We had a wonderful romantic getaway to Magnolia Hotel & Spa and here are the 5 reasons it is rated as a top romantic Victoria hotel.

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Written By: Gretta Kennedy, Traveling Islanders
Location: Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Featured Image Courtesy of Magnolia Hotel & Spa

Have you ever wondered if one night away with the love of your life will really make that big of a difference?

Jay and I were challenged a few years ago to make time together a priority.  We were challenged to make sure our marriage was important enough that we would find childcare, animal care, house-care, whatever-else-that’s-needed-care, in order to take a night every few months to spend just the two of us.  It was a great challenge.

Recently we spent an overnight in beautiful Victoria at the Magnolia Hotel and Spa. We have always heard good things about Magnolia Hotel & Spa and wanted to experience it for ourselves!

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa was voted one of the top hotels in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler readers and recognized as both a Top Hotel in Canada and a Top Luxury Hotel in Canada by TripAdvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® awards for the last four consecutive years!

I was so glad I brought my red umbrella! I love the colour it brings to pictures.

This boutique hotel and spa is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Victoria and just a block from Victoria’s breathtaking inner harbour.

Jay had been in downtown Vancouver for a couple days, so he flew by Harbour Air Seaplane to meet me in Victoria.

I was surprised at how easy it was to pick him up at Victoria Harbour and head to the hotel, we were literally a short walk away.

Photo Courtesy of Harbour Air

From the moment we walked into Magnolia Hotel and Spa, I felt comfortable.

There was a masculine elegance about this hotel that made me want to sit in front of the fire on one of the lobby armchairs and enjoy a good book.

Call me crazy, but it’s true.  It was just comfortable to me.

As a boutique hotel, Magnolia is small, but that’s the whole charm about it.  It boasts just 64 luxurious rooms and with its small size, is able to offer top notch service and a personal touch that did not go unnoticed.

There were so many wonderful things about this hotel stay.

Here are the top 5 reasons Magnolia Hotel & Spa is a top rated romantic hotel in Victoria:

The Rooms

We stayed in one of the Diamond Rooms – Harbour View with a king bed. It came complete with a gas fireplace, fully stocked mini bar, keureg coffee, and a bathroom with separate shower and tub.

This feature in particular is always a favourite of mine as I enjoy having a soak without fighting with a shower curtain.

The hotel sits about 2 blocks from the Victoria’s inner harbour, so the view from our room allowed us to see bits of the water.

Hotel Amenities

Though a smaller hotel, Magnolia has an exercise room with brand new machines, weights and even an infra-red sauna built for two. We don’t have any exercise equipment at home, so whenever we travel, Jay likes to get a good workout in.

We toured through Magnolia Spa which has 7 massage and treatment rooms and where you are sure to be able to unwind from a long day of shopping or walking the beautiful streets of downtown Victoria.

Parking downtown can often be tricky, but don’t worry about finding a place on the street because Magnolia offers valet services and will easily take care of your car.

Staff & Service

Jay liked that we could be ourselves at this hotel and feel comfortable bringing our Hawaiian suitcase! What a guy! 

I’m convinced that because of it’s smaller size, Magnolia is able to provide a personal, friendly staying experience.  From the valet, to the bellman, from the house-keeping staff to the front desk concierge, we were treated like family.

Well, not the kind of family where there is that awkward and quirky aunt…no, the kind where you feel so much at home you don’t want to leave.

On-Site Dining

The Catalano Restaurant, located on the ground floor of the hotel, has a wonderful array of Italian food.

We enjoyed items from the cicchetti (chi-Ket-tee, meaning a small bite or plate of food) menu. Fresh root vegetable chips still warm from the fryer, bacon-wrapped dates (oh. my. word.), and the truffled white bean spread with grilled flatbread were among my personal favourites.

And with all my crazy food allergies and sensitivities, the kitchen was able to accommodate me and offer me plenty of very satisfying dishes.

Location & Things To Do In The Area

(Photo Courtesy of Destination British Columbia)

This is Victoria, so there are a plethora of activities to choose from! Due to Magnolia’s close proximity to the ocean, we enjoyed a inner-harbour walk and had we stayed longer I would have loved to do some shopping in the many shops along downtown, though come to think of it, I may have to save that for a girls’ weekend…Jay tends to be allergic to shopping.

The Royal BC Museum is just a few blocks away, as is the BC Parliament buildings – both are wonderful locations to explore. The Victoria Harbour waterfront walkway is always an easy choice for a delightful stroll.

On this particular visit, we explored the Craigdarroch Castle (pronounced  Craig-Derek)  a must-see for the history enthusiast.  If you’re looking for a more romantic outing, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride or an evening at the Victoria theatre house.

We truly enjoyed our stay at Magnolia Hotel & Spa and only wished it could have been longer.

But I suppose that’s a good thing.

These quick one-nighters are good for our marriage and helps us reconnect and talk about things other than the day-to-day life stuff that can easily bog us down.

So how about you?  Is it time for a getaway?  Where’s your favourite spot for some “us” time?

Start the ball rolling with a comment below!

While our experience at Magnolia Hotel & Spa was complimentary, you can rest assured that my thoughts, opinions, and findings are my own as always.