The simplest way to reach Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort from Parksville is by car or taxi. The resort sits at 1155 Resort Drive in Parksville, so the trip stays within town and is a short one.
Driving to 1155 Resort Drive
Enter the address into your phone or car navigation and follow the live route. Because the resort is inside Parksville, there is no highway stretch to plan around, and the turn-by-turn directions will be more reliable than a list of street names written from memory. The resort sits on Parksville’s beachfront on the island’s east coast, about 30 minutes north of Nanaimo according to its own website.
Parking is something to settle before you arrive. The resort’s website does not spell out its parking terms, so ask the front desk when you book. Their phone number is on the resort’s contact page. Guests, day visitors and spa clients may be treated differently, so mention which one you are.
Taxi from Parksville
A taxi is a good fit if you are arriving with luggage, heading to a spa appointment, or planning a dinner out and not wanting to drive afterwards. Ask the dispatcher for a fare estimate when you call. The Parksville taxi page has local contact details, and the taxi fare estimator gives a rough idea of cost before you commit.
Public transit
Transit on the Oceanside side of Vancouver Island is run through BC Transit, and service levels differ between weekdays, weekends and holidays. Direct service to the resort door is not something to count on. Open the BC Transit trip planner, type in the resort address as your destination, and see what it suggests for your travel day. If the plan involves a long walk or a transfer, a short taxi ride from the nearest stop may save time.
If you are coming from farther away
Visitors from Vancouver usually combine a BC Ferries crossing with a drive up Highway 19 from Nanaimo. Ferry crossing times and sailings change by season and by terminal, so look at the BC Ferries schedule for your date and book a reservation if you are travelling at a busy time. Once you land, the drive north to Parksville is the final leg, and the resort address will take you the rest of the way.
Check road conditions before you set out in winter. Heavy rain and snow in the hills can slow the Island highways, and a live map shows delays long before you reach them.