With a stay at Wessex Inn By The Sea in Cowichan Bay, you'll be by the ocean, just a 1-minute walk from Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and 6 minutes by foot from Cowichan Wooden Boat Society. .This hotel is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre and 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Arthur Vickers Gallery.
What's nearby
Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard - 6 min drive - 4.3 km
Vancouver Island University-Cowichan Campus - 12 min drive - 11.9 km
Maple Bay Marina - 25 min drive - 19.4 km
Getting around
Victoria Intl. Airport (YYJ) - 64 min drive
Restaurants
Tim Hortons - 4 min drive
Tim Hortons - 9 min drive
Green Leaf Vietnamese Bistro - 9 min drive
Small Block Brewery - 8 min drive
Starbucks - 9 min drive
About this property
Wessex Inn By The Sea
Hotel in Cowichan Bay with free parking
Wessex Inn By The Sea offers 29 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Rooms open to balconies. Flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators and microwaves. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is offered on request and irons/ironing boards can be requested.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 29 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Rooms have private balconies. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
This hotel has 2 floors in 1 building and offers designated smoking areas. Recreational activities include boat tours nearby, hiking/biking trails nearby, and kayaking nearby.
The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Free self parking is available onsite.
Languages
English
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Free self parking on site
Family friendly
In-room microwave
In-room refrigerator
Conveniences
Limited-hour front desk
Guest services
Housekeeping (on request)
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
More
1 building
2 floors
Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Shower/bathtub combination
Towels provided
Entertainment
Flat-screen TV with cable channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Freezer
Microwave
Refrigerator
More
Air conditioning
Desk
Free local calls
Heating
Iron/ironing board on request
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 10:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Full payment must be made by credit card prior to closing to arrange after-hours check-in. If payment cannot be processed for any reason, after-hours check-ins will not be permitted. Guests arriving after hours must come to front desk the next day, regardless of length of stay, to complete registration.
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of CAD 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
1 child, up to the age of 11 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: CAD 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are exempt from fees
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
Alcohol is not served at this property
Property is also known as
Wessex Inn
Wessex Inn Sea
Wessex Inn Sea Cowichan Bay
Wessex Sea
Wessex Sea Cowichan Bay
Wessex Inn By The Sea Hotel
Wessex Inn By The Sea Cowichan Bay
Wessex Inn By The Sea Hotel Cowichan Bay
Wessex Inn By The Sea Reviews
Reviews
8.4
Very good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Michael @ the front desk was very friendly and helpful
Jeryl
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Justin
Travelled with family
13 Mar 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
The service was great!
Justin
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
8/10 Good
Gordon, Westport
Travelled with partner
12 Mar 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Reception (Michael) was exceptional with a warm welcome, and a heartfelt offer to help us if we had any questions. The rooms are somewhat dated but very clean. Bed was comfortable with extra blanket provided. We really appreciated the small kitchenette. Although dated, it had all the appliances, dishes & utensils we needed to have a nice breakfast. This room would be easy to stay in for several days...and the view from the room & balcony was fabulous even in not-so-great weather!!
Gordon
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Josh
Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
7 Mar 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Loud thin walls
Josh
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
3 Mar 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stay at Wessex Inn
The staff are friendly and accomodating. The inn is older and room definately showing its age, but it was clean and cozy. I like the price, and it's across from the park and ocean.
I would stay here again.
The rooms are spacious and each one has a view of the bay. There is plenty of room for putting your suitcases and a small sitting area with a table and 2 chairs.
The staff are very friendly and went out of their way to ensure we were comfortable. They upgraded one room to a kitchenette, moved the second room closer to the first and allowed my daughter to have her dog in a non pet room.
It is not a fancy hotel but is comfortable and the staff are terrific. I would definitely stay there again.
We were only there for a short overnight while traveling through, the staff called to check on us when we were running late. The area around was quite pretty and the rooms clean and quiet
The rooms are not upscale and the kitchenette is basic in amenities and dishes. However they do have a real four burner stove, a microwave, toaster, coffee maker and hot water kettle. The rooms were clean and spacious. The design of the building is such that all the rooms have a view of the ocean. The rooms were quiet with no road noise. The best part of it all was the staff. They were very attentive, friendly and helpful.
It was an excellent budget friendly place.
Cheryle
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
Tyson
Travelled with partner
22 Feb 2025
Liked: Amenities
Super friendly services. I am happy with the outcome
We had an absolutely tranquil stay here while on our road trip across the island. Our host (the manager of the inn), met our every need and the amenities of the hotel, though dated, were clean and comfortable. We were even upgraded to an ocean front view, which was lovely to wake up to. We will definitely stay here if we find ourselves in the Cowichan Bay area again.
The building may not look much but the staff keeps it clean and comfortable. We stay in Cowichan Bay for the quietness. The Wessex is on the edge of town across the street from the waterfront. We like the unobstructed view of the tranquil Bay view in the morning and the evening. We love taking walks from the nature centre toward town and back. There is an observation tower just across the street. On a clear day, a pair of binoculars would pair well with the tower.
Simple hotel room with kitchenette. Clean and affordable. Would stay again.
Laura
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
14 Feb 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Older Motel across the street from the docking lot of Lake Cowichan. Decent view of the water from my room. Just a short walk down the road a plethora of eateries or bring your own food and prepare it in a wonderfully clean kitchenette with a mid-sized refrigerator. Just like anything older you could use some touch-up paint, maybe an extra pillow or two on the bed, and slightly thicker walls. The bathroom was very clean, and the water pressure terrific . All that being said, it is a jewel, especially at the offseason price of $94 a night.
Verified traveller
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
Jessie
Travelled with group
14 Feb 2025
Proximity to everything was good without being right in the midddle of town
A meticulously maintained hotel. A great view of the bay from my balcony. While the rooms are somewhat dated, the beds are very comfortable and the rooms are very clean. The owner is very friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend.