This location more than met our expectations. It really is right on the ocean in Departure Bay. The unit is very spacious. The 2 bedrooms are located on opposite sides of the unit. And in between there is a well supplied kitchen, dining area and large living room. It was more space than needed for 2 people so can easily accommodate another couple. There is lots of space! Of the 2 bedrooms, one is located facing the street and the other facing the ocean. The ocean facing bedroom has a amazing balcony with an even more amazing view. You can hear the waves which is the experience we wanted. You can walk the beach to the Drip Coffee in a matter of minutes and Drip Coffee will not disappoint. Taaja was an amazing host who provided a lot of useful information upon making our reservation and even more information when we checked in. She was an absolute pleasure to work with and have conversations. We will definitely come back to this location on our next return to Nanaimo as it was fantastic! Highly recommend.

From my initial inquiry to final check out, communication was prompt, thorough and accurate. The space is BIG and very clean. Comfortable bed and everything you need is provided. Close to grocery store, coffee shop, ferry terminal, and right on the bay. Hosts are lovely people, ready with tips and recommendations. We had a wonderful stay.

We enjoyed at this quaint and comfortable home. The beds were very comfortable with high quality bedding and hotel quality pillows. The kitchen was well appointed. We had a gorgeous view of the ocean and took lots of sunrise and sunset pictures. It was an easy drive for day trips to Coombs, Qualicum, Rathtrevor Beach, and Parksville. Taaja was a gracious and knowledgeable host giving us lots of tips on places to visit. Although we knew there would be stairs up to our unit, it was a long flight of stairs to carry up our luggage. Overall, we had a lovely stay and recommend this accommodation.

Taaja, the owner, was extremely welcoming from the minute we got to the house. The suite is private from the rest of the house. We loved that we had a kitchen and living room at our disposal. The owners were so hospitable and friendly. They had all sorts of tourism pamphlets, etc…available in our suite. The only downfall was that laundry was listed as an amenity and it wasn’t available. But beyond that, we would extremely happy with our stay and would likely consider staying here again.

The apartment is spacious with 2 separate bedrooms one on east end and one on west end. Full size kitchen with all the utensils. Being a photography lover, I really love the bay view room. The room has balcony facing east to the Departure Bay. Before I slept I setup my camera on tripod and cell phone alarm to 30 minites before sunrise. Then I woke up and started the timelapse video of the sunrise. Since balcony door is next to the bed, I gone back to sleep and woke up again an hour later to stop the timelapse video. The videos need more trial to be perfect but it was first time I could do the sunrise video. So it was fun. Taaja and Ken were nice to us. My wife and I hope to be back in future.

May 15-21, 2023 chronology of events This owner posted a rate on April 28 which I booked for my adult daughter and I. The owner messaged me “there had been a mistake and my nightly rate is 50% higher”. I messaged back “that's too bad. I've been looking at 4 or 5 at your 50% higher rate with two bathrooms and your lower rate (with one bathroom) decided it.” My booking at the lower rate expired and this owner posted the lower rate again April 29 which I booked again assuming she had decided to accept my reservation at the lower rate, and I made my payment at the lower rate. On April 30 the owner unilaterally increased the charge on my card by 50% to her higher rate with a message “I have updated your original quote. If you wish to continue with the reservation, you may now make a payment to confirm your booking.” I had already made a payment, but at the lower rate and the owner or Vrbo had increased the charge on my card . The owner replied “Please feel free to cancel if you so choose. It is your responsibility to cancel the booking, and I replied “You changed the charge on my card by 50% without my knowledge, authorization or agreement. Please cancel what you have done because I cannot just cancel as you suggest because I have passed the deadline for any refund and I will lose the payment at the 50% higher rate that you/Vrbo have been charged to my card without my consent.” The owner replied “Here is our Welcome Note. Happy travels” This is a classic case of bait and switch.

The place was great and an excellent jumping off location for travels around Vancouver Island. Great to fall asleep in the one bedroom hearing the waves.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this unique accommodation atop a beautiful home with scenic ocean views. It was great to wake up and go out on the balcony in the front bedroom to see the water. Lovely moon over the water at night too. With a kitchen and living room space, it like home for our week there. Taaja and Ken are friendly and helpful hosts and we enjoyed chatting with them. Would be glad to stay there again.

We enjoyed ourselves greatly. Ken & Tasha are fantastic hosts. I kayaked almost every day & when we were not, we were golfing. The chairs on the front lawn with Departure Bay in front of us, it does not get any better!

Very comfortable apartment right on the beach. Taaja and Ken were lovely and very helpful in pointing us to interesting activities in the area (hikes, theatre, restaurants, etc.)

Great spot right on beach with waves lapping you to sleep at night and you can watch the ferry leaving. We used the kitchen to cook many meals and it is well supplied. We had a small get together on Christmas Eve and lots of room for the 8 of us to relax. 2 bedrooms both queen beds with good beds one firmer than the other . One bathroom which is clean and has a full tub/shower. 16 steep stairs to get in but quite secure and easy to lock up.Parking for 1 vehicle on driveway. Grocery store 1 km away and coffee shop 200 meters away. This place was perfect for our 10 day stay.

The property was really nice and really well situated. The land lord was organized and really nice as well. Overall, an excellent experience.

The host Taaja is a lovely lady. She went over everything about the suite and was always prompt about responding to any questions. The suite itself is very nice. It has a European flair to the decorating and was very clean. Of course being on the water was a real treat. I would wholeheartedly recommend this suite to anyone looking for a unique and classy suite. Janis Sept 2019

great views, lovely house and grounds. hosts were very informative of area

The suite is everything that the website describes. It was very clean, inviting and met all our needs. The backyard is wonderful...sitting on a deck chair right on Departure Bay or going for a walk along the bay was the best. Thankyou to Taaja and Ken.

We had such an amazing time at Randle House. Taaja and Ken were lovely hosts! The home is beautiful, with amazing views and is steps from the water! My son and his friend loved being able to step out the door and go for a swim. It is in a great location for a “home base” in the Nanaimo area. Next time we will have to stay longer!! Thank you Taaja and Ken!

We had a great time with Ken and Taaja. Very central located in Nanaimo. We had easy access to all the other great communities on the island that we were exploring. Our two little girls loved exploring the ocean floor when the tide was out. Great area to go for a run (I went every morning) Just a side note that the beach front is shared with the owners and ant other guests of the house. While this was not a problem for us I didn't find that super clear in the advertisement. Also some parts of the sweet that should be cleaned a bit more thoroughly, We found that the vent for the kitchen and bathroom were quiet dirty the little fans for the rooms. Good size apartment, Beds were pretty good, We had a great time and would recommend the stay.

Myself, husband and two children had the pleasure of staying at Randal House. Ken and Taaja are fantastic hosts, and provide beautiful, comfortable accommodations. You cannot beat the location in Departure Bay, and literally steps from the ocean. All of the necessary comforts of home were provided, with the exception of laundry. We lucked out with family near by willing to do our laundry, but the availability of on-site laundry facilities would have been ideal. We are sad to leave, and will miss the beautiful views, outdoor eating, and beach wandering. Amazing stay!

Beautiful views, great property!

Clean and roomy apartment with everything we needed. Kitchen well equipped, bedding and bath towels great. Close to amenities and beaches and walking distance to Tofino. Apartment could just do with a few home touches eg lamps in the living room and rug on floor. Otherwise, great place!

We had a Wonderful stay in this beautiful 2 bedroom suite with private entrance. Location and View of Departure Bay Is Amazing. We enjoyed walks on the beach and evenings sitting on the balcony. The Suite has everything you would need and more. Beds are very comfortable with luxury linings and everything was very clean and well maintained. Also the hosts are very friendly and make you feel Welcome. Would highly recommend and would love to stay again.

My wife and I had a delightful two month stay in this lovely two bedroom self contained suite this winter ! The sunrises from the suite over Departure Bay were often breathtaking, and we were always just steps away from long enjoyable walks along the beach which boarders this property. Rare that one can be in such a beautiful oceanfront home and yet so conveniently centrally located. The owners could not have been more friendly and supportive, anticipating our every need ! Thank you for this truly enjoyable stay. Peter & Anthea

Excellent location. Very well cared for property. Owners are very considerate of their guests. The view and walks on the beach are very enjoyable. The loft had everything we needed for a relaxing fall family vacation.

The location is very central making it easy to see Victoria and Comox. The Host are super friendly and made us feel very welcome. Will be visiting again for sure!

Taaja and Ken have created a wonderful environment for their guests. Our family of five spent the month of July in the Salish Suite and we were very comfortable. The property and rooms are just as shown in the pictures. The unit has everything a family needs to accommodate a short-term or long-term stay. The beds are very comfortable. We enjoyed spending time on the lawn right on the beach. We were provided an area to barbeque and dine outside - Taaja provided utensils, plates, glasses, and everything we needed to enjoy our time outside. The property is well-maintained and beautiful. We loved having the ability to walk right out onto the beach and into the water. The water is ideal for paddle boarding and kayaking. This is a great option if you need a larger space to enjoy your time in Nanaimo.

Wonderful and peaceful location on the edge of the ocean. We slept with the balcony door open to listen to the sound of the waves and to enjoy the fresh air. The bed was incredibly comfortable and we slept very well! The unit is very well equipped, extra clean and spacious! Quiet location and quiet home. The living room is cozy with a large TV. Wifi worked perfectly without interruption. The bathroom was super clean and very functional (tub/shower combo). Heating controls are in the unit, so you decide what temperature you want. Parking is on site. The morning view, looking at the ocean, is "magnifique"'! Note: this location is perfect if you have a vehicle. In fact, Nanaimo consists of a long urban ribbon along the coast and the area is best enjoyed if you have your own transportation. There is a shopping center close by where you will find everything to make your stay at this oceanfront location a perfect holiday! The owner was very helpful providing advice on sites and restaurants to explore. Thank you Taaja!

This suite was a great place for us to hang our hats for the couple of weeks we were In Nanaimo. The location was amazing, as were the views of the harbour and ferries. Wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again, what a great comfortable, well appointed Home. The hosts were very approachable and took care of all of our needs.

We stayed in the charming 2 bedroom loft during the second week in September and it was comfortable, spacious and had everything we needed for a peaceful getaway! We were greeting by Jay and he made us feel welcomed immediately. He gave us a tour of the property and we were impressed by the stunning oceanfront property. We had access to barbeques. tables and chairs and an unlimited bounty of seashells left behind during high tide! Thank you Jay and Taaja for sharing your Vancouver Island piece of paradise! Monique & Jade H.

We had a wonderful experience stay at Randle House! It's an absolutely beautiful place with an idyllic view and access to the beach. The suite is exceptional and feels like home. Our hosts Taaja and Ken were wonderfully warm and welcoming. We had many nice conversations! They had plenty of good recommendations for restaurants and activities in the area. We wish we could have stayed longer and definitely hope to come back in the future. Highly recommended!

Staying at Randle House by the Sea was definitely one of the highlights of our vacation on Vancouver Island. Ken and Taaja were wonderful hosts and made us feel very welcome. They were always willing to share information on points of interest and places to eat in the area. The property was beautiful both inside and out. Being right on the water was amazing and it was lovely to walk along the shoreline or just relax in one of the adirondack chairs and soak in the sun. The inside was beautifully decorated and contained everything we needed to make us feel right at home. It was a definite bonus to have a balcony off of our bedroom with a beautiful view of the water and killer sunrises. Definite bonus to be super close to the ferry as well. Would highly recommend this property.

My sister, brother (along with his two kids) had a fantastic stay at Randal House. Taaja and Ken are lovely hosts, welcoming, warm and full of ideas for adventures in the area. The suite was beautiful - and comfortable. Gorgeous view from the balcony - you can see the snow-capped mountain ranges on the mainland beyond the islands nearby - incredible!! The apartment is newly decorated and very well stocked. The setting was impeccable - right on the water, access to kayak, swim and explore the bay (cute seals + interesting rock formations nearby with starfish and other sea life ). Great walking parks with gorgeous views of the mainland also nearby (all with different vantage points). I can't decide what was my favourite.... sipping coffee early in the morning, with all the stillness, or dinner and wine with my family on the patio, watching for seals to pop by. A truly memorable trip! Hope to see you again soon!