The Parkside Hotel & Spa in Victoria, BC, is the type of hotel you’d think either didn’t permit pet dogs at all or go all in for family-friendly Fidos. Fortunately, it’s the latter. The Parkside Hotel & Spa, entirely Canadian-owned and operated, is an experiential boutique hotel for pet people.

This post contains links from affiliates such as Amazon and/or Chewy online pet supply store.

There’s a lot to do within its walls, thanks to a pool, spa, and unique sound bath experience. For dogs, however, the lobby koi pond, enhancing the serene atrium vibe, provides a focus of fascination, not entirely meditative but definitely enriching.

It’s also ideally located if you’re here for the city outside the front door. The hotel is an easy walk to Beacon Hill Park, downtown (especially the very dog-friendly Government Street that is closed to traffic, similar to Sussex Street in Ottawa), and the waterfront harbour. The city of Victoria (yes, the same name as my dog) is very walkable, and that bodes well for those travelling with their pups.

 Pet Dog Policy at the Parkside Hotel & Spa

The Parkside Hotel & Spa is one of the most dog-friendly hotels in Victoria, BC. Composed of two towers for visitors, the A Tower attached to the spa and pool is not pet-friendly. However, the entire B Tower is pet dog-friendly (unfortunately, no cats). Note that you have to book a pet-friendly room prior to arriving, and this requires a phone call to the hotel.

The Parkside Hotel & Spa’s pet policy is as follows:

• A maximum of two dogs per suite in the B Tower, each under 50 pounds.
• The pet fee is $50 per stay, up to seven days.
• Only the B Tower is dog-friendly.

Full-sized Suites at the Parkside

But the minimal fee is really worth it, because these aren’t simply rooms in this hotel – they are suites. Small apartments, really. The Luxury One Bedroom has a separate bedroom that can be closed off from the sitting area with a couch, flat-screen TV, and electric fireplace, which is adjacent to the kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, two burners, microwave, and coffee maker. All dishes are provided. The Deluxe One Bedroom adds a European-style washer and dryer to the list.

Essentially, at the Parkside, your dog will be staying in an apartment that’s more like home than a single hotel room. And that means it’s possible to leave him for short periods, if necessary. (Note that most hotels require you to leave a cell number at the front desk.) It also means that the bedroom is not beside the hallway, so dogs that respond to hallway noise (like mine) are less likely to react.

Floors in the sitting area and kitchen are laminate. The bedroom has industrial carpet. Bed coverings are plush white duvets (my favourite). Each room also has a small balcony.

Other Dog Considerations

In the dog-friendly B Tower of the Parkside Hotel in Victoria, B.C., there are no main-floor rooms, so you will be taking the elevator a few floors during potty time. However, the city of Victoria has far more green space than most cities, so outdoor potty is easy (unlike Toronto). This hotel specifically has an outdoor patio with a pond and small gardens.

Also, Caffe Fantastico is on the main floor and offers outdoor dog-friendly seating from 7 am to 7 pm.  Note there are three Caffe Fantastico locations around Victoria, all with dog-friendly patios.

However, for longer strolls, the grounds of St. Ann’s Academy are across the street from the Parkside Hotel. The six acres of grounds around the central historic buildings are open to the public and leashed dogs. St. Ann’s Academy is now home to offices for the Public Works Department of the B.C. Provincial government, but when it was built in 1858, it was the city’s first Roman Catholic Cathedral, adding a school in 1886. You can walk through these grounds on your way to Beacon Hill Park, about 20 minutes from the hotel. (More on that ultimate dog-walking experience soon).

Koi Pond for Curious Pups

Finally, there’s nothing koi about it – The Parkside Hotel has an indoor atrium-style koi pond extending wall-to-wall in the lobby. If your dog, like mine, is fascinated by forearm-length koi swimming up to meet you, it will love this pond.

However, if your dog is a water-lover like mine, you might not. The pond is easy to jump into. Fortunately, I didn’t experience that happening, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

Additional Activities

Two unique experiences at The Parkside Hotel & Spa everyone needs to know about, including the fact that neither is dog-friendly. People only, unfortunately.

Sound bathing is one of the latest wellness trends, and this one takes it up a level. At the Parkside Hotel & Spa, the 75-minute-long sound bath experience (affiliate link) takes place while you float in the pool. Robes and double-sized floating rafts are provided. You simply lie calmly, floating on the surface of the pool while the restorative power of crystal alchemy bowls, gongs, and instruments echoes around you, enhanced by the effects of water.

S’More Moments, S’More Memories is an option designed for families and small groups. Book a Rooftop Garden fire pit for one hour (between 1:30 and 9 pm) and make your own s’mores (affiliate link). Packages include either two servings of savory s’mores or four servings of sweet, along with one blanket, serving ware, and roasting skewers. It might not be a Canadian National Park fireside experience, but it’s unique for a city.

Note: I stayed at the Parkside Hotel & Spa as a guest of Greater Victoria Tourism

If you go….

The Parkside Hotel & Spa, 810 Humboldt Street, Victoria, British Columbia.

Caffe Fantastico locations all have dog-friendly patios and are located at 810 Humboldt Street, 398 Harbour Road, and 965 Kings Road, Victoria, British Columbia

A Floating Sound Meditation – Parkside Hotel & Spa offers a guided sound bath in the hotel pool, select mornings at 7 am and Thursday evenings at 8:30 pm. Sessions are $60 per person for a 75-minute session (15-minute setup plus 60-minute session).

Rooftop s’mores experience at The Parkside Hotel & Spa includes an hour session around the rooftop patio, along with either sweet s’mores for four people or savoury s’mores for two for $50 per hour. Available to hotel guests only and must be booked in advance of stay.

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!