Taste The View: A dream view of the mountains and lake
About this house rental
Centrally located between Victoria and Nanaimo, we are minutes from the ocean near beautiful Maple Bay, and situated on Mount Tzouhalem which has some of the best mountain biking and hiking trails on the island. This new suite has a private 500 so ft outdoor patio area and natural gas BBQ. It is a one of a kind find. Whether it’s swimming in the ocean, whale watching or renting a kayak, our close proximity to the ocean will ensure you will never be bored. If water is not your thing, walk out the door and across the street to enjoy hiking or biking trails from beginner to expert level. Or perhaps take a short drive to one of the fantastic 4+ star rated golf courses near by. We are surrounded by BC’s finest wineries, markets, live entertainment, shopping and a vast array of restaurants for every taste and budget. Whether you are here for an event or a vacation, we have it all. Built almost 700 feet up with panoramic views of mountains and Lake Quamichan, this very private walk out ground level space with a private entrance has one or two bedrooms available. Please note the second bedroom is an additional cost of $100 per night. (Note: if you require only one bedroom, the second one will not be rented to anyone else during your stay). Located in the lower level of our new custom home, the full above ground walk out has scenic views and breathtaking sunsets. The suite includes a full bathroom with a rainfall shower, hair dryer, fluffy towels and all the toiletries you might need. We have a fully equipped kitchen area with an apartment size fridge, microwave, coffee maker, double hotplate, Breville convection toaster oven, blender, toaster, milk frother and more. The large main bedroom has a comfortable king size bed and a television with Netflix, Prime, HBO, Crave and a cable package plus the most amazing morning views to wake up to. The second bedroom has a comfortable queen size pillow top bed with another amazing view and a walkout to the deck. Both bedrooms have large closets and plenty of storage in the form of cabinets and armoires. In this almost 900 SF suite there is a large private family room with comfortable leather recliner chairs, a leather recliner couch, a 46 inch TV with cable, Netflix, Prime, HBO, Crave and unlimited high speed internet access. When you arrive you will be greeted with a bottle of wine, a loaf of fresh baked bread and home made preserves from local picked fruit. The nightly rate is for one bedroom and two people. If you wish to book the second room, there is an additional $100 fee per night. We have a maximum capacity of four adults per night. Property is not suitable for young children or pets. During the last two years, there has been a new subdivision being built in the many acres of land behind our home. There may be construction on these homes during your stay but they are respectful to work within normal work hours and trying to keep noise to a minimum.We look forward to having you visit us and stay in the place we love to call home.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Balcony / Patio
Hot Tub / Spa
TV
Garden
Map of Southern Gulf Islands
House in Southern Gulf Islands
Reasons to book
People love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen / Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
££££
Reviews
5.0/5.0
Outstanding(80 Reviews)
5.0
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The hosts have thought of everything - from chocolates beside the bed to comfy blankets for lounging to extra toothbrushes to puzzle books. We were all very comfortable, and we very much appreciated the homemade bread, bottle of wine, and munchies! A perfect experience!
5.0
We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 night stay at “Taste The View”. It surpassed our expectations and Karen and John were wonderful hosts, very kind and thoughtful. Everything we could have imagined was stocked in the kitchen and lovely touches in every room. The Anniversary card, Prosecco, fresh loaf of bread, snacks and beautiful vase of Hydrangeas was an unexpected surprise and so greatly appreciated. When I mentioned I wasn’t able to grow any zucchini this year, one magically appeared for us from their garden. Thank you! This is our first VRBO stay and Karen and John have spoiled us as I don’t think we’ll ever be able to top this. We are looking forward to another stay at “Taste The View” in the future. Sharon and Ian
5.0
John and Karen are willing to help in my way!
5.0
We have stayed in many b&bs, cribs, and other accommodations but this one is the best we have ever stayed in. You immediately feel at home!
The owners have thought of everything.
Thank you Karen and John. We enjoyed meeting you and share wine with you. We will be back!
5.0
Thanks to the most wonderful hosts Karen and John!
Such a wonderful get away in a most amazing location. The unit was immaculate, included every amenity you would ever need and appreciated the homemade treats (including fresh bread) and bottle of wine upon our arrival. The outdoor space is as nice as indoors with your own private decks and the view to incredible sunsets. We so enjoyed our stay!
5.0
The property was very impressive with a great view and very good furnishings inside and out to make a very comfortable stay. The hosts have taken great pride in making sure that their guests have been provided with everything to make their stay a enjoyable experience. We had great conversations with Karen & John about gardening and landscaping. The homemade bread and bottle of wine really set the tone for a great week.
5.0
Karen and John provided the most amazing and perfect venue for our 4-night stay on Vancouver Island. The view from "Taste the View" was breathtaking, especially at sunset. Karen and John graciously joined us one evening to share wine and life experiences. They are a welcoming, hospitable, and friendly couple who exceeded all of our expectations as "landlords." Getting to know them was a highlight of our 3-week vacation. The suite is conveniently located with easy access to Maple Bay, Genoa Bay, the Stoney Hill Regional Park (wonderful hiking!), and downtown Duncan. We highly recommend this venue!!
5.0
The property was extremely quiet and very relaxing. Karen has thought of every amenity a guest would require. The home made and lemon loaf were delicous!
5.0
John and Karen treated our party like celebrities including arrival treats like fresh sourdough, cheese, and wine and chocolate cake the last night of our stay. We chatted with them several times, and they were very kind.
The property was clean, comfortable, and quiet. It included amazing views of sunsets behind Mt Prevost, Quamichan Lake, and the Cowichan valley from a well furnished back porch and beautifully landscaped garden.
It’s across the street from a large network of hiking trails and 10 minutes from town. There are wonderful small restaurants nearby including an authentic Italian restaurant and grocery and a beautiful cafe in Genoa bay.
My party and I greatly enjoyed our stay and look forward to visiting again!
5.0
Wow what experience we had staying at "Taste the View"
Our host Karen greeted us with a wonderful warm welcoming hug like we were a long lost friends! Coming from Ontario for a family wedding our host was very accommodating for us to have guest over which made our stay very special!
You certainly cannot go wrong staying here from the moment you arrive you instantly felt welcome and cared for! The whole place was decorated immaculate with spectacular outdoor gardens and the incredible view of the sunset.
Everything was very tastefully done with many extra special treats our host prepared for us and especially a bottle of Red was greatly appreciated by all!
We cannot say enough about our host and their special place we were sorry we missed John but I am sure he is equally as special as Karen! We would defiantly stay here again when we get back out west! Once again thank you Karen for making our stay a very special one!
5.0
We were absolutely blown away with "Taste the View"! Karen greeted us and we instantly felt welcome and cared about. Our suite and outdoor areas were immaculate and decorated beautifully - yet still comfortable and welcoming. We were also greeted with a wonderful bottle of wine with "Taste the View" label, basket with a variety of snacks, and Karen's fresh home baked Artisan bread ! AND home baked coffee cake dessert. We had everything we could possibly need - even had a sewing kit when I needed to sew a button on plus a wide choice of toiletries if needed. On Day 2 we got back after a long day of hiking, to Karen's out -of -this- world home baked cookies, and another loaf of her homemade bread, a sour dough bread from scratch (seriously!). Day 3 - blueberry cake!! ... Taste the View is in a great location that is close to town and activities with an amazing view, complete with a breathtaking sunset, plenty of comfortable seating inside and out, TV in living room and bedroom, fireplace ambience, and even a bubbly pond. We enjoyed our time with Karen and John and learning about the area. Wonderful, genuine people! We will return as soon as we can, but will stay longer this time. An absolute must!
5.0
Nice location, well thought out accomodations. Tasteful, positive.
5.0
Host was super good, garden and rental were 1st class, and many extras were a welcome treat. Good base for exploring the area.
5.0
Our stay at “Taste The View” was absolutely delightful! Karen was very communicative and reliable. The beautifully furnished and well stocked retreat was a pleasure to stay at and we would definitely recommend to anyone! The home made bread load and bottle of wine were such a sweet touch. Would love to stay here anytime!
5.0
This beautiful property was meticulous and even more stunning in person. Karen and John thought of everything to make our stay feel luxurious. The suite was beautifully decorated, the deck and the view were straight out of a magazine! Karen was a pleasure right from the initial booking and was extremely patient and understanding when we hit a roadbump on our end with our trip arrangements.
I hope we have an opportunity to stay again in the future.
5.0
We wanted to stay outside Victoria & picked the ‘Taste the View’ property. And what fantastic location it was for us! So well appointed & Karen & John where great hosts! A great base to see the island!
5.0
The hosts go above and beyond to ensure guests have an excellent stay. Just bring your bags as they have thought of everything else. Be sure to allot some downtime to stay in the suite and enjoy the view along with the amenities.
5.0
Our stay with Karen and John at Taste the View was wonderful. The suite was clean and well equipped with everything we could need - and the view was indeed spectacular! The welcome basket and warm bread was a real treat and the special treat for our anniversary was a lovely surprise. Wouldn’t hesitate to return for another stay!
5.0
My father and I had an amazing time staying at Karen and John’s property! It is beautiful both indoors and outdoors with an amazing view and was so comfortable to stay in. Karen has literally thought of everything you could possibly need! I would recommend this spot to anyone!
5.0
We loved our stay! Our hosts were so friendly and helpful. The suite was so comfortable with extra luxury touches. The location was beautiful and so centrally located for our many day trips. We will love to return!!!
5.0
Such a wonderful place, couldn't have wanted anything more, absolutely loved it!!
5.0
Our stay could not have been better, from the moment we were greeted by John and Karen, who helped us unload, showed us around and explained all we needed to know about the accommodation, which was well appointed and spotless. It also came with a home made loaf of bread, jam and many other accompaniments.
The view from the outside patio was beautiful, across the lake to the hills beyond which enhanced the fab sunsets.
All in all, we were most impressed,
Patricia & John Codling.
5.0
Beautiful view, beautiful suite, very comfortable and very well equipped. Lots of extra special touches and conveniences. We lacked for nothing!!
Karen and John's hospitality, compassion, care and kindness was exceptional. Much gratitude to have met this incredible couple.
We highly recommend, you will not be disappointed!
5.0
Wonderful hosts. Beautiful place. Amazing patio and deck with a lovely view. The most comfortable beds - we both had better sleeps here than at home. Delicious home made sourdough bread delivered by the host to our door. We highly recommend this place and will be back.
10.0
Wonderful hosts. Beautiful place. Amazing patio and deck with a lovely view. The most comfortable beds - we both had better sleeps here than at home. Delicious home made sourdough bread delivered by the host to our door. We highly recommend this place and will be back.
5.0
Very accurate online photos and description of this property. Wonderful hosts who have included all things needed on holiday accommodation. And very clean! I visited from Australia and was very impressed by location. Thank you Karen and John. Would highly recommend.
5.0
This is a great place to use as a central hub for daily excursions. A beautiful location only minutes from downtown Duncan where you can find amazing restaurants. Karen is a wonderful host who has stocked the suite with everything from slippers to umbrellas. We loved the hospitality and would highly recommend staying here.
5.0
John and Karen have done a remarkable job at creating a warm and inviting space! The outside patio area was gorgeous and inside was thoughtfully designed, very comfortable, clean and their homemade bread was delicious! My partner and I had the chance to speak with them and their kindness and friendliness was so much appreciated! Thank you for having us and we plan to come back!:)
5.0
Loved every bit of our stay at Taste the View! Karen and John are truly great hosts - the place was very cozy and made even more so with the thoughtful touches: soft plush blankets and robes for the cool nights, a treat of local favorites. The bread, the butter and jam were simply delicious!
It was going to be a reunion with family who we have not seen for almost 2 years and so it was very important to have the precious few days that the trip had to be well planned. North Cowanich, Duncan is a good location to be - so very near the places that are important for our family activities: beautiful hiking trails, golf courses and museums, a winery and even a lavender farm! Communicating with Karen and John was very easy - I could say this made our short holiday such a success.
And how could I forget: the views from the house were simply amazing! Thank you, Karen and John for the beautiful stay, the lovely memories we now have, and the chance to Taste the View!
5.0
This is one of the best VRBO's we have stayed in. There is not a thing that you need that is not in this unit. The bottle of wine was delicious and the bread was enjoyed immensely. Any time we return to the Cowichan area this is where we will be. Thank you to Karen and John, tremendous hosts.
10.0
John and Karen have done a remarkable job at creating a warm and inviting space! The outside patio area was gorgeous and inside was thoughtfully designed, very comfortable, clean and their homemade bread was delicious! My partner and I had the chance to speak with them and their kindness and friendliness was so much appreciated! Thank you for having us and we plan to come back!:)
10.0
This is one of the best VRBO's we have stayed in. There is not a thing that you need that is not in this unit. The bottle of wine was delicious and the bread was enjoyed immensely. Any time we return to the Cowichan area this is where we will be. Thank you to Karen and John, tremendous hosts.
10.0
Loved every bit of our stay at Taste the View! Karen and John are truly great hosts - the place was very cozy and made even more so with the thoughtful touches: soft plush blankets and robes for the cool nights, a treat of local favorites. The bread, the butter and jam were simply delicious!
It was going to be a reunion with family who we have not seen for almost 2 years and so it was very important to have the precious few days that the trip had to be well planned. North Cowanich, Duncan is a good location to be - so very near the places that are important for our family activities: beautiful hiking trails, golf courses and museums, a winery and even a lavender farm! Communicating with Karen and John was very easy - I could say this made our short holiday such a success.
And how could I forget: the views from the house were simply amazing! Thank you, Karen and John for the beautiful stay, the lovely memories we now have, and the chance to Taste the View!
10.0
This is a great place to use as a central hub for daily excursions. A beautiful location only minutes from downtown Duncan where you can find amazing restaurants. Karen is a wonderful host who has stocked the suite with everything from slippers to umbrellas. We loved the hospitality and would highly recommend staying here.
5.0
This was a wonderful place to stay. The views were beautiful, and the space was quiet and cozy - exactly what we needed for the week. The bed was extremely comfortable, the linens were soft, the kitchen was well equipped, and there were many practical items placed throughout the suite: slippers, robes, umbrellas, cozy blankets, and so much more! We were greeted with wine, homemade sourdough bread, and a basket of snacks. John and Karen were excellent hosts, providing the perfect balance between availability and privacy. We would love to return on our next visit to Duncan.
5.0
Accommodation was spotless with all the comforts of home. Definitely the best appointed VRBO we have stayed in. The Hosts were amazing !
5.0
I don't do reviews, but this stay was amazing and worth sharing my $.02.
Every aspect of this stay was 5+ stars. From the communication, to the beautiful accommodations, the cleanliness, welcome amenities, everything. We truly loved our stay here and anytime I'm within 100 miles this is where I'll be. Truly exceptional! Thank you, Karen! You have new friends from the South.
5.0
I don't do reviews, but this stay was amazing and worth sharing my $.02. Every aspect of this stay was 5+ stars. From the communication, to the beautiful accommodations, the cleanliness, welcome amenities, everything. We truly loved our stay here and anytime I'm within 100 miles this is where I'll be. Truly exceptional! Thank you, Karen! You have new friends from the South.
5.0
This place was amazing and the reviews are correct in every regard. Karen went out of her way to make our stay perfect. The area is great for hiking and biking trails close by. The back garden and deck was perfect to watch the sunset. We would definitely come back!
5.0
This is an amazing host and property. The bed is FANTASTIC. The entire suite is done so well. If it had not been raining, we would have used the huge deck and outdoor living space. The BBQ sat ready for us to get motivated. Our hosts were truly amazing.
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Southern Gulf Islands?
The average price for a rental in Southern Gulf Islands is £108 per night. This rental is £7 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Taste The View: A dream view of the mountains and lake. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Taste The View: A dream view of the mountains and lake pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Taste The View: A dream view of the mountains and lake?
We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.
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