- Are you located downtown?
Yes! We’re only a block away from City Hall and all the downtown attractions are within easy walking distance.
- How do I get to the hostel?
We’re just one block away from City Hall, on the corner of Pandora Avenue and Blanshard Street. Check out this link for more details: http://www.oceanisland.com/findus/.
- How close is the hostel to...?
Royal BC Museum & IMAX – about a 15 minute walk.
Victoria Bus Depot – about a 15 minute walk.
Chinatown – about a 5 minute walk.
Market Square – about a 5 minute walk.
Empress Hotel – about a 15 minute walk.
Inner Harbour – about a 15 minute walk.
Legislative Buildings – about a 20 minute walk.
Butchart Gardens – about a 45 minute public bus ride or 30 minute drive.
- What are your rates?
Dorm beds range from $19 - $25 per night before tax (be sure to show your student, HI or VIP card for a discount!). Private rooms range from $26 - $68 before tax and range from a very small mini-single rooms with no windows (for those who are simply needing a cosy private room to sleep) to our hotel-style standard double rooms that are spacious, bright, include ensuite bathrooms and have their own cable TV. We also offer family rooms that can accommodate 3 to 5 people, if two don’t mind sharing a double bed. For three people this price starts at $65 before tax… your own private room for your group at almost the same prices as a dorm bed each! For more information (photos, dimensions, prices, etc.), take a look at our room details page: http://www.oceanisland.com/roomdetails/index.html .
- How do I know if you have rooms available?
You can either call us at 1-250-385-1788 or toll-free from anywhere in North America at 1-888-888-4180, or email us at get-it@oceanisland.com to find out our availability.
- How many private rooms/beds do you have?
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.
- Do you charge per person for private rooms?
Our private rooms start at $26 before tax and generally, the cost for a second person will be a higher. At certain times of the year, the larger private rooms will be the same rate for both one and two people. If you want to add a third adult in a larger private room and need a roll-away bed for them, it will cost $16/night for them. We have a limited number of roll-away beds, so you’ll need to let us know in advance if you would like one, and please note that it’ll make some rooms very crowded! Our large family rooms are at a rate of a minimum of three adults, after that there is an additional cost for each extra person.
- Where can I find more information on work visas?
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, there is a wealth of information on the internet that specifies requirements depending on which country you have citizenship to. Here are just a few of them:
Australia – Working Holiday Program Canada (WHP Canada) - http://www.whpcanada.org.au/
UK – Canadian High Commission in London - http://www.canada.org.uk/visa-info/e_index.htm
Global Village Backpackers in Toronto lists some excellent links as well:
http://www.globalbackpackers.com/workingholidayvisa.aspx#austrailia
- Are your rates in American or Canadian currency?
All the prices quoted on our website are in Canadian funds, and unless noted, are before tax. We accept American money but only denominations of $20 or less. Unfortunately, we no longer accept the old $100 Canadian notes.
- Can I reserve without a credit card?
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—by cash, credit card, bank card or traveler’s cheques. If you’re in town, you can come in and book your room 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: office@oceanisland.com.
- WIll you charge my credit card right away?
No, we ask for your credit card information only to hold your bed or room. The only times we would charge it is if the cancellation policy applies to you—we have a 24-hour cancellation policy, this means you must let us know before 6pm the day before your arrival. Also, we would charge you if you simply didn’t show up at all! In both these cases, we charge for one night on your card. Groups of 6 people or more have a slightly different arrangement, but all of these reservations go through our Office and they’ll let you know all the details.
