Flight
Vancouver, Victoria, and Nanaimo are your 3 options to fly in. YVR - Flights into Vancouver will likely be the cheapest; however, there will be an extra ferry ride each way, which can be costly, and it will add more kilometres to a potential car rental. YYJ - Victoria airport is closer and the largest airport on Vancouver Island, where we live. It is about a 2-hour drive from the airport to the venue, including ferry time. YCD - The Nanaimo airport is the closest airport to the venue and is the only one from which you can taxi (yellowcab or AC taxi) directly to the Ferry terminal, taking you to Gabriola Island. This is your best option if you are flying and do not wish to rent a car.
Hotel
Our immediate family will be staying on site with us, but for everyone else we have blocked off 12 rooms for you all to stay at the nearby waterfront Inn! 7 suites at Pages Inn, and 5 cottages at Pages Resort (same people just slightly different locations, only a couple minutes from each other). Attached is a link where you can browse the rooms. All 7 suites (Pages Inn) and 5 cottages (Pages Resort & Marina) have been blocked off, so there are options to suit varying budgets. The Inn is a 2-minute drive up the road from the venue, and the cottages are about a 7-minute drive. The cottages are larger, more private accommodations (some with 2 bedrooms) which are a bit more expensive. The suites are all situated in the Inn and share walls with one another. Price ranges are approximately $240-$350 per night (before tax), sleeping between 4-6 people. All you have to do is call or email Page's to book with them directly. Let them know you're with the "Colwell wedding," and which suite or cottage you would like to book! Our group number is 665724 if they ask for it. PLEASE BOOK YOUR SUITE OR COTTAGE BY THE 1ST OF APRIL 2026 :) *** Page's also has a campground on the same property as the cottages; the campsites are much more budget-friendly, but weather is a factor. If you wish to camp instead, please reach out to us to let us know ***
Travel Note
To get to the venue, you will have to take a ferry from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island. Ferries to the Gulf Islands can not be booked in advance, and they operate on first come, first-served basis. We have attached a link to the ferry schedule. We advise arriving at the terminal 30 minutes before the ferry you wish to board. If you are flying into Vancouver or driving from the interior, you will need to take two ferries total. You have two options to get to Vancouver Island: If you are heading straight to Gabriola Island, you can take the Horseshoe Bay ferry to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) and make the short drive to the Nanaimo ferry terminal in town, where you can then board the ferry to Gabriola Island. If you are visiting us before the wedding in Victoria, you can take the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay ferry, which is the closest ferry to Victoria. We will then drive up to Nanaimo on Monday the 1st of June and ferry over to Gabriola. Ferries from Mainland B.C. to Vancouver Island do NOT operate on a first-come, first-served basis. They are very busy ferries, and we highly recommend booking those in advance if you are not flying into Victoria. It is advised to arrive at the terminal no later than 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time. By not booking your ferry in advance, you risk a multiple-sailing wait to board. Prices for ferries from the mainland can vary slightly based on the time of the sailing, with early morning and late ferries often being cheaper. Ferries from the Mainland are $85 per car, plus $20 per passenger. Ferries to Gabriola Island are $26.50 per car, plus $11 per passenger.
Rental Car
Anyone who is flying into either Vancouver (YVR) or Victoria (YYJ) will need to rent a car to get to the venue. National has locations at all three airports and had the highest average rating, though there are more options if you wish to look. Dragon's Lodge is a 2.5 hour drive from Victoria, including ferry time. It is a 3.5 hour drive from YVR if you are fying into Vancouver and driving straight there. If you do not wish to rent a vehicle, you can fly into the Nanaimo airport and taxi to the ferry terminal, where we can arrange to pick you up on the other side!