Planning your trip
Travelling to us, amenities and accommodations
We are located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in gorgeous Maple bay, surrounded by beaches, mountains, mountain, bike, trails, and incredible vistas.
You can travel to Vancouver Island by plane or by ferry (BC Ferries from Vancouver Locations, and Black Ball (the Coho from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria ) and FRS Clipper (passenger ferry from Seattle to Victoria) We do recommend renting a car for your travels if you are planning any sightseeing, but f you’re not renting a car or only coming to get tattooed, we can arrange pick ups and drop offs from any of our local airports and ferry terminals for a fee. We are roughly 55 minutes from Nanaimo by car and an hour and a half from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal.
Airports: Victoria (YYJ) and Nanaimo (YDC - preferred), Harbour air terminals for float planes
Ferry Terminals: Nanaimo, Duke Point (preferred), Victoria (Swartz Bay), Crofton
We know that it takes planning and energy to put together a tattoo project, so we want to help you streamline the process of travel and accommodation as much as possible when you’re travelling for your tattoo experience with us.
Getting here
Stony Hill Hike, Maple Bay (5 minutes from our house, 30 minute hike)
Our view of Vancouver island from a Harbour Air seaplane.
Accommodations
Our first and foremost recommendation is our family run, private Bed and Breakfast (breakfast optional with us!) It is 5 blocks from our home studio and run by Kaija’s lovely retired parents. It is a fully enclosed, newly renovated annex off of the main house with a private entrance, full kitchen, laundry, full bathroom, queen-sized bed with fresh linens, living room and large smart tv with all of the hookups. This property has some of the most spectacular views on the island, is bright, comfortable and we can transport you daily, to and from.
Her parents, Holger and Marlena, are friendly and accommodating but will always respect your space and privacy. (At the slightest suggestion, Holger will take you on a full tour of their gorgeously maintained gardens, orchard and introduce you to his honey bees and his corgi, Fergus.)
The cost of this stay is $125.00 CND per night (or equivalent USD), with stays longer than 3-4 days negotiable, and is the least expensive option in the area. Please look at some of the photos below to consider this option.
There are so many great options for accommodations in the area and we hope that you will ask us for our recommendations, as there are neighbouring towns that have less desirable hotels and facilities nearby. We want you to feel safe, comfortable, and refreshed for every day of your tattoo experience so we have put together a comprehensive list for every budget of recommended Airbnb‘s, motels, and hotels in the area. You only have to ask during your consultation!
Meet your hosts!
Marlena cleaning our locally foraged chanterelle mushrooms, Holger tending to his bees.
At this time, we are unable to host new clients in our home, but if you are tattooer or acquaintance, please contact us about our availability.
At our studio, you will find pamphlets and travel guides for everything that you could want to plan your perfect getaway so we recommend, if possible, to plan for an additional day or two on either side of your tattoo appointments to make the trip worthwhile in other ways. Our local wineries, cideries, parks, waterfalls and canyons, walks through the woods and beaches are a great way to settle in and decompress to give you the most calm and rewarding overall experience. Within a one hour drive of us, we have spectacular lakes, provincial parks, boat and whale watching tours, Raptor Center, fishing and spas.
If you would like tips and suggestions on some of the things you just can’t miss when visiting, contact us ahead of time and we can provide you with Google maps lists of some of our favourite things to see.
What to do besides getting tattooed
For an extended experience, you can also check out our friends at Fuel for the Sole with a discount code for their resources! It's perfect for planning an authentic Vancouver Island experience!
https://www.rexby.com/FuelForTheSole/vancouverisland
discount code for 15%: luxaltera
Come visit us. We would love to work with you on something truly original..
We believe in giving everyone an unforgettable tattoo experience.
If there is anything that you need or want to make your trip more comfortable, just let us know and we will do our best to make it happen, from day trips, equipment rentals, local experiences, dining and outdoor activities.
Let’s Work Together!
When you fill out our online form, you will receive an automatic reply with general information about our rates, cancellation policies and booking timelines.