A surfing holiday in a beach villa…in Canada

Looking for a beach holiday – somewhere to surf and stretch out on the sand in Canada? Maybe you thought such a thing didn't exist in this northerly country of ours, but indeed it does. Head to Tofino, British Columbia, and more particularly, to the villas at Pacific Sands Beach Resort for a beach vacation in you own beachfront villa.

Getting there
Tofino is located on rugged Vancouver Island, and the resort is located outside the town. The scenic drive to Tofino, B.C. from Victoria takes about 5 hours, but allow yourself longer if you want to stop in Coombs at the thronging Coombs Old Country Market on the way for fresh baked treats, gourmet condiments, or cheap-and-cheerful household goodies.

You can also fly into Nanaimo, and from there it's an approximately 2.5 hour journey by car. Pulling up to the Pacific Sands Beach Resort is an amazing experience. Even as you approach the reception lodge in your car, you get your first exciting peek at the Pacific's waves washing ashore.

The villas
If you've got kids, or are traveling with other family members, consider renting a beachfront villa. They're proper homes, with a fully stocked kitchen including full dishware, pots, a blender, toaster, microwave, dishwasher and even a washer and dryer – basically, all you need to cook up a feast and get you feeling like you’re at home. And anyone who's traveled with little ones or has extensive food allergies knows how handy it is to have a kitchen with a full fridge on hand. Plus, there's a free high-speed internet connection, and television with lots of channels, and a DVD player – it really is just like home.

The three-bedroom villas accommodate up to eight people, which could be fun for a mini family reunion. The two-bedroom villas are perfect for families with kids or travelling with another couple (though be warned, you'll have to flip coins or devise some other way to decide who gets to stay in the master bedroom and enjoy the king-size bed and huge soaker tub).

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