With all of the hoopla surrounding a vacation, the last thing anyone needs is more worry. Booking your accommodations directly with EMR Vacation Rentals is one sure-fire way to ease that tension, guaranteeing the best rate with no hidden fees, a reliable service team and an ally in the industry for destination travel advice.

Superior Service

Consumers today, in the travel world and otherwise, are tech-savvy and more apt to purchase everything from online sources. Choosing to book direct online (or by phone) with a rental management company like EMR Vacation Rentals (rather than an online travel agent like VRBO or HomeAway) ensures outstanding customer service with an agent that lives and works in the area. They are not only able to navigate through available the inventory to find the best vacation rental to suit your needs, but they also know the area well. Don’t be afraid to ask for their favorite spots to eat or popular activities. Often, they can even clue you in on where to find discounts on dining and attractions.

No Unexpected Fees

Third-party online booking agencies are often plagued with redundant fees. Would you spend extra money (a service fee) for example, just for a simple night in a hotel? Probably not. Read over the Book Direct and Save comparisons on the EMR Vacation Rentals website for more information. You are going to be surprised at the money you can save simply by booking direct.

Quality and Assurance

Don’t make the mistake of booking third party and “hoping” for the best. Book with the assurance of a high-quality property that meets your needs from price to location to amenities. Remove the guesswork from the equation and book knowing maintenance help, should you need it, is just a phone call away when you book direct.

EMR Vacation Rentals wants to make your vacation experience a great one by booking you in a fabulous privately-owned rental loaded with amenities. With options across British Columbia (Vancouver, Victoria, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Whistler, the Sunshine Coast and the Okanagan), both personal and corporate accommodations are possible for rentals daily, weekly and longer.

EMR Vacation Rentals has agents available to deliver excellent service to you by phone or internet. Online, you can even chat with us! It’s never been easier to find the perfect vacation property in the British Columbia area.

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Vancouver Island is a unique destination filled with low-level, old-growth temperate rainforest. The area is packed with outdoor adventure, pristine beaches, whale watching, and scenic drives. No matter the ages in your group, everyone will find their place on Vancouver Island. 

A Little about the Island

Vancouver Island is actually the visual (exposed) part of a submerged mountain range in the Pacific Ocean west of Vancouver and north of Seattle. It is made up of seven regions stretching some 460km from Victoria to Cape Scott, covering all terrains from mountains to beaches. A drive from end to end of the Island will take just under six hours and present many opportunities for sampling local fare along the way, while experiencing the uniqueness of each community. 

Golfers love to play in Vancouver Island, from Victoria mountaintops to the greens in Courtenay, Port Alberni, and Nanaimo. Championship golf is available at 40 courses across the Island, some even designed by golf greats like Jack and Steve Nicklaus.

If you love fishing, plan to get hooked on Vancouver Island, where the waters are filled with trophy salmon and halibut. There are excellent fishing holes for both fresh and saltwater, chartered trips with professional guides and opportunities for launching a boat and setting out alone. Either way, world-class fishing awaits. 

Many visitors go for the beaches, culture, festivals and culinary treasures. You can find it all on Vancouver Island, from an incredible spa treatment to a canoeing expedition or a fascinating road trip. 

Fun Facts about Vancouver Island

This unique destination offers some pretty cool fun facts, starting with its size (460km in length and 100km in width) which is about the same as Holland. Other fun facts include the following:

• The Douglas Fir Tree was first spotted in Vancouver Island by Archibald Menzies. 
• Different from the mainland, Vancouver Island has no grizzly bears or mountain goats, but is plentiful in black bears and wolves.
• The largest member of the squirrel family—the Vancouver Island marmot is one of the rarest mammals in the world. 
• Vancouver Island’s Hornby Island and Nootka Sound are two of the few places in the world where divers can experience the thrill of encountering a six-gilled shark. 

Getting There

Visitors to the area can bring their vehicles via ferry service. Choices from Washington state are the Coho Ferry, offering service daily between downtown Victoria and Port Angeles; the Anacortes Ferry, operated by the Washington DOT and connecting Sidney with Anacortes; and a catamaran service (passenger only) through Clipper Navigation goes between Victoria and Seattle. There are also ferry services with BC Ferries connecting Vancouver Island to the mainland and other Gulf Island communities. 

Visitors can fly into Vancouver Island on several options from Calgary and Edmonton. From the states, flights to the Island are available from Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Portland with a handful of major airlines. Also, float planes can land in several remote locations. 

Vacation Rentals on Vancouver Island

When you plan your trip, browse Vancouver Island accommodations including condos and houses from one to six bedrooms. Find garden-view condos nestled on heritage property to historic district Victoria condos, as well.

Keeping cool in the summertime is easy when you include water sports and indoor activities during your Vancouver Island getaway. Start planning the coolest vacation with these fun additions to your summer agenda.

If summer is your season to visit, staying cool is a breeze thanks to lots of adventures on the water. Choose a tour company like Ocean River and hit the water with a kayak exploring in beautiful Victoria. With a strong history in the business, they also offer kayaking school if you need a little help. Choose half, full or multi-day adventures that best fit your schedule. 

Whale Watching is a great pastime in the Vancouver Island area. Several companies offer excursions to get you in the presence of these unique ocean creatures. Ocean Ecoventures Whale Watching has the highest sightings of orcas and humpbacks every year and offers small, personal tour groups with never more than 12 passengers to allow for an intimate experience. During your excursion, you’ll learn about the Salish Sea ecosystem from certified captains who are passionate about marine life.

The Royal BC Museum is a world-class facility twice voted the number one museum in Canada by TripAdvisor users. Discover people and things you never knew existed within the permanent exhibits. The Royal BC Museum is also one of Canada’s leading research centers showcasing 550 million years of natural history and 9,000 years of human history in BC. And, A/C for the win!

Create your own cool breeze with an exciting Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tour! An adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventure in Vancouver Island’s rainforest allows for gorgeous views of mountains and oceans in addition to seeing wildlife and the natural beauty of the area. Join a professionally-led two-hour tour that includes an ATV ride, two suspension bridges and eight ziplines on this adventurous course. 

Super adventurous visitors will enjoy the cool temps of caves in the area where a steady 8 degrees Celsius can be depended on. Spelunking is safer with a guided tour so check out excursions from Horne Lake Caves, about a half-hour from Parksville. 

Choose accommodations that put you right in the middle of the fun and get busy planning a cool summer trip to Vancouver Island. 

Let’s face it. Last-minute getaways can be some of the most rewarding and exciting travel, especially when it’s to take advantage of playing in the recent heavy snowfall the Northwest has seen. No matter if you’re an avid skier or just want to enjoy chilly days in the snow, warm up your dreary travel calendar with a last-minute getaway to one of these three great destinations.

Island Park, ID Snow Vacations

Beautiful mountains, valleys, and rivers meander through Island Park offering the most picture-perfect backdrop for your vacation. Snowmobiling is a favorite pastime in this little Idaho town. And with lots of recent snow, there’s no time like the present to pack up and head for the hills. With cozy cottages for two or lodging in rustic cabins that will sleep upwards of 10, finding accommodations in Island Park is easy….from affordable to luxury.

Snowmobiling is amazing on hundreds of miles of groomed trails in the area. And if you can’t bring your ride along, no worries—they are available for rent. Also take advantage of guided tours to see the best of winter’s fresh blankets. Follow up a day in the brisk outdoors with a meal at a local favorite like Connie’s Restaurant & Saloon. Enjoy comfort foods from Prime Rib to Baby Back Ribs. And don’t forget dessert.

Yellowstone National Park has the distinction of being America’s first national park, established in 1872 and home to tons of wildlife such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk. A stay in Island Park puts you in close proximity to Yellowstone National Park without the crowds—a big bonus!

Mt. Hood, OR Ski Vacation

The Mt. Hood area, including Rhododendron and Government Camp, offer prime winter destinations, especially following times of abundant snowfall. Rustic cabins are available to suit almost any size party and offer a wide variety of amenities from hot tubs to game rooms and more. You’ll find lovely decks for viewing Mother Nature’s proud displays, full kitchens, and plenty of modern comforts.

Mt. Hood’s Alpine Village features all the necessary options to truly set up base camp for year-round outdoor activities and recreation. Black iron art is interwoven throughout the streetscape where you’ll find shopping, taverns, and the town’s historic Museum and Visitor Center. Find your place here and get busy planning your playful snow days.

The area is brimming with well-groomed ski trails as well as good places for snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Kids (of all ages) will love tubing and sledding. Equipment is readily available for rent, and folks can take a lesson or better yet, a guided tour. Want something special for the family? Check out Mt. Hood Skibowl, home to the largest night ski area in the nation along with fabulous Cosmic Tubing with more than 600,000 colored LED lights. Talk about a time to remember!

Winter Fun in Mt. Baker, WA

There’s no better place to experience wintry days of snow and fun like a stay in Mt. Baker’s Snowline community. Family-friendly and bursting with winter recreational opportunities, guests enjoy lots of amenities such as a seasonal outdoor heated pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, a playground and more. Better than that are the trails surrounding the community leading to the Nooksack River.

When cold weather calls, it’s nice to be right on the edge of the Snoqualmie National Forest and close to the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Sign up for beginner lessons, private classes, or whatever you need to get going on the slopes creating memories for a lifetime in one of America’s most appreciated ski areas.

When hunger pangs strike, Graham’s Restaurant is a crowd-pleaser in a western saloon setting. Comfort foods are served in generous portion sizes and you just can’t beat the wings.

Fun fact: The Mt. Baker Ski Area set the world record for snowfall for a single season back in 1999. A whopping 1,140 inches fell (that’s 95 FEET!), creating an increased knowledge of the area for world-class skiing.

No matter which destination you choose, there are wintry memories awaiting. Grab your friends and family and head to the northwest!!

Vancouver Island is a fantastic vacation spot with a wide variety of attractions and activities available for visitors. Summertime is perfect for visiting, with even more opportunities for great outdoor experiences. Choose the accommodations that best fit your budget and travel party, then let the planning begin!

On the Water

Vancouver Island boasts more than 2,000 miles of coastline along with thousands of lakes and rivers, making water activities easily accessible. Try your hand at wet adventures of both the salt- and fresh-water variety—snorkeling, diving, kayaking, whale-watching, fishing, canoeing, paddleboarding, and sailing are only a few of the options available. 

Check out local beaches for the ultimate in relaxation. Watch the changing tides as you explore places like French Beach or Cape Scott Provincial Park and take it all in.

Are you hooked on fishing? Freshwater fishermen will find almost 10,000 lakes, where they can cast for steelhead, rainbow, Kokanee, Dolly Vardens and both large- and small-mouth bass. Hire a professional guide and head for secret fishing holes to catch your limit or launch your own boat in the salt waters of the island. 

Prince of Whales Whale Watching offers incredible opportunities for whale-watching and marine wildlife experiences. Join guests from around the world to learn about different marine species, including killer whales and other sea creatures. 

Golf in Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is pure pleasure for golfers. No matter your skill level, there is a course for you. Check out a dozen courses that make up the Vancouver Island Golf Trail for a challenging experience. Ranked by Golf Magazine as one of the best deals on the continent, Vancouver Island offers more than 40 courses designed by golf greats like Jack and Steve Nicklaus, Les Furber and many others. 

Bring your clubs or rent a set, but be sure and take advantage of the beautiful, championship courses that make Vancouver Island a dream for golfers. 

Blossoming Beauty

If you enjoy gardens and nature’s beauty, consider visiting the gardens of Vancouver Island. As winter months offer special looks at evergreens, springtime shows off with cherry blossoms and daffodils, transitioning to perennials in summertime. No matter the season, you’ll find lovely gardenscapes.

Butchart Gardens (south end of the Island near Victoria) is a world renowned garden attraction and well-known for unique collection of roses.  Nanaimo offers several ornate gardens, and Qualicum Beach is the place to see hybrids and heirlooms. The capital city of Victoria is known as the City of Gardens so don’t miss all of Mother Nature’s best there, as well as in other nearby communities. 

Hiking and Camping in Vancouver Island

Getting back to nature is easy when you have more than 12,000 miles spanning your destination. Alpine climbing in the Comox Valley is popular, as is backcountry camping to the Cape Scott lighthouse. There are also opportunities for spelunking, storm-watching, cycling, jogging, wildlife viewing, and more. 

If camping is your cup of tea, don’t miss the Gulf Islands seaside camping experience. More sophisticated campers will enjoy glamping near Tofino and if you’re looking for a thrill, seek out ziplining over the trees in Sooke. No matter what adventure you crave, you’ll find it within the eight million acres of land on Vancouver Island. 

More Things to Do in Vancouver Island

If you are seeking even more things to do on Vancouver Island, remember that wildlife is abundant and watching it is a great pastime. Also, don’t forget about shopping that abounds, the creative culinary scene and, of course, the wineries and breweries available. There’s never a dull moment here!  And we’ve got so many wonderful properties to serve as home base for your adventures!

With the U.S. Dollar exchanging at more than $1.30 to the Canadian Dollar, now is the time for a road trip across the border to beautiful Vancouver Island. Washington and Pacific Northwest vacationers poised for travel will especially appreciate these immediate savings thanks to the close proximity of the Canadian border. A travel budget increased by almost 25% allows for an upgrade in accommodations, more upscale restaurants or just an extra jingle in your pocket. 

In addition, when you #BookDirect on your stay, you eliminate the traveler fees charged by the large travel websites like VRBO, Airbnb, etc.  Those fees can typically amount to around 15% on the average stay.   For US travelers who #BookDirect, that can mean up to 40% savings on your total lodging expense when coupled with the exchange rate savings!

Vancouver Island is a special place and, in fact, the only place in the world containing the amount of low-level old-growth temperate rainforest found there. Outdoor adventurists will find plenty to do with gorgeous beaches for relaxing, amazing scenic drives, and even whale watching. 

Build Your Vancouver Island Vacation

Planning and building your vacation are easy after lodging is booked. Browse vacation rentals for the perfect home base during your stay and choose activities that most appeal to your travel party. From shopping to festivals and outdoor recreation, there’s truly something for everyone in Vancouver Island. 

If you have golfers in the group, Vancouver Island is paradise for them, with more than 40 courses with varying skill levels providing challenging play for all. Ship your clubs ahead of time if you need the space in your vehicle or rent from many of the clubs for a fee. 

The foodie experience on the island is fabulous (especially with a little extra money in the wallet). Choose from gourmet food trucks, fresh seafood and almost anything else you can imagine. With an abundance of farms, locally-sourced veggies, produce and beef are more accessible and therefore quick to the restaurant tables for consumption. Check out farmers markets as well—there’s one in most every community. 

Did you know that when visiting Vancouver Island, you can take a tour of some 40 wineries, breweries, cideries and meaderies in the Cowichan Valley and South Island areas? The island offers a climate that’s quite conducive to growers, making it a breeding ground for Artisan winemakers and brewmasters. Try the myriad of adult beverages and decide for yourself if this region is a prime tasting area.

Additional Ways to Spend Your Savings

While exchange rates in Canada are still favorable to U.S. travelers, spend some of that savings on a pampering, luxurious spa treatment with hot stones, a facial, an herbal mud scrub or a couples massage. There are plenty of choices to treat yourself in Vancouver Island. 

Need suggestions on more things to do in Vancouver Island? Kayaking, looking for bears, snorkeling or just tooling around tend to be popular ways to spend some time. Whatever the choice, make this trip memorable on a cheaper budget by traveling while the exchange rate is so helpful!

There’s good reason why Vancouver is honoured with such a glamourous pseudonym. After all, it has been a filmmaking centre for almost a century.

In 1910, the Edison Manufacturing Company shot two films – the Cowpuncher’s Glove and The Ship’s Husband. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, the province of British Columbia hosts more than half of Canada’s total foreign production slate and is North America’s third largest film production centre behind Los Angeles and New York. But what makes this such an attractive place to shoot? There’s the short 3-hour plane ride from LA and of course the tax breaks… but it’s the myriad of amazing location options that keep Hollywood coming back for more. And it’s this continual support from the heavy-hitters south of the border that has helped nurture Vancouver’s own industry. Bridge Studios in the metropolitan Vancouver township of Burnaby not only has one of the biggest special effects stages on the continent but has also been responsible for such TV shows and feature films as Black Christmas and the award-winning hit, Juno. Vancouver is also home to the world-acclaimed Vancouver International Film Festival and the Vancouver Film and Television Forum. But we digress. The key is still location, location, location. And you might be surprised just how many productions call this their home. Your next trip to Vancouver you might find yourself walking through some of your favourite movies…

Most people are familiar with Vancouver’s flagship shows such as 21-Jump Street, The X-Files, Smallville and Supernatural, but not many people realize that they’re taking a behind-the-scenes tour as soon as they step off the plane. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has served as the set for movies such as Final Destination, The Cleaner, Firewall, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer as well as the hit TV show, The L Word.

BC Place is the 60 thousand-seater stadium on the downtown shores of False Creek. This unmistakable white domed structure has played host to regional and international sport events as well as trade shows and super-concerts. But unknown to most, it has also factored in favourite films such as Paycheck, Butterfly on a Wheel, Two for the Money and The Fantastic Four. Mere blocks away is Vancouver’s Chinatown – the second largest of its kind in North America behind San Francisco. And with the colourful shops, open-air markets and attractions such as the Han Dynasty Bell in Shanghai Alley and the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, it’s easy to see why this would be a favourite with location scouts. You might recognize this unique corner of the city in films such as Killer Instinct, X-Men: The Last Stand, Rumble in the Bronx and Unforgettable.

Vancouver’s Anglo Olde Towne has seen its fair share of action, too. The character buildings and cobbled streets of Gastown have attracted more than just tourists cameras over the years. See if you recognize anything familiar in Catwoman, I, Robot, Legends of the Fall, Romeo Must Die and the immortal kids’ classic, The NeverEnding Story. Vancouver’s new neighbourhoods have seen their fair share of the spotlight, too. The uber-trendy condo and brewpub neighbourhood of Yaletown has featured in such films as 88 Minutes, Good Luck Chuck, Rumble in the Bronx and the TV series Stargate SG-1. Spending a cultured day at the Vancouver Art Gallery? So did the cast and crew of The Core, The Deal, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and Night at the Museum.

Most summer trips to Vancouver include a visit to the Pacific National Exhibition – a city institution that started in 1910 as a provincial industrial showcase and has grown into one of the biggest entertainment venues on the continent. Internationally-acclaimed, award winning live shows have originated here such as Cirque Pop, City Rhythm and Bring on the Night but so have many motion pictures – Rocky IV, Cats & Dogs, Final Destination 3, Riding the Bullet, Fear and Best in Show…

Even the local seat of learning has made room for the occasional director’s chair. The vast and beautiful campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC) has provided settings for feature films such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Antitrust and The Exorcism of Emily Rose as well as the TV shows The 4400, Bionic Woman, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica and Deadzone.

Film production in British Columbia is not relegated to Metropolitan Vancouver. The capital city of Victoria on Vancouver Island has seen its share of production time as well. Craigdarroch Castle, once home to the Turn of the Century coal tycoon family, the Dunsmuirs, has undergone many metamorphoses including war hospital, music conservatory, museum and more recently home to the March sisters in the motion picture, Little Women. Maybe you’re not into the period-pieces. Sucker for those mid-eighties action films? You’ll probably recognize the one-block stretch of downtown Victoria’s Fan Tan Alley that was shot and then looped to create the deceptively long motorbike chase with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn in Bird on a Wire. More into the horror genre? Any visitor to Victoria who has walked through the popular Bastion Square might feel a prickle of familiar uneasiness. This could be because Bastion Square briefly became the Parisian corner on which the main character in Final Destination meets his inevitable end.

Other areas in the province have become immortalized through the silver screen. The barren, windswept hills of Williams Lake in the Cariboo Chilcotin became a fourteenth century Asian battleground for Antonio Bandera and cast in The Thirteenth Warrior. Just north of Vancouver in the picturesque town of Lions Bay, Jennifer Garner earned her superhero stripes as Elektra. Historic Barkerville became seedy, small town Mexico for Robert Rodriguez hit, Desperado. Kamloops doubled as an American military prison camp in Germany in the acclaimed film, Cadence. And Steve Martin immortalized Nelson in the unforgettable hit, Roxanne.

But the best part about Hollywood North isn’t the movies that have been shot here in the past – it’s the one that are being shot here right now. At any given point in Vancouver, Victoria or anywhere in the province, you might stumble upon a line of huge white trailers, a closed street, a flurry of activity, a famous face and a fast growing crowd of curious spectators. Nothing compares to the excitement of a behind-the-scenes perspective as the magic of Hollywood unfolds right here, up north.

Welcome to BC. Lights, camera…