Much of the town of Sointula BC rolls up come winter. But while this year’s tourist season may be coming to a close, now is a great time to start planning your summer 2023 season.
Booking early is a great way to get your choice of Sointula hotels, reserve a spot at our very own luxury fishing lodge, and give yourself plenty of time to make travel arrangements. This is especially important if you plan to take a seaplane trip to get to the island, as these flights hold a small number of guests at a time and may fill up fast around popular dates.
Still not convinced? Keep reading to learn a few reasons why now is the perfect time to start planning your next Sointula BC adventure.
Reserve Your Sointula Hotel Stay as Soon as Possible
From air travel to renewing your passport and getting a fishing license, there are several things you’ll need to plan, coordinate, and book ahead of your visit. However, none of those arrangements can be made until after you’ve booked your Sointula hotel stay.
While Malcolm Island has a number of lodging options to choose from, they may fill up quickly during the most popular times throughout the season. If you want to visit around a holiday or during the middle of the summer, hotels, Airbnbs, and fishing resorts may book up earlier than you would think. Ideally, you should book your visit as early as possible in order to guarantee that you get your choice of trip and dates.
Not sure when you want to visit? Now is a great time to consider your options. Most businesses on the island are open to visitors from June to September. While any visit during the time frame is incredible, each month is unique.
For instance, while June sees a bit more drizzling rain than other months, it also boasts the longest days of the summer. July is warm, with minimal fog. August offers hot days, but with a higher chance of rolling fog. Our personal favorite month is September, when days are warm and nights are chilly, and the changing leaves bring even more color to the island.
There’s no bad time to visit Sointula BC. But school and work schedules, or the draw of warmer days, might make your decision on when to visit easier.
Renew Your Passport at Least 6 Months Before Your Trip
Non-Canadian citizens will need a passport to visit Sointula Lodge. Americans can opt to use a passport or a passport card to get into Canada. The passport must be valid, although Canada does not require U.S. passports to have a certain amount of time left before their expiration in order to visit.
If you need to apply for a passport or renew an existing one before your trip, aim to do this at least 6 months before you plan to travel.
Those who have an existing passport in good condition, and who haven’t changed their name due to marriage, can renew by mail. Otherwise, you’ll need to renew in person. Keep in mind that it can take up to 18 weeks to mail in your application and receive your new passport. While it is possible to expedite your application, this still takes time and includes an extra charge.
Book Your Airline Travel 70 Days Out to Get the Best Deal
If you want to get the best price on your flights to and from Vancouver Island, you need to think carefully about when to book them.
Research shows that, on average, flights are their lowest 70 days out. Of course, if you’re someone who likes to have everything ready to go earlier than that, you can always book your flights ahead of time to secure your seat and give yourself less to worry about as your trip gets closer!
But if you choose to wait, be sure to book your flights as close to that 70-day deadline as possible. Wait longer than that, and you risk your flights selling out or the price jumping up.
Book Your 2023 Visit to Sointula BC Today
The 2022 season on Malcolm Island may be coming to an end. But now is the perfect time to start planning your 2023 Sointula BC adventure!
From booking your room at your choice of Sointula hotels to reserving your place at our island’s luxury fishing lodge, Sointula Lodge, to booking seaplane flights and other arrangements, there’s a lot to do. And starting early means more time to make arrangements—and to start looking forward to the trip of a lifetime! Check out our travel guide to get started planning your next trip!