Under $50

The distinctive blue and green Pioneer Hostel (167 3rd Ave. E, 250/624-2334 or 888/794-9998, www.pioneerhostel.com, dorm beds $25–30, private rooms $60 s or d) is full of “steadies” in winter, but in summer daily and weekly accommodations are offered. Facilities include simple but clean dorm rooms with shared bathrooms, an outside yard with a barbecue, wireless Internet, a living room with TV, and a small but well-equipped kitchen.

$50–100

My favorite Rupert accommodation is the Eagle Bluff Bed & Breakfast (201 Cow Bay Rd., 250/627-4955 or 800/833-1550, $45–60 s, $65–100 d). The house is built out over the water, overlooking the marina and harbor, and lies within easy walking distance of cafés and restaurants. The least expensive rooms share bathrooms and a top floor suite sleeps five. A cooked breakfast—complete with freshly baked muffins—is included.

One of many reasonably priced motels is the Moby Dick Inn (935 2nd Ave. W, 250/624-6961 or 800/663-0822, www.mobydickinn.com, $69–89 s, $79–139 d), which is home to the best-priced breakfast restaurant in town. Also in the area is the Pacific Inn (909 3rd Ave. W, 250/627-1711 or 888/663-1999, www.pacificinn.bc.ca, $100–175 s or d) with larger rooms. A light breakfast and wireless Internet is included in the rates.

$100–150

The massive building right downtown is the 15-story Highliner Plaza (815 1st Ave. W, 250/624-9060 or 800/668-3115, www.highlinerplaza.com, from $129 s or d), where most mid-sized rooms have balconies (request a harbor view for a few bucks extra).

In a prime harborside location, the full-service Crest Hotel (222 1st Ave. W, 250/624-6771 or 800/663-8150, www.cresthotel.bc.ca, $157–359 s or d) holds a glass-enclosed waterfront café, a dining room, and a lounge with water views. While rates for the stylishly decorated rooms start at $157, pay from $172 for water views.

Camping

Like the rest of Rupert’s accommodations, Prince Rupert RV Campground (1750 Park Ave., 250/627-1000, tent sites $21, hookups $32) fills and empties on a daily basis with the arrival and departure of the ferries. If you know when you’re arriving in the city, phone ahead to avoid any hassles. The campground is a one-kilometer (0.6-mile) walk from both the city center and ferry terminals. Facilities include hot showers, cooking shelters, a grassy tenting area, pay phones, a mail drop, and visitor information. The other alternative is Prudhomme Lake Provincial Park (16 km/10 mi east of downtown, $15).

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition