Victoria Travel Forum

Hi,
I will be in Victoria for 2 days and one night. We are taking the ferry from Vancouver.

I wanted to have do High Tea, and wonder what's the best place to do it?

Also, I would like to book a masssage or spa treatment, can someone recommend a good place? Is Magnolia Hotel a good spot? We are staying at that hotel.

Thanks a lot!

For High Tea, it is an easy one: The Fairmont Empress

The Fairmont Express is the most popular place for the ultimate high tea experience, but it's also very expensive (about $50 per person). If you don't feel like paying that much, I would recommend going to the Gatsby Mansion for afternoon tea (http://www.gatsbymansion.com/afternoontea-two.html). It's half the price ($24.95 per person) and portions are so good and generous, you might not be able to eat dinner that night!

Indeed, the Fairmont Empress is the most "well-known" place for having tea. However, I would refer to it as a tourist trap. In my tips section, I outline a number of places that serve tea in Victoria. Check it out to help make a decision on the tea experience that would suit you best. You can decide based on location, traditional or West Coast style, and how expensive it is. I have outlined which is best. See the link below for more information.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/ff6e0/dc7d4/7/

With respect to Spas, Victoria has a number of fantastic spas. Naturally, most of the major hotels have spas including the Fairmont Empress, Ocean Pointe Resort as well as the Hotel Grand Pacific. If you are wanting to know where the locals go, I would recommend Le Spa Sereine. It's in the heart of downtown at the corner of Government and Johnson St. It is reasonably priced and the atmosphere is wonderful and very relaxing. I would highly recommend it. Check it out at http://www.lespasereine.com/

PS: It's a very short walk from the Magnolia Hotel.