Travel Close to Home: The Beach Club Resort

The view from an oceanfront suite at The Beach Club Resort. Photo by Deanna Ladret

Parksville, BC

Close your eyes and picture seashell scattered sandy beach stretching for miles, sunsets over the water, leisurely soaks in an extra-deep bathtub and breezy oceanfront dining. Sound like somewhere tropical? What if I told you this place was a mere two-hour drive from Victoria?

Ok, to be fair, the weather is slightly damper (or more than slightly, depending on the time of year) and the shells aren’t overly exotic. You might need a turtleneck and rain slicker to brave the patio if you travel there during the spring, but there’s no denying Parksville – Vancouver Island’s resort town – boasts some the best (if not the best) stretches of beach on the island’s east coast. And one of the area’s most recent attractions is the Beach Club Resort, on the downtown Parksville boardwalk, just meters from the sand.

The Beach Club Resort offers Studio Units (standard hotel room layout), One & Two Bedroom Suites, and Penthouse Suites. For those of you who run straight to the bathroom to investigate 1) the size of the bathtub 2) the plushness of the robes, and 3) the brand/quality of the complimentary toiletries, you will enjoy The Beach Club. The bathtubs in the suites are soakers with a large surrounding tiled area perfect for resting a glass of wine (there is also a large walk-in shower with rain shower faucet); the robes are sufficiently plush terry cloth; and the soaps and amenities are from Aveda. We were traveling with a young child, so we opted for a one bedroom suite, equipped with an in-suite washer/dryer, full-sized kitchen (including all necessary dishes plus dishwasher) and dining area. There are also a table and chairs on the sun deck for alfresco meals, which come in handy as there are a couple of good grocery and liquor stores nearby, as well as the Saturday morning Qualicum Beach Farmer’s Market. Cooking in this kitchen was a pleasure, with its granite countertops, bar seating, and of course, the view.

Speaking of the view, it costs about $20-$40 extra to upgrade to an oceanfront room. This is worth it for the unobstructed vistas of the beach and mountains, especially if you are visiting during the off-season and plan on spending more time in your room than outdoors (it may have a spectacular beach, but Parksville definitely gets its share of “wet coast” weather). There’s still plenty to do on a rainy day: swimming in the resort’s indoor pool, using the gym, or visiting the full-service Stonewater Spa. One family-friendly side note: The Beach Club is a five-minute walk from the Parksville Community Park and its super deluxe playground.

Dining options on the property include in-room dining and the hotel restaurant, called––here’s a mouthful––Pacific Prime Steak and Chop Restaurant & Lounge, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The Beach Club Resort

 181 Beachside Drive

Parksville, Vancouver Island

1-800-760-2008

www.thebeachclubbc.com