Hotels with a Hot Tub or Sauna in Victoria

The Fairmont Empress is a five-star historic hotel overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbour, and I would recommend it to families who want a landmark stay with a pool. The indoor pool, hot tub and sauna sit alongside a full-service spa with extensive treatments. Rooms have elegant decor, a plush seating area and windows that open. The Royal British Columbia Museum is a five-minute walk away, which suits a cultural day with children.

I would recommend the Chateau Victoria to families who want downtown Victoria on foot. The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are about 600 metres away and Miniature World is a three-minute walk, an easy outing with children. Back at the hotel, the indoor pool and hot tub fill the end of the day. Rooms have free WiFi, a refrigerator and cable TV, and some have a private balcony, so ask if it matters. Pets are accepted.

I would recommend the Pendray Inn and Tea House to families who enjoy history and a harbourside setting. The property centres on the 1896 Queen Anne-style Pendray Inn and the 1878 Belleville House, on Victoria's Inner Harbour, so older children get a real sense of the Victorian era. The hot tub and sauna help everyone recover after a day on foot. Rooms are elegant, so it suits calm families better than very young children.

Hotel Grand Pacific is a waterfront four-star hotel in Victoria, and I would recommend it to families who like a pool in the middle of a sightseeing trip. The indoor pool and hot tub keep children busy when the weather turns, and the rooms have private balconies, free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. Beacon Hill Park and the BC Parliament Buildings are nearby, and the Victoria Clipper and Coho ferry terminals are a three-minute walk away.

Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour is less than a 10-minute walk from the whale-watching tours at the Inner Harbour, which makes a memorable family outing easy to organise on foot. Back at the hotel, the indoor pool fills the evenings, and the on-site restaurant serves meals daily. Some rooms have harbour or mountain views, and pets are accepted. I would choose it for families who want the harbour within walking distance and a pool to come back to.

Royal Scot Hotel & Suites is a four-star hotel five minutes on foot from the Victoria ferry terminal, and I would recommend it to families who want space. It offers spacious rooms, studios and suites, some with fully equipped kitchens, plus an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and fitness centre. The Royal BC Museum is a seven-minute walk away. Ask for a kitchen suite when you book.

Huntingdon Hotel and Suites is just 200 metres from Victoria's Inner Harbour, and that short walk to the waterfront is what I would highlight for families. Every room has a refrigerator, and select suites come with full kitchen facilities, worth requesting if you plan to cook. Two on-site restaurants cover meals, the garden gives children room to play, and the 24-hour reception helps with late ferry or flight arrivals. Pets are welcome, and WiFi is free throughout.

Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria On The Harbour is a three-star hotel on Victoria's Inner Harbour, and I would recommend it to families who want harbour views and a hot tub in every season. All rooms look over the city or the harbour, a seasonal outdoor pool opens in summer, and the hot tub is available year-round. A restaurant with a seasonal patio and a business centre are on site.

An indoor pool and hot tub give families a reliable activity whatever the Victoria weather, and the on-site restaurant and coffee shop keep breakfast simple. Free parking is a real advantage in this city, and the Inner Harbour is about 2.2 km away, a reasonable walk or a short drive. Rooms have air conditioning. I would choose it for families who want a practical base with a pool rather than a harbourfront view.

For a family trip to Victoria, the case for this inn is its position across from the Inner Harbour, so harbour walks start at the door. The setting is a historic club with Victorian décor, a bar and lounge and a billiards room, which I think suits families with older children more than parents of toddlers. Some rooms have a seating area, worth requesting for extra space, and the rooftop terrace opens in summer.

Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria Uptown is a three-star hotel in Victoria's Upper Harbour, and I would recommend it to families who want an indoor pool without a premium. Rooms have private entrances, free WiFi, air conditioning and a 43-inch flat-screen TV. The sauna and fitness centre add something for the adults, and an airport shuttle is available. Expect a practical base rather than a waterfront address.