Real Estate

Abigail: There are no ghosts here!

Many of Victoria’s oldest restaurants and lodges, and even the Royal Victoria Golf Course, have ghost stories. Abigail’s Hotel guests often ask about the ghost story and the incredibly accommodating staff would love to tell you one. Unfortunately, the ghosts have not appeared.

Abigail’s Hotel is located on the edge of downtown Victoria, a stone’s throw from the Inner Harbor and is truly one of Victoria’s best kept secrets. Well not anymore! I’m letting the cat out of the bag! I have lived here for over 20 years and have driven countless times, each time wondering what it was like. I have been to several stately hotels and they were all nice but often disappointing. Not so with Abigail’s.

As we passed the hotel entrance, we immediately noticed the manicured English gardens. Passing between Coach House and Inn, both buildings look very similar. At first glance, we couldn’t tell that they were built 50 years apart. We parked and were immediately greeted by Tomas, the super friendly front desk attendant. He guides us to our room and fully informs us about the hotel and services. Breakfast in bed sounds appealing, but we opted to have breakfast with the other guests.

Our room is spacious and adorned with just about every amenity we could wish for. Is it the delicious welcome cookies, the cozy sofa in front of the fireplace, the four-poster bed, or the marble bathroom with Jacuzzi and rain shower? Our room is decorated with luxurious country furniture, goose down duvets and pillows, silk bedspreads and elegant cushions. It is luxurious and very comfortable.

The library in the main building is a meeting place and between 5 and 7 in the morning, complimentary snacks and canapés are offered. In a short time, we meet friendly people from Louisiana, Nevada, Ontario, and Alberta. Tomas is on hand taking good care of us.

For dinner, we take a short walk downtown, no more than 3 or 4 short blocks. We visited the very popular Noodle House to find out what all the fuss is about. Well, not what we expected, but a unique experience and very tasty food! I didn’t expect to spoil my wife with chopsticks and a cardboard takeout box, but nothing is too good for my Queen!

In the morning, we sit down to an excellent gourmet breakfast. A large table seats most guests. Arriving late, we sit at a table for four and are soon joined by a young couple from Oregon. Abigail’s is designed and operated so that people can easily interact with each other, adding to the enjoyment of the visit. If you come for privacy, the spacious rooms can be your private hideaway and you can order your breakfast in bed.

After breakfast, Marion Hansen (general manager) takes us on a tour of the hotel. Each room is unique, but they all have the same special touches that make Abigail’s one of a kind. All the staff from marketing, administration, housekeeping and dining room are very friendly and helpful. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would stay anywhere else.

It shows how much they care, especially when Marion tells us how they invited some of the neighbors over for Christmas dinner. The owner’s philosophy is certainly deeply ingrained in all the staff and is manifested in the care and attention to detail both in the design and style of the hotel and in the service provided to guests.

When we check out, we are presented with a small gift bag containing two bottles of water, gifts and a guide to other “select accommodations”. Working in tourism makes me really appreciate companies that take it seriously. This business has truly earned its “five stars.”

So now it’s time to play tourist! Our choice for the day is to visit the Victoria Art Gallery. The Art Gallery is just minutes from Abigail’s and is located within the historic Spencer Mansion in the Rockland neighborhood. We go there because there is an exhibition of the art of Takao Tanabe, an artist born in Seal Cove, British Columbia. The artist has received several major awards and is internationally recognized. His art offers a unique view of land, sea, and sky that is manifested in his expansive and beautiful landscape paintings. The formidable size of his paintings presents an impressive view of Canada and, in particular, the West Coast.

We continue our exploration by heading to Sydney by the Sea for lunch. Since we have hit most of the local restaurants, we are looking for a new experience. A friend had mentioned the Dakota restaurant at the Victoria Flying Club so we checked it out! From our table, we can see the runway, so throughout lunch a variety of planes taxied quite close by.
We heard that the breakfasts were award winning and found that they serve breakfast all day on weekends. We make our selection and enjoy a very good lunch.

After lunch we explore Sydney and do some shopping and touring.

On the way home, I reflect on our fabulous stay at Abigail’s. I’m thinking of ghost stories she could make up for curious minds. The fact is, they just don’t need a ghost. Abigail sells herself!

Reflections on Abigail’s: Peaceful, Calm, Comfortable, Luxurious but not ostentatious, Friendly, Meeting place, Charming, Romantic, Very special. The best accommodation in Victoria!

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