanliness
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

2/10 Terrible

Lesley

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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

LaJune E.

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

10/10 Excellent

Patricia, Banff

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Matt F.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Erika C.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

William F.

Liked: Cleanliness
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.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

8/10 Good

Kathryn K.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Craig D.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Jill L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and convenient!
Lovely house with plenty of room for our party. Nice walking trail across the street and park nearby. Host thought of every detail. We loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

John R.

Liked: Cleanliness
A house for a wedding group to stay
The property was perfect for the needs fof our group of seven.There is probably no other property available that has the amount of supplies in house for use by a renter . The number and variety of glasses available were impressive. Gerry was very responsive to any of our requests . There is plenty of parking nearby for any guests..The house is modern inside and true to pictures online. The nearby Swan Lake nature walk was nice and enjoyed by all of us. Highly recommended for a group going to Victoria
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022