Iris, Seattle, Washington
One of the best Airbnb stays I’ve ever had! The place was clean, super cozy, we enjoyed the outdoors, the Keurig machine, the electric kettle and everything in the place was super clean. We were allowed to park inside their house so we felt extra safe. Shena’s communication was awesome. Instructions were clear. We definitely plan to come back soon! Highly recommend this place!
Treena, Lethbridge, Canada
What a wonderful suite! Spotless, cozy and peaceful. The bed and bedding was comfy and the attention to detail and effort to make guests feel at home was so noticeable. We loved walking and swimming at Thetis Lake and enjoyed the peaceful mornings in the beautiful backyard. Shena was a very responsive and helpful host. Will definitely be back!
Breann, Vancouver, Canada
When we first stumbled upon this flat on AirBnB, it seemed almost too good to be true. There must be a catch! But everything was as perfect as it seemed online. Shena is the most thoughtful, gracious host.
She provided us with all the information we needed and showed us around the suite. It is just perfect! Kitchen is compact and contains everything one needs.
The bed is very comfortable, as well as accommodating a children’s bed at your request. Bathroom is excellent, great shower pressure and soft towels. The outside garden was cozy and quiet. The suite was not baby-proofed but was very manageable, Shena even provided extra care making sure we felt comfortable with outlet covers and plenty of toys, books and other items. The location is absolutely incredible.
Shena had excellent restaurant recommendations, and even playground recommendations! She went way beyond to make our weekend comfortable and memorable.
Thanks Shena and the Forest Retreat for a wonderful weekend!
I’m new to Airbnb and she made it feel like a second home. I felt beyond comfortable with the location and layout. Truly feels like a second home with it having everything inside a standard home from living room books and magazines to toys and board games for kids and the family to play.
The suite is very tidy and clean, easy to access without disturbing anyone. It backs into green space and you wake up to humming birds and quails running around. It’s so beautiful. I could just watch them all morning doing their thing. It’s really one with nature. The location itself is surrounded with greenery and you can go for a hike right behind the home if you want. I highly recommend Shena and I will definitely book her again when I’m in town again!
if I could give a 6 star rating I would! Everything met our expectations AND we had our resident hummingbirds, in Canada, in the middle of winter! How extraordinary. Literally a 5 minute walk to the lake, and such a tranquil beautiful 5km walk around it. Couldn't have been more perfect for us! Thank you!
We loved our stay. The location adjacent to Thetis Lake was perfect. The layout,
Decor and set up of the lodging is both functional, pretty and well provisioned. There are outside, sunroom and inside options for morning coffee or evening libations. It is quiet and beautiful. Shena was an excellent host with clear communications and attention to detail. Highly recommend.
Our stay at the Forest Retreat at Thetis Lake was more than expected.
Directions for entry were easy. Once inside we were pleasantly surprised. Spotless in every room, comfy bed, nicely furnished, all the items needed to prep cook and clean. Nicely appointed sunroom, and an outside patio with comfy chairs and table.
We look forward to returning. A home away from home.
Patrick, Port Moody, Canada
A peaceful retreat. Shena's property backs onto the forest that leads to Thetis Lake. The house is immaculate, well thought out and welcoming. I stayed in the height of summer and Shena's suite remained cool and had excellent air flow. There was no need for A/C. Shena has put a lot of thought into her suite, it is private, quiet and very clean. All of the instructions were very clear and easy to understand. What a beautiful hidden oasis. I will certainly look to book here again. Cheers!
Oasis. There was nothing we didn't need in this beautiful place. From the tasteful decor, fully set kitchen, comfortable bed down to the lovely locally made soaps in the bathroom. In the garden hammock or sunroom, your view over the forested Lake Thetis makes you forget the city is close at hand. A quick 3 minute walk takes you to one of the pathways into Thetis park and eventually to the lake. We found a little spot to stop and swim in water that is goldilocks perfect.
Heading back to the suite you can count on helpful notes to take the guess work out of house rules.
You can also count on impeccable communication from Shena from the start, making your stay effortless and well worth it.
Astrid Saint-Maurice, France
This was happily unexpected: a cosy and calm place to stay just walking distance from the Thetis lake trails. With attention to all details. We strongly recommend. A true vacation home with a hamac in the garden under the arbutus tree. Shena was very welcoming and attentive.
Morning coffee on the patio, soaking up the sun while looking at the forest was so relaxing and just a wonderful way to start the day. The suite has everything you’ll need, including snacks and generous supply of coffee and tea. We would definitely stay again!
This is a great place to stay, especially if you are travelling with kiddos! There was so much attention to detail it’s clear that Shena has put a lot of thought into making sure her guests have everything they need. Some touches that might be especially important to parents: booster seat/high chair, pack n play, lots of great toys and books, kids dishes and cutlery, the bedroom gets almost pitch black for nap time with the blinds and curtains closed, and the bedroom is at the other end of the unit from the seating area, meaning you can put your little one to bed and the adults can still hang out into the evening without waking them. Shena was a lovely host and went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of :) would highly recommend!
Our stay at Shena's retreat was perfect!
The cute apartment has a great location - with a view into the garden and kind of "hidden" between other houses you get your privacy and peace. A supermarket, pubs and restaurants are not far away either. And the lake and hiking trails are right next to this beautiful house.
The apartment is super clean and the hosts are really paying attention to detail! From a cute little bowl with snacks to diffusers which provide a great smell - everything has been taken care of. In addition to that we have always been in contact with Shena who really wants you to feel good and get everything that you need.
Everyone who's looking for a quiet little retreat and some peaceful time away should come here! We really enjoyed our stay and would like to come again in summer :)
Forest Retreat at Thetis Lake is a home away from home! It is everything as described and more - tastefully decorated, comfortable, tranquil outdoor space, well equipped, and some special touches. It is an excellent space for an individual, couple or family with a small child. Was perfect for us and our 10 month old!
Shena and Jonathan ensure they are in continuous contact with you regarding anything that may impact your stay and/or answer any of your questions or concerns. We would love to be return guests if we ever return to Vancouver Island. Thank you for everything!
We had a super comfortable stay at Shena's. Shena puts a lot of care into the suite and really goes the extra mile to make sure her guests have a good experience there.
The bed was super comfy. We enjoyed eating breakfasts on the little table outside looking out towards the forest. We had fun playing some of the games in the well-stocked games closet. We loved being able to go explore the trails around the lake without needing to get into the car.
This was a perfect place for us as we wanted to stay in the forest, surrounded by nature, but be close to Victoria to visit friends and family.
Big thanks to Sheena - we'll be back.
Edie, Victoria Beach, Canada
The Forest Retreat is a wonderful place to call home for a long stay. Tucked away in a great neighborhood overlooking the Thetis Lake trail, this suite is a peaceful private gem. We felt at home instantly and appreciated all of the little extra thoughtful touches in the suite. Beautiful decor, comfortable bed, small but well appointed kitchen with everything you will need to cook your meals. The host is very responsive and looked after all of our needs but also provided us our privacy. We loved meeting Guinness, their gorgeous Black Lab! You will not be disappointed- We did not want to leave!
We had a wonderful 6 weeks at Shena and Jonathan's place. So homey, pristine and comfortable. We loved it as it was so close to Thetis Lake trails and close to all amenities in Langford.
Shena was very quick and attentive to any questions that we had throughout our stay.
There is everything you need..just bring your suitcase!
We will definitely come back for a long term stay again and suggest their place to family and friends!
This is a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria. With views of the forest, if you sit still long enough, the hummingbirds will join you. The apartment lived up to its listing and Shena and Jon were responsive to all our needs. You won't be disappointed.
We had a truly peaceful stay at Shena's place. The property is gorgeous with a blooming garden that overlooks the Thetis forest area. We loved to spend our mornings sitting outside at the little cafe style table watching the birds in the backyard. The suite feels like a home away from home with clean modern style decor and furniture. It is well stocked with anything and everything you could possibly need but if you should ever need something, Shena is quick to respond and will check in frequently. Another thing we loved about the property was how close it was to nature. Thetis is so lovely to hike around in and is easily accessible from the suite. Be sure to check out the beach, the water is so nice and Shena provides beach towels!
We would gladly stay here again the next time we are in Langford!
I had a wonderful stay at Shena’s. Everything about the suite is excellent!
It is super clean, extremely well organized, and peacefully located on a forest reserve, yet within a short distance to useful shops and amenities eg) Costco, groceries.
The layout is spacious, with great natural light and good airflow from the many different windows.
Good news for you late-risers, too: you won’t be blinded by the sunrise because she has taken great care to put in a REAL blackout blind and curtains!!
The private outdoor space provided is just as nice, with two anti-grav chairs available for your personal use, as well as a lovely bistro table w two chairs so you can just sit and admire the scenery and wildlife. Perfect.
I felt very secure there and had total privacy, yet I also felt very at home and part of someone’s home, if you know what I mean. Getting this balance right is not an easy feat.
Shena was always available and quick with text communication, but I also had the pleasure to personally meet and chat to her and her daughter which was so nice😊
Thank you for a lovely stay, I wholeheartedly recommend her suite and I/we will definitely be back!
We loved Shena & Jonathan's suite so much, we came back a second time! We've been AirBnB Superhosts ourselves since 2015, and from that background and perspective can unequivocally say that Shena is a fabulous host - she's responsive and thoughtful, offers great guidance to the area, and a well-stocked, well-organized, and beautiful suite. She clearly takes pride in hosting her guests and offering a great experience. Their daughter is an absolute sweetheart... and their dog Guinness is, too!
I hope this review doesn't make anyone want to book for the next time *we're* in Victoria.... because we have plans to come back a few more times this year, and want to stay at the Thetis Lake Forest Retreat a third and a fourth time, ha ha!
