Kelowna and West Kelowna lake resorts compared

Kelowna's resorts look alike in photos: a pool, a lake, a balcony. Up close they're very different. One is a row of cabins on its own beach. One is a downtown high-rise with no pool. One sits on a golf course. Every unit in this guide is one we manage at Stay Locations, so this is our honest read on all seven: four in Kelowna and three across the lake in West Kelowna.

One thing first if you're planning a winter trip. Many of our lake units open for booking from late April or May, and the outdoor pools here generally run from May long weekend to Thanksgiving. If you're looking at dates between fall and spring, check availability before you fall for a unit.

Playa del Sol (Kelowna)

Playa del Sol is a big complex of 278 units in Kelowna's Lower Mission, across the road from Rotary Beach, Hotel Eldorado and the Cook Road boat launch. Our 11 condos here are 2 and 3 bedrooms, sleeping 5 to 9, including a ground-level 3-bedroom (#153) and a top-floor 2-bedroom (#649). The outdoor pool and hot tub run from May long weekend to Thanksgiving, and there's a gym, a steam room, a games and theatre room and communal BBQs. Security is on site around the clock in summer and every evening the rest of the year. Each condo gets one underground stall with 6 ft 11 in clearance; extra cars go on Cook Road or the boat launch lot across the street.

It suits families and friends who want to walk to the beach and come back to a pool. The trade-offs: it's a large complex, so some units are a long walk down the hall, the pool is seasonal, and quiet time starts at 10 pm on weeknights.

Pinnacle Pointe (Kelowna)

Pinnacle Pointe is smaller (83 units) and quieter, set beside The Okanagan Golf Club near the airport. One of our condos sits just above the tee box on the second hole of the Quail Course. We have three here: a 1-bedroom (sleeps 4), a 2-bedroom (sleeps 6) and a 3-bedroom (sleeps 5), and all three listings lead with mountain views. The pool and hot tub open from May long weekend to Thanksgiving, and there's a gym. Each condo has one underground stall, with visitor parking and street parking on Country Club Drive. It suits golfers, families visiting UBC Okanagan, and anyone who wants a quiet base. The trade-off: there's no beach here, and downtown and the lake are a drive.

Discovery Bay (downtown Kelowna)

Discovery Bay is a waterfront community in downtown Kelowna, steps from Tugboat Bay Beach, Waterfront Park, the boardwalk and the Okanagan Rail Trail. Our one condo here, Discovery Bay #449, is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit for 6 with a big patio over the pool courtyard and peekaboo views of the lake and mountains. The resort has indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, a gym, a games room beside the indoor pool and communal BBQs. You get one stall (6 ft 9 in clearance), and extra parking is pay-by-the-hour on Sunset Drive. It suits couples and families who want downtown on foot with a pool to come back to. Trade-offs: the lake view is peekaboo, not full, and the listing says the pool and hot tub close between Thanksgiving and May long weekend, so ask us about the indoor pool before a winter stay.

Brooklyn on Bernard (downtown Kelowna)

Brooklyn on Bernard is a downtown high-rise and the city pick of the seven. Our 1-bedroom, Brooklyn #2111, has a queen bed, a queen sofa bed and views over the valley and mountains. The building has a rooftop patio with BBQs and fire pits, open 6 am to midnight, and bike storage, but no pool or hot tub. Parking is one stall with 6 ft 6 in clearance, plus paid and free street parking nearby. It suits a couple or a work trip that wants restaurants, bars and cafés out the front door. Trade-offs: no pool, no hot tub, no lake view, and it's snug for more than two.

Seclusion Bay Resort (West Kelowna)

Seclusion Bay is the opposite of downtown: 27 cabins and condos on 14 wooded acres with 1,200 feet of private waterfront. Our eight units are six cabins (2 or 3 bedrooms, one bathroom each, sleeping 5 to 7) and two condos: #105, a 1-bedroom with a big grassy area overlooking the lake, and #202, a 2-bedroom with lake views that sleeps 8. The lake is the amenity. There's a roped-off swim area with docks, a marina with rental slips, a boat launch for trailers up to 11 ft 5 in wide, an activity centre with ping pong and board games, play areas for kids, and coin laundry. There's no pool or hot tub, and no pets. Each unit has one parking spot, and extra vehicles and trailers stay outside the gate.

It suits boaters and families who want to spend the whole day at the water. Trade-offs: guests mention a winding switchback drive down and rocks underfoot in the water, and it's a natural setting, so the resort warns that deer, coyotes and even cougars can turn up.

Copper Sky Resort (West Kelowna)

Copper Sky sits on the hill in West Kelowna with views over the lake, and its amenity centre is the reason to stay: a heated outdoor pool and kiddie pool in season, a hot tub the listings say is open all year, sauna, steam room, gym, games room, tennis and basketball courts, shuffleboard and a putting green. Our six condos are 1 and 2 bedrooms sleeping 4 or 5, and #406 and #509 are top-floor units with lake views. Each has one parkade stall (6 ft 8 in), with the upper lot and overflow for extra cars. It suits families who want plenty to do on site, and wine trips. Trade-offs: it isn't on the lake, so the beach is a drive, guests say you'll want a car for shopping too, and lower-floor units can look out the back rather than at the lake.

Barona Beach Resort (West Kelowna)

Barona Beach sits right on Okanagan Lake with a private beach and two docks for swimming and boat moorage, plus a pool, hot tub, gym and theatre room. The pool and hot tub run from May long weekend to Thanksgiving. Our three condos are #4205 (2 bedrooms, sleeps 4), #5303 (3 bedrooms, sleeps 7) and The Beach House, #4301 (3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms over two floors, sleeps 8, with lake views to the south). It's in West Kelowna wine country, minutes from Mission Hill, The Hatch and Frind Estate. #4205 comes with one parkade stall and #5303 with two (6 ft 8 in clearance), and extra parking is very limited. It suits families who want beach, pool and a grassy spot for the kids in one place. Trade-offs: the pool is seasonal, guests say the water is rocky underfoot, and #4205 and #5303 don't allow pets.

Which one is yours

Beach at the door: Seclusion Bay or Barona Beach. Downtown on foot: Discovery Bay or Brooklyn on Bernard. Lots to do on site: Copper Sky, or Playa del Sol if you also want to walk to the beach. Quiet and golf: Pinnacle Pointe. Whichever you pick, there's automatically up to 20% off when you book direct on the website. Search your dates, or browse all our Kelowna and West Kelowna stays. Heading up the mountain too? Here's where to stay at Big White.