Hemingway’s by the Sea was my first B & B experience and booked the quiet Kenya Room. So by not knowing what to expect, I was completely blown away. Not only by the building, exquisite décor inside (lots of attention to detail – Earnest Hemmingway details), beautiful grounds, view of the ocean but by the owner herself. Her kindred spirit... more

We were extremely impressed with this B&B. Our hostess was always willing to help us find the perfect restaurant, hiking spot or day trip. Each room, including the common areas, contained amazing antiques while allowing us to still feel at home. The location was a few short miles from the downtown area and assessable via the waterfront walk. We also... more

Our visit to Hemingways by the Sea was incredible! The moment we walked in through the front door we knew we made the right choice for our accomodations in Victoria. Ilona is an absolute sweetheart, she met us at the door with a huge smile and a big hug and welcomed us in like we were long lost friends. She... more

Although there was nothing specifically "wrong" with Hemingway, we were a bit disappointed with our stay. The food was DELICIOUS...no complaints there! The owner is very friendly, but a bit overbearing at times. The rooms aren't as nice as the photos online. I was somewhat disappointed. The rooms are very small. The suite that I stuck my nose into was... more

Hemingway's By the Sea is warm and welcoming. The owner is very personable and provides great informtion to help your stay be enjoyable. We were provided a variety of locations to visit. The rooms were elegantly decorated and clean. The breakfast was good and included a main dish as well as fruit. The location did not have a great view,... more

We had been travelling throughout Alberta and BC staying mostly at B&B's. Although many were quite adequate but none can compare to Hemingway's. It begins with Ilona, the quintessential hostess. Ilona is a warm and informative hostess with a wonderful European flair. The Hemingway motif is carried throughout this spacious mansion with great style and class. It creates an atmosphere... more

We stayed in the Sarengetti Suite for two weeks in beautiful Esquimalt, Victoria. Ilona was the sweetest hostess and was very helpful in suggesting places to sight see including beautiful gardens, beaches and excellent resturants!!! Ilona really knows the city and we would have been lost without her suggestions! Ilona's breakfasts were phenominal, great apple creppes and organic sausage and... more

Not downtown, and that can be a plus - no traffic noises, harbor noises, sea-planes. Even in July we slept with the balcony door open and windows open, and it was cool and delightful. Ilona, the hostes, and Laurie, her helper, were superbly friendly and helpful, even to the point of providing us a lawn chair to use for the... more

This B n B exceeded all our expectations of what makes a good bed and breakfast (or, rather, in general, any place you'd stay at while on vacation). The hostess was exceedingly helpful, welcoming, friendly and professional. It's very clean (immaculate actually) and it has a great atmosphere. It's close to the harbour and the boardwalk around the harbour which... more