Villa Marco Polo

Victoria Bed and Breakfast Villa Marco Polo on Youtube

marcopolo — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:03:31 +0000

Karen Brown’s Wold of Tavel

They began as book publishers and currently have seventeen titles in the Karen Brown Series. This year, 2011, celebrates thirty-four years in publishing for Karen Brown’s Guides.

They pride ourselves on bringing the recommendations for both places to stay and suggestions for regional countryside itineraries. They see everything they recommend and offer the traveler elective and honest evaluations.

Savvy travelers have come to depend on Karen Brown’s recommendations. The Guidebooks include 17 titles covering Europe, regions in the United States and Mexico. Each book features a hand-picked selection of accommodation and our detailed driving and walking itineraries explore historic cities and towns, friendly villages and tourist attractions. Stay in exquisite bed & breakfasts, quaint country inns, elegant town hotels, imposing chateaux and ancient castles. All of the accommodations are personally inspected by the staff and recommended for their charm, setting, and above all, warmth of welcome. Karen Brown guides combine a warm personal tone, line drawings, color maps and itineraries to enable independent travelers to plan their own vacations. The guidebooks are available in bookstores and can also be purchased through the website store.

LAST MINUTE SPECIAL August 3rd – August 8th

marcopolo — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:55:29 +0000

Book your favourite suite at the Villa Marco Polo for the discounted rate starting at $195!

Summer festivals and events in Victoria, BC – August 2011

marcopolo — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:08:49 +0000

Summer is always a special time in the British Columbia Capital City, with so much to do and see. So wherever you are there will be music and people enjoying what our city has to offer. Come and join us!
- Tango Festival; August 12 – 14; Centennial Square, Alix Golden Hall, Hermann’s Jazz Club;
Heat up your summer with three days of scintillating performance of tango music and dance from the classic era to Nuevo, jazz tango and, tango theatre. Click here for more info
- Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival; August 12 – 14; Ship Point Victoria’s Inner Harbour;
This event is a wonderful celebration of Asian culture combined with the ancient tradition of dragon boat racing. Starts on Friday with the elaborate Eye Dotting Ceremony that officially opens the festival. There are over 90 dragon boat teams from all over North America compete in Saturday and Sunday’s races. Click here for more info
- FolkWest; August 20-21; Royal Athletic Park;
This is a fresh new festival in Victoria to celebrate the Island’s folk talent and see of the biggest names in Canada, all in one weekend! Concerts, interactive workshops, family play area, busking pitches, community mural, food and beer garden. Click here for more info
- Indian Mela; August 20 – 21; Centennial Square;
The Indian Mela is culturally inclusive, free, public event showcasing Victoria’s Indian Community. This two-day event futures Indian entertainment, including classical and Bollywood dances and music, dozen kiosk with fashion, jewellery, arts and crafts, mount-watering Indian food, and much more! Click here for more info
- Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival; August 25 – September 4; various locations;
The Victoria Fringe celebrates its 25th anniversary with over 400 theatre performances in a dizen venues across town. Over 60 international independent performing companies converge on vIctoria for 11 days and nights of comedy, drama, dance, spoken and physical theatre. Click here for more info
– Vancouver Island Blues Bash; September 3 – 5, Ship Point;
The 17th Annual Vancouver Island Blues Bash is a three-day festival that features all styles of blues and R$B on the Labour Day weekend. Free afternoon performances with ticketed ones in the evening. Click here for more info

Victoria Symphony Splash July 31st 2011 – Victoria BC

marcopolo — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:29:05 +0000

You simply cannot miss this event! Victoria Symphony Splash is the largest annual outdoor symphony event in North America, attracting up to 40,000 Victoria residents and visitors. It includes musical entertainment, food, souvenirs and the evening’s highlight: a live performance by the Victoria Symphony in Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour transformed into an outdoor concert stage. It is the finale of the 3nd annual “Symphony in the Summer” outdoor concert festival, which takes place July 19 to July 31, 2011. The concert concludes with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with bells, cannons, and fireworks.
Victoria Symphony Summer schedule:
- at Butchart Gardens: July 19th, July 22nd, July 27 at 8pm
- July 20th at Bastion Square at 5:30pm; Fairmont Empress Terrace at 6:30pm
- July 21st at Legislature Building at 12pm
- July 23rd at Market Square at 12pm
- July 24th at Beacon Hill Park at 1:30pm
- July 26th at Market Square at 12pm; Fairmont Empress Terrace at 6:30pm
- July 28th at Centennial Square at 12pm
- July 31st Symphony Splash! Inner Harbour at 7:30pm

LONG WEEKEND SPECIAL!

marcopolo — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:41:18 +0000

The weather is improving each day! Nothing more to say… except: Take advantage of our LONG WEEKEND SPECIAL! Stay at the Villa Marco Polo, in the suite of your choice, for two nights for $500, or three nights for $700 (the offer valid from 29th July to 1st August). Call us now 877.601.1524

Summer festivals and events in Victoria, British Columbia – July 2011

marcopolo — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:26:21 +0000

Summer is always a special time in the British Columbia Capital City, with so much to do and see – it will certainly be busy this summer as well! Alongside well-established festivals, Victoria will also host new creative events that highlight local talent and spirit, not to mention food and arts markets ongoing across the city! So wherever you are there will be music and people enjoying what our city has to offer. Come and join us!
- First People Festival; June 19th, 1:00 to 5:00pm at Spirit Square (Victoria City Hall)
Join us for drumming and dance performances, cultural presentations, and an artist market.
- TD Victoria International JazzFest; June 24 – July 3
10 days of JazzFest gives the opportunity to enjoy over 350 individual musicians, in over 60 bands performing in over 85 concerts on 12 festival stages in downtown Victoria. Read more
- Canada Day; July 1 – 3, Inner Harbour
3 days of celebration of Canada’s 144th birthday! The Canada Day Celebration is the largest public event on Vancouver Island. The program includes an international food village, performances by well-known Canadian artists, a Living Flag, fireworks and a lot of family-friendly events. Read more
- Victoria Pride Week; July 1 – 10
Pride Week celebration includes Youth Pride Dance, the Big Gay Dog Walk, Pride and the Word, Drag Ball – Baseball, annual parade and festival, which features more than 100 vendors and new stage acts all to enjoy. Read more
- Victoria Ska Fest; July 5 – 9; Inner Harbour
As the largest festival of its kind in North America, Victoria Ska Fest is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best reggae, punk, rocksteady, caribbean rhythms. Five jam-packed days! Read more
- Festival Mexicano; July 8 – 10, Centennial Square and Victoria Event Centre
The weekend packed full with professional Latin music and dance performances, traditional Mexican food, craft vendors, workshops, dance lessons, games, pinatas, and MARIACHI BAND! Read more
- Victoria International Buskers Festival, July 15 – 24, Waterfront, Centennial and Bastion Square
The festival presents street performers from around the world on five stages across downtown, A family-friendly event! Read more
- TD Art Gallery Paint-In; July 16, Moss Street
Vancouver Island’s largest outdoor visual art event features 150 invited professional and emerging artists from Victoria and surrounding areas. A food and beverages garden ,and dancing to live music until 9pm! Read more
- Victoria Symphony Splash; July 31, Inner Harbour
A spectacular events that brings over 40,000 people of all ages to the heart of Victoria for a musical and community experience like no other! Floating stage, special guest perform, fireworks and cannons! Read more
- Victoria Electric Music Festival; July 30 – 31, Centennial Squares, Clubs: Hush, Sugar and Sunset Room
This festival is fun and exciting – it builds the awareness of electronic music by showcasing both local and international artists. All ages event, free to attend. It features an exceptional artist line-up of 60+ artists, VEMF interactive seminars, a beer garden and much more! Read more

Victoria International JazzFest, June 24 – July 3

marcopolo — Tue, 17 May 2011 20:22:54 +0000

This year’s festival promises to bring, yet again, many brilliant performers from around the world, who are representing countries that include Australia, Cuba, Denmark. Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United States. 10 days of JazzFest gives the opportunity to enjoy over 350 individual musicians, in over 60 bands performing in over 85 concerts on 12 festival stages in downtown Victoria. The 2011 TD JazzFest will continue to integrate the diversity of many cultures and music from all styles of jazz, blues and R&B, as well as urban grooves, world and roots music.

For more info, click here
For pricing and ticket info, click here
For a full concerts schedule, click here

For Jazz funs from out of town: Stay with the Villa Marco Polo during the JazzFest and receive 10% discount of your entire reservation! *
To check availability or make a booking, click here.
* minimum 2 night-stay;

Award of Excellence in Hospitality for Bed and Breakfast Victoria, BC

vmpadmin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:39:29 +0000

Villa Marco Polo has received Award of Excellence in Hospitality from International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association! We have joined a family of culinary, hospitality, tourism, beverage and destination marketing professionals who are recognized as exemplifying the world’s finest!

Vancouver Island Wineries, Cowichan Valley

vmpadmin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:02:49 +0000

Vancouver Island supports a small but vibrant wine industry made up of more than two dozen wineries. Vancouver Island wineries have a relaxed, informal atmosphere, and most welcome visitors for tours and tastings. Many are small, family-owned, and run by unpretentious, friendly winemakers. Some wineries offer dining or have picnic facilities. The Cowichan Valley, with its “Gourmet Trail,” is an ideal location for food and wine enthusiasts. The Valley takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning “the warm land” and it enjoys Canada’s warmest mean temperature, ideal conditions for growing grapes and other fruits and vegetables. The Cowichan Valley is British Columbia’s newest wine-growing region and has become known for its Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The high wine tour season is between April and October, but while some of the wineries take this time, to get rest after the busy growing season, the others of the larger wineries are open and you can still have a great tour during the off season as well.
Some of recommended wineries:

Victoria BC, the City of Flowers

vmpadmin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:32:06 +0000

Due to its mild climate, Victoria and its surrounding area is home to many rare, native plants found nowhere else in Canada, including Quercus garryana (Garry oak), Arctostaphylos columbiana (Hairy manzanita), and Canada’s only broad leaf evergreen tree, Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone). Many of these species exist here at the northern end of their range, and are found as far south as Central and Southern California, and even parts of Mexico. Victoria’s equitable climate has also added to its reputation as the “City of Gardens”. The city takes pride in the many flowers that bloom during the winter and early spring, including crocuses, daffodils, early-blooming rhododendrons, cherry and plum trees. While the rest of Canada and much of the US is still in the cold clutches of winter weather, Victoria often enjoys spring temperatures of 10-15° Celsius (up to 60° Fahrenheit).

As March arrives, the rest of Canada usually turns green with envy as Greater Victoria residents tally the total number of buds and blooms they find flourishing throughout the region.