Salty Towers Ocean Front Cottages

The name of the property is misleading. The room I book was not an ocean front room nor a cottage. The room was attached to the house the owners live in. When I asked about it the owner said “you didn’t book a cottage “and proceeded to point to the shacks in the driveway.

This is my very first ever zero review. I booked Salty Towers in February 2022 for a June 16/17, 2022 stay. About a week before I started my family holiday I received an email that the new management company (Iris Properties) was charging me an ADDITIONAL $125 ‘cleaning fee’ plus 3% processing fee. YIKES! In my original booking I was promised a welcome basket and breakfast for each family member for each night booked (like a bed and breakfast). The new management company’s booking system was not working … but they wanted their money so they kept calling and emailing to secure my credit card! There was a TONNE of emails and paperwork to confirm my original February booking. Then, when my family arrived -no welcome basket -no breakfast. After several emails and calls (during my vacation) about what I was promised in my booking, the new management company said they were not responsible for covering the basket or breakfast… and the owners were at fault for leaving advertising up in the property during our stay - the property still advertises breakfast included! If I had known the serious hassle and the last minute price increase of $125 plus 3% processing fee AND the UNDERHANDED removal of the breakfast from the original booking we would have made different arrangements … this property is not worth the cost. The new management company is TERRIBLE to deal with and we feel the management company cheated us! BUYER BEWARE HERE!

We thoroughly enjoyed our 8 night stay. The location can't be beat. It's right by the Whiffin Spit, a beautiful walk on a dyke-like spit. We loved the seals and how they would swim close to our kayaks, and one of them came up on the wharf to see if we had anything for them to eat. It's a 20 minute drive to the Sooke Potholes - a great place to swim. The rooms were clean and tidy. The owners are very nice people, who have had medical issues that have kept them from doing repairs and updates but are working hard to catch up. However, Iris Properties, the management company that have taken over need to do a re-think on some of their procedures. Whether you stay for one night or 8 nights, you get one towel and one face cloth for your entire stay. When we asked about it we were told we could pay for extra towels or go to a local laundromat. Really?? We have travelled to many places in the world, and this is the first time we were not given extra towels for free. When we complained enough, they finally said they would do it this one time only and gave us extra towels on Day 6. The owners felt really bad about it as this is not how they want things done. I would not let this stop you from going to this awesome place, but I would have a conversation with Iris Properties about towels right at the time you register. I would have given a higher rating than 3-star if it wasn't for the management company. I give the owners a 5-star. Lovely people. We would definitely go back again.