Helm's Inn

Came across Helm's Inn and read the reviews. We were coming for a long weekend and booked the King Suite. WOW. Talk about being overwhelmed!! Clean, spacious room complete with a kitchen, which was fabulous as we are on a restricted diet and could make our own meals. Very comfortable bed...slept better than at home. Just around the corner from the Royal BC Museum and the Legislative buildings and the Empress. Great location, quiet room, we loved our stay and will be back. Thank you!

This is a little hidden gem in the heart of downtown Victoria. Close to the inner Harbour, it's within walking distance of loads of restaurants and pubs. My roomy king studio apartment had a full kitchen, big windows, and a cozy bed. Check-in was a breeze and the staff are so friendly. They even give you a free parking pass which is pure gold since parking is so hard to find in downtown Victoria. And the best part is it's extremely affordable and reasonably priced in a sea of overpriced hotels and motels in the area. Two thumbs way way up. 👍👍

Unfortunately we only stayed one night here although I could quite easily have stayed longer, it was so nice. We had a small apartment room which had it's own kitchenette and 2 Queen size beds, which were extremely comfortable. It was in quiet location (very little traffic noise) but was within easy walking distance to the Capital City bus station where we had to go to catch the bus to the ferry to Vancouver. Would definitely recommend staying here.

Very comfortable, newly remodeled suite had everything we needed. The little kitchen was well-appointed with a 2-burner stove, a microwave oven, a toaster oven and all the dishes, glassware and cooking and eating utensils we might need. The bed was comfy, the bathroom was nice and well-stocked. It is an older building, so the walls might not be as soundproof as a newer building. However, it was never a problem, our stay was extremely pleasant and all the staff at the hotel were friendly and accommodating. This is a great location, across from Stanley Park and very close to everything you would want to enjoy in Victoria. I very much recommend the Helm's Inn!

Overall, really pleasantly surprised by this place. Rooms were super generous, beds comfortable, and had a small kitchenette too. Overall the stay was awesome. Depending on the type of visit you’re having in Victoria, the location is either great or a bit of a walk. It’s super close to the Parliament building and museum but a good 15-20 minute walk from Old Town. As someone wanting to visit the sights, this suited me perfectly. You really must consider this place when visiting

Room was larger than expected with a cute kitchenette. Comfy bed. Tiny bathroom with good shower. Ample closet space. Excellent location. Paid parking on site. One closet had a hideabed!

Great room, great value! Rooms were clean they have little kitchens and living space and seperate bedroom areas. Location cant be beat. Staff was friendly highly reccomend

I think this hotel may have been sold. We have stayed there many times over the years. I paid for a suite and have stayed several times in one on the ground floor with a patio. I requested that room but was given one with no patio and not a full kitchen that we have had every time even with a king room not a suite. The person on the front desk basically tried to say that this was a ground floor and the same. May be the last time I stay here.

Really felt this was a great location and very nice price. Many room options and lots was very nice. It was a suite with a kitchenette and worked great for us. We explored downtown and then into the park.

To be honest, when we pulled up to the hotel, I thought "Holy hell...what have I booked". It looks like one of those tacky motel/hotel you see in Miami. However, once you open your door...you think..."why aren't other hotels like this?". The room we got (104) was huge and refurbished in modern colours and comforts. It's like a mini condo....living room, full size kitchen, big bathroom, huge bedroom. They've thought of everything....even down to a portable fan if you need it. Bathroom amenities are above average. The male working the desk when we arrived was friendly and efficient...explained the hotels layout (it's 3 separate buildings) and where to park. I may never leave its so comfortable here.

5 stars x 2!!! Excellent room, great rates, friendly staff. Kitchenette was well appointed. After a week in Seattle at the downtown Marriott and 4 days at the Douglas in Vancouver this boutique hotel was a welcome sight. Extremely close to tourist attractions and the pier downtown Please.....do yourself a favor and book your stay at Helms Inn You will be glad you did. Oh and dont forget to go to one of the A& W Root beer stands in the area for a ice cold mug of Root beer. Yum

Great value. In Victoria for just over 24 hours. Prime location. Beautifully renovated, huge corner suite. Accommodating with early check-in, late check-out, baby crib, and luggage storage. We were blown away by the customer service provided by the front desk staff. Didn't catch their names, unfortunately (an Eastern European gentleman and lady). Thanks for the stay!

A great location and very good value for the area. Just don't set your expectations too high. The place is definitely dated in decor and maintenance. It is very clean but it is showing it's age. A bit of rust and peeled paint but we never felt dirty uncomfortable. A handy kitchen, super friendly staff and a great location and price. We used the laundry facilities and lobby coffee had a lovely visit.

Stop. Stop scrolling. Stop skimming reviews. Phone this place immediately and keep your fingers crossed that they have a spot, because folks - this best kept secret is out and this "used to be able to stroll in the day of" place is now in high demand. I know it's a bit ridiculous to be updating a review a mere two months after the first, but they've switched into high season and I like them a lot: two reasons why they are worth another 15 minutes of my time. I had the pleasure of bunking out here this past weekend. They were booked solid, so I ended up switching rooms every night. They kept apologizing profusely about the switch-a-roos; I thought, "Yes! Full Yelp investigation in one weekend!" So i've now been in five different rooms here, three different buildings and eight different parking spots. I still have one very big heart on for this little haunt. The rates have gone up - a room will set you back $110-$130 during high season, which is still a steal compared to the spots around it. All five rooms i've been in have been clean, HUGE and yes, there's a kitchen in each. They are basic but two of the rooms I stayed in this past weekend were bigger then my apartment back home. Not to mention, most come with a pull out which means up to SIX human adults could comfortably fit in the room that I paid $120 to stay in.... I shall allow you to do that math. The coffee is decent, the folks are lovely, the location is awesome and you might catch a card game in the lobby. I'm still smitten. But you didn't get this far did you? Because you listened to me in the first paragraph and have already called to reserve right? Yeah. High five to you.

My husband and I stayed here for one night for the weekend. Booked through hotels.com and got a great rate, under $100. The reviews were good so decided to book as it was a great location. The hotel has been refurbished and they've done a great job. We stayed in 101 and it was a great room with a kitchen unit that had everything. The cabinets has an IKEA look to them, it was all very tastefully done. They have parking and it's only $5.25 a night. We've stayed in other hotels in Victoria where they're charged over $20 a night. The only reason I didn't give a higher rating was because the bed was too hard for us. I'm used to having more cushioning on the mattress and theirs was too firm for us. Will still come back.

Ryan at the front desk set this experience in exactly the best direction possible! He is friendly, intelligent, personable and great source of information. We were completely surprised at how big the room is and how clean everything looks! A full kitchen and separate bedroom makes it feel more like an apartment and much less like a hotel. This is a hidden gem!

We found ourselves in Victoria with very little planning, no place to stay. We were offered a suite at a reasonable rate right next to the Royal BC Museum and took it. We were treated with very comfortable and clean accomodations. We had a spacious King bed and our older daughter slept on a fold-out in the other room. Wonderful! I'm only bummed we missed the tea service from 4-4:30!

What a neat little place! Small, quiet, comfortable, affordable and clean! Just minutes away walking distance from pretty much all the tourist destinations Victoria has to offer. Across the street from beacon park, and down the street walk from open water with a beautiful view of the Juan De Fuca straight and The Olympic mountains! Tim Hortons is just a few minute car drive away when you need your double double fix an Tim bits in the morning!

Location is perfect and walking distance to all of the major sites. Rooms are spotless & we had a 1 bedroom suite, with kitchenette. Very quiet, staff very helpful & pleasant. Canadians are very nice & make you feel very welcome. Will definitely return here.

I've been coming here since I was a little kid. I remember playing slinky in the stairs in the lobby! Now almost 30 years later, I always make sure to stay at the Helm's Inn when I'm in Victoria, and the service and rates are just as good as ever!! And they STILL keep Werther's Originals at the front desk! Love this place. And the location is amazing! Right beside the Royal BC museum and steps from the inner harbour.

A perfectly situated boutique hotel at a great price! It's located right at the foot of Beacon Hill - just walking distance from the Empress Hotel, The legislative buildings and the beautiful gardens. The rooms were HUGE - and I think we paid around 100$ a night for two double beds. It comes with a full kitchen. (There is a grocery store just about 2 blocks away too!) They have free coffee & tea at all hours in the front lobby. Nice little patio area out front that has tables and chairs to relax in! Parking was 5$/day to park on their lot - which was a steal of a deal if you ask me! A couple notes of caution: We were in room 110 - You don't want this room. It's right beside the main lobby - so you can hear all the noises of check ins, check outs, etc. As well - the front desk man is overly sarcastic. Some like sarcasm - some don't. You can choose your own option, I just wanted to pre-warn so you can't so "nobody told you".

This hotel is highly regarded on review sites because of it's moderate price in an otherwise highly sought-after location. Very walkable to the Empress and all other downtown sites. However, its the classic case of a hotel investing money largely into a lobby, but skipping out on the details in the room. My wall AC did not work, and it actually was a hot summer day and the room got upto 85deg. To be fair, I did not complain to the front desk because I was busy and left the room, but it is subpar of a hotel to have this issue. There were several dings and marks on the walls, particularly where they had removed bolts from studs and not taken the time to patch the holes. Like I said, little things. It is a perfectly average hotel, but I would not stay here again. It suited my needs as a single traveller, but I am sure there are many good bed and breakfasts to try out in Victoria.

Love this hotel. We stayed here because they had reasonable rates. But upon arrival we quickly learned that this hotel was mush more then just a cheap rate. It had everything we needed. A small kitchen for eating in and it is about a 5 minute walk to downtown and to the water. So for a group like me and my friends a short walk with ummm having a few is always nice. There is plenty of parking and best of all the employees are all super nice. We upgraded to a room with a balcony and left our charger in the last room. The employee was nice enough to go and track it down for us. The bathrooms are fantastic as where the beds. They provide free coffee in the main lobby almost all day I think. They have a laundry room and vending machine. They even have a book collection to borrow from. The only grip my mom had was that there was no elevator to the floors and carrying baggage up some of those flights of stairs can be daunting. So she would have just liked an elevator. Other than that I will definitely stay here again.

I can't imagine staying anywhere else in Victoria. Their prices are great and the rooms are lovely. I have been staying there since I was a child. Great service-- lots of amenities for a small place. PERFECT location-- an easy walk (even with luggage) from the ferries.

You just cannot beat the Helm's Inn- my fiance and I have been coming here for almost 10 years. Don't bother looking elsewhere. We constantly return as the price is right, the rooms are comfortable, they have coffee and tea ready whenever you are in the lobby as well as friendly staff. Always a pleasure to return :) OH and do not miss out on the petting zoo at beacon hill park while you are here!

Stayed here at the last minute when we were on a cruise and missed the boat. Room was big and clean. Had a full kitchen and bed was very comfortable. Def not the cheapest place to stay but very nice. If on a budget you can find several nice hotels for half the price all around but when in a jam this place rocks. We didn't have a choice so it worked out well.

Great little hotel in downtown. Completely Updated in the rooms. Friendly staff; Josh went above and beyond to make things great!

Love the location & the staff of the Helm's Inn! The location is two blocks from the action and across the street from a beautiful park. The staff are all friendly & helpful. Super nice! The rooms are very clean. The sheets, towels & pillows need improvement. The sheets are way too rough (near sandpaper), the towels need to be replaced and the pillows are way too hard/full/inflexible.

Loved this place! Everyone here was fabulous. The decor in the rooms was a little old school in design, but it the fact that it was in great condition and really, really clean meant that it added a quaint, coziness to the place. The added kitchen was amazing. I was expecting something small and pokey in the corner but it was actually a tiled, modern kitchenette attached to the room. Everything (stove, oven, sink, fridge) was top of the line and all the utensils we needed were there. It's very close to downtown (we got in at about 10pm and were still able to make it into town on foot in time to grab dinner in one of the pubs). It's close enough to come and go as you please, as opposed to leaving in the morning and committing to being 'out for the day' because the hotel is just a tad too far away to warrant going back. Can't wait to go back!

My review is based on the price of the hotel. It's a great value for the money. Yes there are problems but they are very minor for the most part. The hotel is beautiful inside. Most of the staff are very nice (there was one staff member that I'd give 3 stars to, she wasn't rude exactly, maybe just not suited for hospitality work.) Yes, there were a few cosmetic flaws in our room. It didn't affect our stay having some mars on the wall. The things that might be factors for you should you choose this hotel (based on our room alone): - Stairs. There are stairs and no elevators. This might seem like a non-issue, it did to me. But after a day of walking miles, make sure you have enough steam to get back to your room! - The a/c is only a small room air conditioner. The kind rated for about 200 square feet (meaning it will cool about 100 square feet.) We went in September and it was rainy, we still needed fans to keep us cool enough to sleep. I can't imagine those tiny air conditioners would do much for you in the summer. - Think you can open the windows for fresh air? Only if you want bugs in your room. Only one window in our room had a screen on it, the one right over the air conditioner. That would be the one that would be blowing hot air out, so the least effective one to open for cool air. Also, the hotel is right at a busy intersection and you will get tired of the beeping of the walk signals really fast if your window is open. - They have weekly and monthly rates which are terrific, and why we chose this hotel. But be aware that if you choose these rates you will get housekeeping every 4 days. If this is a problem for you, take the rack rate. - It's somehow close to everything, yet close to nothing. It's right next to the museum. But when you want breakfast in the morning you will have to walk a couple of blocks minimum. Or cook your own, which is of course one of the benefits of this hotel! Same issue if you want a snack, or just want to do something. Everything is at least 2 blocks away. This doesn't seem like a huge deal but it can be after a long day of walking! - There are 3 buildings. We were in the 3rd one. To go to the hotel lobby meant walking down the stairs, through a walkway, across a parking lot, and up some stairs. But the lobby was very nice. :) - TV. Don't expect to be able to relax and watch TV because the channels are crap. We couldn't find anything we wanted to watch at all for the week we were there. Overall, I'm torn on staying here again. I think if money was a factor, yes I'd stay here. I'd rather be someplace more central to downtown though even if it costs a little more.

Great location, clean, and warm, welcoming staff. Very good value for the money ($100/night)

So convenient to everything, large rooms, and reasonable. My room in October was $85.00 + taxes for a one bedroom. It was really like having your own apartment and I really enjoyed that. The TV in the bedroom was appreciated and the linens were nice. Good coffee too. If you cook in your room you can save money as restaurant meals in Victoria can be very pricey. FYI, The Thrifty Foods supermarket about 4 blocks away is open 24 hours and has a great selection-organic,even a British food section!! Take a local bus that passes nearby. It is possible to skip back to the hotel for lunch when you are out seeing the sites nearby. Now the downside of the Helms Inn. The bed was short and I am not tall .Stairs only and the walls are thin. But during a weekdays things quieted down. The hotel is comprised of 3 older buildings so some wear is evident. The bedside light was broken, no phone in the bedroom so I could not hear my wake up call. Broken tap in the kitchen, cracked dishes, scratched Teflon cookware... you get the idea. And the overpowering smell of room freshener, Fabreeze spray I guess. It took 3 days for the sweet smell of the stuff to weaken and I aired out my room daily. I had a headache for the first night from it. Most staff are great but one was always surly and not helpful but that does not take away from the hotel itself. I will stay there again and have in the past.

My Wife has Parkinson's, Home instead helped us with housecleaning and some personal care. They were always on time , worked hard, and always very careful.We will certainly recommend them Sylvia & Erik Loppnau

My husband and I stayed here for 4 nights on a vacation to Victoria. The place was very clean, quiet, and centrally located. We could walk to everywhere in Victoria. The room was very reasonably priced and had everything we could ask for, including a full kitchen. Plenty of hot water, clean towels, free coffee, a daily tea service, very cheap parking, and recently added wireless internet for each room. I am so glad we stayed here instead of a generic chain or a more expensive place. Definitely worth checking out.

This place was amazing!!! We stayed 2 nights. The room was big, clean and comfortable. It had tons of mirrors, which I loved :) The little kitchenette was super! Location can't be beat! Walking distance to everything, The Empress Hotel, the Parliament Buildings, the marina. Best part about this place, Barry! He is on night duty and he is so funny!! He is so friendly and welcoming! He was born and raised in Victoria, so he knows all the must-dos in town! Look no further, this is the place to stay!

Everything we needed. Biking and walking distance to everything, is directly behind the museum and walking distance to water, tourist points, markets, restaurants and shopping, our room was spacious and had a separate bedroom, big kitchen, bathroom and living space. It was like renting an apartment in downtown Victoria. Onsite laundry as handy. Parking is $5 a day. We were travelling with 3 adults and two young children.

Nice hotel on the same block as the Royal BC Museum. The size of the room for the cost is hard to beat in Victoria, and like others have mentioned, the location is close enough to use it like a home base. My wife and I stayed 2 nights in the Thunderbird building (the main one where you check in, they have 2 other buildings) in a king-bed suite. The room definitely had the feel of a nice-sized 1 bedroom apartment and it had been updated for the most part, though the curtains, duvet, pillows, and shower curtain all still need a bit of improvement. The kitchen was appreciated and the sitting area/living room was a nice touch, making it feel very "home-y". As others have commented, if you have a street-facing room it can be noisy, especially if you're there during the day. At night, we just turned on the fan on the a/c unit and hardly noticed any street noise throughout the night, so don't let that deter you. We liked that it was in a mostly-residential neighborhood and so it gave you more of a feel of life-as-lived in Victoria than a downtown hotel might. It is close to many different bus stops which must be utilized to explore further afield (definitely worth buying a day pass). Another nice gesture which might be relevant for those coming over from Port Angeles, we were able to "pre-check-in" at 10:30 AM and leave our luggage securely stored so that we could enjoy the day unencumbered. For those considering staying a while and saving $$ by making some of your meals, the kitchen was fully-stocked with utensils, plates, cookware, microwave, stove, etc. While I imagine other hotels might have nicer, slicker rooms, this one definitely rates high as a very affordable, friendly, down-to-earth sort of place to stay and comes highly recommended.

We really enjoyed this place. We took the ferry into Victoria and were able to walk to our hotel. It is a few blocks with a slight grade in the last block up to the hotel. It is nice because it is close to the main part of town but just slightly out of it. It was also a really good deal and price compared to other hotels in the area with more in room amentities. We had four adults in a one bedroom suite. It had a large kitchenette area with a small little kitchen table. Then a living room area with a nice patio and a bedroom with I believe a king bed. Both the bedroom and living room had a TV. My sister and I slept on the pull-out couch. I will say when the couch is out it pretty much takes up the whole living room. We were on the third floor which is nice. Not so sure if it would have been as nice to be street level. I am not a coffee drinker but it looked like it was available all day in the reception area. They also have tea and cookies available in the late afternoon in the reception. i thought I read something about a computer being available for checking e-mail only but never saw it. It would have been nice at check-in for them to point out the features such as the computer and the tea hour but all of it was in the in-room hotel info binder. Again I really love having the kitchenette especially since it was a good size. It does look a bit older especially the halls and stairs which had a bit of a musty smell but thats not bothersome to me. No musty smell in the room. Would recommend this to people looking for a good priced room that has some good in-room amenities.

From the outside it looks like it could be a 70's style influenced stay but inside, the remodeled lobby and rooms are just awesome. I came up there from Seattle this last weekend for the Victoria BC Marathon and stayed in a room that was super modern inside with a flat screen, giant bed and new kitchen. It felt like a little apartment and completely made me feel at home. The front desk staff were super nice and helpful. Any questions I had about the area were met with correct answers. So in short, I'm coming back. Everytime I'm staying in Victoria (which will be a lot coming up) Helms Inn will be my spot. :)

Nifty place. Very close to what you want. Large, very clean rooms with great kitchens. Super reasonable prices. Quiet.

A hidden gem in the heart of Victoria! Super location, a five minute walk to the Inner Harbor, less than that to the Royal BC Museum and Beacon Hill Park. Room was huge, and the kitchenette was a great amenity. Parking is a value at $5/night. Staff was friendly and helpful. An incredible value.

So close to everything, and very, very clean. The downside is there aren't any elevators, but it only has three stories. Also spacious?! A separate kitchen, dining/living room and bedroom, plus a full bath. The kitchen includes an oven, fridge and dishes (plus, dish soap and tea towels). A solid place to take anyone who is particularly selective in choosing hotels.

My wife and I stayed for three nights prior to heading to Vancouver for Canada Day. First off, the location is perfect. It's right across the street from a large park, and within easy walking distance to the waterfront, and downtown areas, along with being a block from the Royal BC Museum and the buses to Butchart/etc. The staff was very friendly, and they easily dealt with a problem with our reservation dates. Although it's an older building, the room had newer furnishings. It was much larger than we expected, with a king bed and small kitchen. The only minor complaints I have are that the bed was only moderately comfortable, and the showerhead was one of those old designs which don't spread the water very well (and tend to waste water). Overall, though, a great place to stay.