Frequently Asked Questions

We don’t accept cash. Payment is by card, either securely through our website (processed by Stripe) or through booking platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo.

This ensures proper insurance coverage and accurate bookkeeping for your stay.

Booking on our website means no platform service fees: you skip the extra charges that Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo add on top of our rate, so it’s the best-value way to stay with us.

Booking direct also means you deal with us, Anna and Vrat, from the start: special requests, early check-in or late check-out, and any questions come straight to the hosts.

Occasionally, yes. From time to time we share promo codes with our Instagram followers and with returning guests. You can enter a code in the booking form on our website when you book direct.

To make sure you don’t miss one, follow us on Instagram at @fivegables_qb (opens in a new tab), and tick the box to receive marketing emails when you book. We only send them occasionally, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Our standard check-in time is 4:00 PM, and check-out is 10:00 AM. We offer optional add-ons for more flexibility:

• Early check-in (2:00 PM) – $30 + taxes
• Late check-out (12:00 PM) – $30 + taxes

These options are available on a first-come, first-served basis since we need 4 hours between guests to prepare the suite. Please request this as early as possible.

Maximum occupancy is 2 adults. Infants and children up to 12 years old are welcome in addition to the 2 adults. Three adults are not permitted.

Our booking form allows a maximum of 2 guests. If you are travelling with a child, please select 2 guests and mention the child’s age in the Special Request field after selecting your dates.

• Infants: Complimentary Pack & Play available upon request.
• Children (up to 12): Stay free of charge and are expected to share the king-size bed with parents.
• Optional child bed: For $30 + applicable taxes per stay, we can set up a queen-size double-high air mattress in the library/workspace area. It features a built-in pump with automatic pressure monitoring to maintain consistent firmness overnight. Intended for children only and available upon advance request.

Unfortunately, no. We love pets, but we keep the suite free of them so guests with pet allergies can stay comfortably. We don’t have any pets of our own either.

The only guests allowed to fly around are the hummingbirds, who stop by the garden feeder for a sweet sip.

We provide a self-serve breakfast package for your stay. It usually includes:

• Fresh fruit (typically bananas and apples)
• Apple and orange juice
• Granola
• Yogurt
• Instant oatmeal
• Small cookies or sweet snacks

You’ll also find a wide selection of teas, Keurig coffee pods, and milk in the fridge.

There’s no full kitchen, but you can prepare simple food and reheat meals in the suite.

Municipal regulations for B&B accommodations in Qualicum Beach don’t permit us to provide a full kitchen or cooking facilities. For simple food preparation, you’ll have:

• Mini fridge
• Microwave
• Kettle
• Keurig coffee maker
• Plates, bowls, mugs and glasses
• Cutlery and basic utensils

Our complimentary self-serve breakfast is also included with every stay (see “What is included in the breakfast package?” above).

For lunch and dinner, see our local favourites for takeout and restaurants.

The hot tub is completely private and reserved exclusively for your use during your stay. We host only one guest suite, and the hot tub is located in the backyard dedicated to that suite, so it is never shared with other guests.

To respect your privacy, we don’t enter the backyard during your stay. There are two rare exceptions:

• We monitor the water chemistry remotely through an app. If it shows unbalanced values (for example pH or alkalinity), we may need to stop by briefly to rebalance the water. We do this early in the morning (around 7:00 AM) or while you’re out and your vehicle is gone, so we don’t interrupt your privacy.
• For longer stays, we may need to briefly access the yard for routine maintenance, such as lawn care. This is always arranged with you in advance.

Any visit takes only a few minutes and is done discreetly, to keep the hot tub in perfect condition for you.

Any time, day or night, all year round. The hot tub is yours alone for your whole stay, from check-in to check-out.

We monitor the water remotely, so there’s no routine daily check. If the water needs rebalancing, we stop by briefly early in the morning or while you’re out (see “Is the hot tub private or shared?” above).

A few house rules

• Quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM. We live in a very peaceful neighbourhood, so please keep voices low and don’t play music outdoors (headphones are welcome).
• Please shower before your soak, and close the cover when you’re done to keep the water warm and clean.
• No glassware near or in the hot tub: use the plastic cups provided or cans from the fridge.
• Please don’t leave children unattended.

Before your first soak, please read our hot tub guide (opens in a new tab). It covers the salt-water system, the cover and the full house rules.

We’re located in the quiet Eaglecrest neighbourhood of Qualicum Beach, just a short walk from the ocean.

From the mainland

• By air: You can fly from Vancouver South Terminal directly to Qualicum Beach Airport, which is less than 2 km from our house. For guests arriving at the Qualicum Beach Airport, we offer a free pickup or drop-off service upon request. Availability is limited and not guaranteed until confirmed.
• Other airports: Flights to Comox or Nanaimo airports take you within 50–60 minutes driving distance. Victoria Airport is also an option, about a 2.5-hour drive away.
• Seaplane or helicopter: A fast and scenic option from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo Harbour.
• Hullo Ferry connects downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo in just 70 minutes (the Nanaimo terminal is about a 40-minute drive from us, depending on traffic).
• BC Ferries is ideal if you’re travelling with a car. From Horseshoe Bay you arrive at Departure Bay in Nanaimo, about a 40-minute drive from us depending on traffic. From Tsawwassen you arrive at Duke Point, about a 50-minute drive.

From Vancouver Island

If you’re travelling from within the Island, public bus service makes it easy to reach us. From Nanaimo’s Woodgrove Centre, take the RDN Transit Route 91 bus toward Qualicum Beach. Once you reach town, you can use the local bus RDN Transit Route 97 (Eaglecrest) to get into the Eaglecrest neighbourhood.

For guests travelling without a car, we offer a free pickup or drop-off service within Qualicum Beach upon request. Availability is limited and not guaranteed until confirmed.

Vrat spricht ein wenig Deutsch aus seiner Schulzeit in Prag.

Mit Hilfe moderner Technologien sind wir jedoch gerne in der Lage, schriftlich auf Deutsch mit Ihnen zu kommunizieren.

Wenn Sie kein Englisch sprechen, geben Sie dies bitte einfach im Kontaktformular oder bei Ihrer Reservierung an. Wir werden unser Bestes tun, um alle Informationen für Sie entsprechend auf Deutsch bereitzustellen.