Bayview Terrace Bed & Breakfast, 1440 Sherwood Drive, V9T 1G7 Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

 Phone: +1 250 7511969, +1 888 7511969
 Innkeeper: Anthea Simick
 Website: http://www.bayviewterrace.ca
 Rates per room start from: 60 CAD

 Breakfast type: continetal+ breakfast
 Breakfast time: 08:00 - 09:00
 Breakfast is served: in the dining area or on the main sundeck
 Check-in from: 15:00, check-out by: 11:00

Bayview Terrace Bed & Breakfast in Nanaimo is a unique architect-designed Departure Bay Beach landmark, which offers B&B accommodation for the discerning traveller. Located 2 min from the beach, 7 min from the ferry terminal and 15 min by car from downtown Nanaimo, Bayview Terrace has all the comforts of a home in a serene and secluded setting. It offers one suite and two rooms, all equipped with kitchenette, bathroom, TV, Wi-Fi internet. Each has a private entrance from its private ocean-side patio with seating area and BBQ. Hearty continental+ breakfast is served daily in the dining room overlooking the ocean or at the sundeck.

General amenities

 barbecue/BBQ

 summer garden

 summer terrace/patio

 pets are not admitted

 entirely non-smoking

 smoking is allowed only outside

 children are welcome

 not suitable for physically challenged guests

 off-street parking

 quiet surroundings

 entirely private

Room amenities

 television set

 Wi-Fi internet

 heating

 seating area

 tea and coffee making facilities

 refrigerator

 microwave

 kitchenette

 en-suite bathroom

Nearby amenities/activities

 skiing

 walking

 fishing

 swimming

 sun bathing

 trekking

 boating

 canoeing

 diving

 biking

 hiking

 sailing

 photography

 picnic areas

 beaches

 mountains

 ocean

 historic sites

 cultural events

 museums/galleries

 wine tasting

 fine dining

 shopping

Payment types

 Cash

 Cheques

Location map

An interview with the innkeeper(s) of Bayview Terrace Bed & Breakfast (14th of February 2010)

Al and Anthea Simick

2 years

When we decided to move to Vancouver Island from Vancouver, we looked at many, many "ocean view" properties. In many cases, you needed binoculars to see the ocean. We fell in love with this house the moment we saw it from the beach. Once inside, we were hooked - it was a "must have". Our children had left home and there was just the two of us - what would we do with a 4 bedroom, 3400 sq ft (316 sq m) on 3/4 acre? Al retired several years ago, but I'm not sure I will ever be ready for full retirement. I'm an avid gardener and love to entertain - running a B&B has always been my dream, and this house was almost perfect. We spent our first year converting the rooms to make them perfect and started to plant a garden, which had been sadly neglected. The house has four decks, all with ocean views. We added a "guest deck" with an ornamental pond in the terraced garden overlooking the ocean. We decided to allow the many deer to explore and eat the front garden and the garden at one side, but, after many attempts have found creative ways to keep them from destroying the steeply terraced garden at the back, facing the ocean. We now have a vegetable garden, an "English garden" with a pond on the bottom terrace and perennial and annual gardens elsewhere. We replaced the steps that run through the garden that take you down to beach level. We spent our spare time exploring the island around and discovered that there's so much more here than we realized. I still wake in the morning, look out at the ocean, see the hummingbirds at the feeders and truly feel blessed. I'm so lucky to be able to share our corner of paradise with guests from all over the world.

Our home is truly unique. When locals ask where we live, I say, "the unique house by Departure Bay Beach with many roof levels" and they know the house immediately and tell us how lucky we are. As soon as we looked through the house, I knew it would make the perfect B&B. Our home is on a sloping, terraced lot, and every room in the house faces the ocean. Our guest rooms and suite are all at garden level and each room has its own separate patio with patio furniture and a gas barbecue. Our newly built guest deck is a few steps down from the individual patios. Guests can sit on their own patio and enjoy the privacy, but also have the choice to join other guests on this common sundeck. In the summer, the flowers cascade over the rail of the deck, hummingbirds feed from the feeders in the surrounding trees. You'll often see deer on the "wild side" of the garden and eagles souring above, and, if you're really lucky, you may see whales out in the bay. In spite of being so close to nature, we are just a minute's walk to the bus route and a 10 minute drive from the ferry terminal and downtown Nanaimo with its theatre, casino, shops and restaurants.

Luxury, luxury and all the convenience of home are the things that impress our guests the most. Our breakfasts are so much more than the traditional "continental breakfast" and guests are always pleasantly surprised to see the sumptuous display of fresh fruit, home made muesli, yogurt, freshly home-baked bread, baguettes and pastries as well as an assortment of fresh juices and of course, coffee and/or tea. Here are some comments from past guests: "This has been the highlight of our month-long vacation in Canada. We loved the room, the house is amazing. The best towels, the best linens and the best breakfast we've had anywhere." "Thanks so much for your hospitality. We fell in love with the place and will be back next year. What luxury to stay in a B&B where we could enjoy a glass of wine overlooking the ocean and cook local wild salmon on our own barbecue. We've loved every minute of our stay." I know our guests enjoy the fact that we really try to understand and accommodate the needs of each guest. Would they like their privacy and enjoy breakfast in their room, or on their private patio? Have they arrived tired after a long drive/ferry ride and would enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine on the deck? Do they want an early breakfast because they're heading off to the caves or kayaking/hiking for the day?

Each room and suite has its own entrance from a private patio overlooking the ocean at garden level, a fully equipped kitchenette and a cafe style eating area. All rooms have 100% cotton linens and down duvets. Rooms and kitchenettes are cleaned on a daily basis (we don't expect you to do your own dishes!) Each room has it's own TV and its own bathroom. Breakfast is served in the eating area off our kitchen in inclement weather, but most days in the summer guests prefer to breakfast on our main sundeck overlooking the ocean.

We have two guest rooms and one suite, each with queen size bed. We also have two air mattresses so the suite can accommodate 2 children and 2 adults. In total we can accommodate 6 adults and 2 children.

The Newcastle Suite is 3 rooms - a large bed/sitting room with a small eating area, a kitchenette, and en-suite bathroom. The suite is airy and fresh feeling with 8 foot sliding doors onto the patio with its own gas barbecue and great ocean views. The Mount Benson Room has a warm and comforting atmosphere. It has a built in kitchenette and a gas fireplace. The 8 ft sliding glass doors take you onto the patio with its own barbecue and ocean views. The Christina room has its own fridge, microwave and coffee pot and is steps from the common sundeck in the garden.

Each room is heated through our central heating system with a thermostat to control the heat in each room. All of our rooms have kitchen facilities, queen beds with down duvets and 100% cotton linens, tv and internet connection. The Newcastle suite has full kitchenette facilities including fridge, microwave, toaster, toaster oven, coffee pot, electric frypan, and a full set of cutlery, plates and glasses. The en-suite bathroom has shower, toilet and sink. In the Mount Benson Room, the kitchenette is built-in and has all the facilities of the Newcastle Suite except there is no toaster oven. Early in the year when rooms need heating, most guests choose to use the thermostat-controlled gas fireplace, although the room also has central heating. The newly renovated 4-piece bathroom is a few steps down the hall. The Christina Room has fridge, coffee pot, microwave, toaster, cutlery, plates and glasses. This room is rented only when we have guests requiring 2 rooms who are happy to share a bathroom. This means that you would only share a bathroom with your traveling companions, never with strangers. We provide bathrobes in both the Mount Benson and the Christina guest rooms. Each bathroom has a hair dryer. There is an iron and ironing board available for guests' use.

Our room rates are all-inclusive. There are no taxes. The rate includes off-street parking, breakfast, internet, and daily cleaning service.

We give a 10% discount for stays of seven days or more.

Our "continental+ breakfast" includes fresh fruit, home-made muesli, bread, baguettes, muffins and pastries. Yogurt, cereal, cottage cheese and a variety of home-made preserves and marmalade, plus coffee and a variety of teas. Our fruit tray consists of virtually every fruit in season, so a typical day would be a selection of melon slices, pineapple, mango, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, pears and bananas. In season, we have apples and plums from the garden and next year I hope to have berries from the garden too.

Normal breakfast time is 8:00 until 9:00, however we will make breakfast at any time that guests want it and frequently do an early breakfast when guests are planning a long day-trip. Breakfast is served in our dining area or on the main sundeck (weather permitting). Guests can request a breakfast tray delivered to their room if they wish.

We provide a healthy, well-balanced breakfast that is suitable for most dietary needs, but will accommodate special needs (eg: gluten free) with prior notice

There are cooking facilities in each room and individual gas barbecues on the patio outside each room.

On a steeply sloping lot with many sets of steps and two unprotected ponds, our home is not suitable for very young children. We're happy to have children over the age of six.

No.

We are a smoke-free home. Guests may smoke on the outside decks, with the exception of the main deck at breakfast time.

We have a three parking spots available for guests on our property in front of the house.

With steps on every level, our home is not suitable for those with mobility problems.

Check-out time is 11:00 am. Preferred check-in is between 3pm and 6pm, although we try to be as flexible as possible for outgoing and incoming guests. If we have prior notice, we are happy to accommodate guests arriving any time up until 11pm.

No. We do have a $15 surcharge for single nights.

By email, which we will respond to within 24 hours. Or by toll-free telephone in North America. As we take only cash, we do not require a deposit.

As we do not take a deposit, we hope that guests will be considerate and give us as much notice as possible if they have to cancel.

Cash and traveller's checks only.

Locally, Nanaimo has lots to offer. There are several good theatres in the area, some great restaurants and a casino in downtown Nanaimo. Sitting on our deck will inspire you to take a closer look at what nature has to offer - and all within 10 minute drive from our B&B. Ask us for a trail map and walk the many trails, take a hike on Mount Benson, walk along the beach and the seawall, go crabbing at Mafeo Sutton Park, go kayaking or fish in the ocean, the rivers or the many lakes in the area, go bungee jumping at Wild Play, take the ferry to Newcastle Island or visit the Dinghy Dock pub on Protection Island, go swimming or just spend the day on the beach at Piper's Lagoon, Long Lake or Westwood Lake, learn to scuba-dive or, for experienced divers, visit any of the many great scuba diving locations including the site of the sunken Cape Breton, a World War ll Naval Vessel rated the world's second largest artificial reef. If you want to go a little further afield, Nanaimo is a also a great "jumping off point" for exploring southern and mid-Vancouver Island. Tour the many wineries in the Cowichan Valley area, take a day trip to Horne Lake caves, or MacMillan Provincial Park to see the amazing Douglas firs in Cathedral Grove. Visit Mount Washington or take a scenic drive to Tofino for miles of amazing surfing beaches.

Just north of downtown Nanaimo. From the ferry terminal, follow the signs to Campbell River and the north. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Estevan (most traffic will turn left to the highway). Follow Estevan and merge right onto Departure Bay Road. Follow the road down past the beach, turn left at the lights onto Hammond Bay Road and then immediately left onto Friar Tuck Road. At the T junction, turn left onto Sherwood Drive. Bayview Terrace is at 1440 Sherwood Drive, five houses down on the water side of the road.

We try to accommodate everyone - from those who want the privacy and anonymity of a hotel, to those who want to enjoy the company of their hosts and to share some time with other guests. Our guests have everything they need in the privacy of their own room. Breakfast is a time when they can choose to continue to enjoy their privacy by having a breakfast tray delivered to their room. But most guests prefer to come up and join us and other guests for breakfast. Each room has its own patio with garden furniture, but frequently guests will choose to mingle with others on the common sundeck and enjoy a late afternoon snack or a glass of wine.

B&B guests have been very surprised to learn that we're new at being B&B hosts. Anthea is an absolute perfectionist so the rooms are always in pristine condition and breakfast is a feast for the eyes. We loved every minute of the time we spent with guests last year and we're looking forward to greeting and spending time with new guests - and some returning guests - again this year.

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