6 Adorable Retreats for When You Move to Canada

The Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa is an oceanfront property located in northwestern Brentwood Bay, a residential town on the far eastern tip of Vancouver Island, a short drive from charming Victoria. The highly acclaimed wine cellar, the excellent restaurant and sushi bar, the great spa with couple’s treatments, and the warm decor throughout make this hotel an excellent pick for an upscale romantic getaway. Spacious rooms have large furnished balconies with ocean views, upscale peek-a-boo bathrooms with deep whirlpool tubs, and sitting areas with working fireplaces.

For guests who love the charm of a bed and breakfast, but want privacy and an upscale feel, the quiet Harbour House Hotel delivers. The large, contemporary rooms have nautical-inspired touches (the hotel is dubbed Harbour House, after all), and are a good value considering their quality. The hotel's location right on the harbor, just steps away from the Niagara River, gives guests easy access to the quiet waterfront while still being within walking distance of the shops and restaurants on Queen Street. Those looking to visit the falls, however, should note that they are a half-hour drive away.

The Old Mill Toronto is a 100-year-old forest sanctuary that has a romantic lodge feel, with elegant dining options and 57 guest rooms. Rooms are traditionally furnished with comfy, plush furniture, flat-screen TVs, and fireplaces. It's an expensive place to stay, but guests who stay here are willing to pay a premium for the hotel's peace and seclusion. Its motto "a bit of England far from England," is echoed in its exterior, made of exposed stones and peaked windows. The site was developed over a century ago as a grist mill and expanded in 1914 with the construction of the Old Mill Tea Garden, which still serves English afternoon tea. After undergoing renovation in 2001, the Old Mill Toronto was transformed into the cozy hotel it is today.

The Whistler RV Park & Campgrounds offers a quiet, well-maintained camping experience on a plateau overlooking Black Tusk and Whistler Mountain, near hiking and ATV trails. The budget property offers 44 tent and 102 RV sites with free Wi-Fi and hookups to power, water, and sewage. The RV park is open year-round, but tent camping is closed in the winter. There are also three trailer cabins and a tepee for rent. Facilities include a log cabin with hot showers, a laundry room, a market for basic provisions, frisbee and wiffle golf, and the free use of cruiser bicycles. The location isn’t near Whistler Village’s shops and eateries, but a free shuttle goes to town.

The 30-suite Hotel Quintessence is a luxury boutique property on Lake Tremblant with a polished chalet feel within walking distance of attractions, shops, and restaurants. Contemporary, luxurious suites have balconies or terraces with lake views, heated marble floors, stone fireplaces, and separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers, plus some have wet bars, powder rooms, and outdoor hot tubs and fireplaces. A full service spa with a sauna and steam room as well as a 24/7 fitness center are available on-site, plus there's a beautiful outdoor infinity pool (open seasonally) and hot tub with wonderful lake views.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa is an upper-mid-range hot springs resort hotel in the BC forest, a 90-minute drive from Vancouver. With 340 rooms and cabins, four restaurants, and 14 meeting rooms, it's a pretty big property, though the homey decor and casual Pacific Northwest atmosphere create a cozy vibe. Guests looking for the ultimate in privacy might want to book one of the one-bedroom cabins, which have separate bedrooms and living rooms with fireplaces, but the Wi-Fi signal doesn't make it all the way out to these units. May guests come here for the hot springs-fed pools, five in all.


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