Name: Best Western Dorchester Hotel
Address: 70 Church St., Nanaimo, Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, CA
Price range: US$112–US$187 per night
Rating: 8.1

What guests think

At Best Western Dorchester Hotel, travellers praise the waterfront downtown location, friendly staff, and harbour views, while noting the older building’s quirks like small or sloped rooms and occasional noise from HVAC units, hallways, or nearby streets.

Cleanliness is frequently praised, but multiple reviews report inconsistencies such as musty odours, dirty floors or bathrooms, insects, and occasional maintenance issues like faulty HVAC or hot water. Parking is a recurring pain point due to limited shared lots and off-site overflow, compounded at times by construction and stairs that complicate access with luggage. On-site restaurants and walkable choices are a plus, though food quality and value feedback is mixed and there’s no free breakfast. Expect an updated yet characterful stay in a prime, walkable spot with solid service and views, balanced by parking hassles and some big-building quirks.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities are basic: limited, often off-site shared parking; a guest laundry and a third-floor patio are available, and there are on-site restaurants. There is no pool or hot tub.

Related guest reviews

8

Erica

30 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Parking is very limited, but there are a few local parking areas you can walk and park and the hotel reimbursed us one night when parking lot was full. Restaurant is excellent. Great location.

8

Robyn

3 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Parking lot is also pay parking for community so may not get a parking spot.

10

G

1 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had a large comfortable suite overlooking the harbour. There were a few stairs to navigate between the elevator and the room, and we managed them with the luggage. We were delighted to discover a laundry room for guests on the third floor. We had a rental car when we arrived, so appreciated the free parking provided. At departure we took the Hullo ferry shuttle, and its stop has very conveniently been temporarily relocated to immediately beside the hotel.

6

Nolan

7 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Just average at best here Fridge did not get cold and was really warm on the outside of fridge The ac/fan unit did not work properly and could not set to fan mode to sleep to a fan noise No free breakfast like most other Best Westerns offer NO hot tub Parking was super limited and frustrating Just ok at best here! I also asked on the survey to get 250 bonus points and she said she would send and did not all day

10

ROSELIA

6 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hotel staff were all super nice and in good moods. Pet friendly which was great. No pool but I saw a deck that looked cool. Nice restaurant on site and in a great location to the wharf and downtown shops. Room was clean and bed was awesome.

10

Adriana

25 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful room with an excellent view of the marina! Very clean & modern! Staff super helpful. Priced very well considering we could walk everywhere! Restaurant also very good food. Parking available for free! Temporary parking available in front of hotel while you are checking in & IF you’re early, you can leave your luggage at front desk & park for free in the hotels parking lot behind the hotel. We received welcome texts, anything we can do texts & goodbye texts!! Highly recommend!

10

Jessica

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location with access to many restaurants and local interest spots. Staff was incredibly helpful and very welcoming. Room was very comfortable with lovely light decor - very airy and inviting! Took advantage of the guest laundry as we have been travelling for many days - they only have one washer & dryer unit and to purchase products need to go to a vending machine down the hall. Aside from this would recommend as an option for anyone looking to be central.

10

Maja

21 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean hotel, 3 great restaurants on the property. Overlooks the harbour. Walking distance to shops and restaurants downtown

8

Benedict

15 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Nice to have a patio on the third floor

8

Michelle

18 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Wish there was a free breakfast. And a pool. Hah. But all in all. A good place to stay

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Cleanliness

Many guests find rooms clean and well kept. However, recurring reports mention musty smells, dirty floors or bathrooms, hair or stains, insects, and uneven housekeeping.

Related guest reviews

4

Michele

15 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Strong smell of mold, stained dirty bathrooms. We asked to change rooms and they did but not much better. No argument from the staff and they were polite. Will never be going back

6

wing

18 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Older building that has thin walls. You can hear alot of noises around you. Heating system not very update. Had a portable heater plugged into the room that eventually tripped the fuse and caused the tv to lose power also. The bed and sheets where clean and comfortable. Overall cleanliness was good except for the floors. We found out after we spilled a bit of water on the floor and had to wipe it up. The tissue paper we used was dark gray after wiping. Location and view of the harbour was good. Too bad they tore up the road around the hotel for construction. Parking spots where a bit tight. Overall it was ok.

4

Madison

13 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed for one night and the smell of the hotel wasn’t great. It smelled old and musty in both the hotel and our room. Our bed had some weird white residue that was on my hair and pajamas after I woke up. The floor were clean of crumbs but I had to wipe up something after my toddler and my wipes were dark brown, I don’t think the floors were washed. It just felt dirty. I wouldn’t choose this hotel again, especially travelling with a 11 month old, it just didn’t feel clean. I would not recommend. Dinning in walking distance was limited. Pro’s: They did have two heat pumps which was nice because it was hot while we were there and there was free parking.

2

Zack

4 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

First room the fridge was leaking all over the floor , brown goo . And the hall and room smelled horribly like pee and the toilet was covered in pee stains . They moved our room after we complained and the new room was cleaner but noticed there was blood stains on the blankets . Never going back

10

Janis Marcia

17 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The building is older but clean and the staff are friendly.

10

Garnet

1 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room

10

Aaron

30 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The rooms are very clean. The bed is super comfortable. Parking is easy and convenient. Very centrally located for anything you need to do downtown. Highly recommend.

4

Melissa

12 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Terrible experience overall. We booked a family suite, but the floors were dirty upon arrival. I’ve included a picture of a towel I used to wipe up some water in the living room. Despite asking twice for someone to come clean, no one ever showed up. There was also mold in the bathroom. We received a parking ticket while parked in the hotel lot (which is shared with public parking); it seems to be common practice for the hotel to handle these tickets after they're issued. The design of the hotel was also inconvenient — stairs between the elevator and the room made it impossible to use a luggage cart. In addition, a large gap under the door allowed all the hallway noise to come through. The only positive was the hotel’s close proximity to our whale watching tour.

6

Kerri

16 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Stains on the bedding Ants in the bath tub Fridge barely worked Wall paper peeling off the bedroom door

2

Weilun

29 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

My stay at the Best Western Nanaimo Dorchester was profoundly disappointing and far below the standards expected from a Best Western property. The hotel is in a rundown condition, and my experience in a first-floor room was particularly unpleasant due to several critical issues. The room’s walls were alarmingly thin, resulting in constant noise disturbances. I could hear every movement from the rooms above and beside me, as well as street noise, making it nearly impossible to rest. The lack of soundproofing was so severe that I could distinctly hear neighbors washing their hands, showering, flushing the toilet, and even conversing. It’s unacceptable that a room in such poor condition would be offered to guests. Cleanliness was another major concern. The room was covered in dust, with visible blood stains on the bedsheets and hair follicles scattered throughout the bedroom and bathroom, indicating a lack of proper cleaning or inspection. These hygiene issues made the stay uncomfortable and unsettling. The online photos of the hotel are highly misleading, presenting a far better image than the actual state of the rooms. This discrepancy is deceptive and does not reflect the quality or standards associated with the Best Western brand. Overall, my experience was extremely poor, and I would caution others to be wary when considering this hotel. The combination of noise, filth, and misrepresentation makes it clear that significant improvements are needed to meet basic hospitali

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Rooms

Rooms range from compact spaces with sloped floors to larger, comfortable suites; many praise beds, harbour views, and smart TVs. Others note thin walls and loud HVAC, plus some rooms lacking a microwave.

Related guest reviews

10

Cindy

9 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Pros: Best night's sleep I ever had in a hotel. SUPER quiet. Didnt hear anything all night, wasnt woken up by the AC nor the refrigerator, as is usually the case in hotels! Bed was quite comfortable as well. View was absolutely beautiful. Staff was friendly. Even though we had to evacuate because someone pulled a fire alarm one morning, it was still one of the best hotels I've stayed in Cons: parking is on another street. No cold drinks (drinks are in same vending machine aa chips)

6

Christopher

2 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Rooms are renovated but old. Floor had a 2” slope up to bathroom and was quite small

6

Cameron

5 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice finish on the room but it was TINY. Also floor sloped toward the door, and because of laminate flooring, sound travels between rooms and in the hallway. Bit of a smell in the room, not bad but not a soothing aroma.

6

Heather

29 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location. I thought rooms would have been a bit bigger. Bathroom in our two queen bed room with pull out couch very small for 3 people. Not enough counter space. You could hear people above so be sure to book in top floor and no microwave. Beds were comfy nice size tv.

10

Viviane

2 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was perfect! We got at the hotel at 1pm and our room was ready! The staff sent a message about it earlier in the morning! We really appreciated it! The room is small but comfy! The view is "the plus"!

10

Elizabeth

19 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Comfy beds

10

Melvin

31 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Exceeded my expectations. Frost desk staff were great. Our suite was spacious and had windows all around

10

Marlene

18 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We liked hotel had smart tv with good cable channels. We could watch our YouTube channels. Especially good during winter months when it gets dark sooner.

8

James

21 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice room with fridge. Noisy outside of hotel and air conditioning unit very noisy

10

Brian

24 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We had the harbour view that was nice. Weird that there were no screens on the big windows. They opened wide and someone could fall out. The toilet ran on its own at times and for a long time when flushed.

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Service

Staff are widely described as friendly, helpful, and accommodating, with convenient text communication. Some guests experienced slow or inconsistent check-in, housekeeping-by-request confusion, or unresolved maintenance and billing issues.

Related guest reviews

2

Michelle

25 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Staff was great, but we had to wait for an hour after check in time for our room. After 20 hours of travel, waiting that other hour was dreadful. Parking was very inconvenient. There was a small lot close by, but it was also public and often full. The other parking was a short drive away but with kids and my elderly mother it took 10 minutes to get there and back. On top of that, I got 3 parking tickets during my stay even though they took my car information. The building was old. Thin walls and heard everything. I will not be back or suggest it to family and friends.

6

Jessica

23 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was quite rude when asked. Called the front desk and sat in hold for 5 minutes. When asked for late checkout was told to ask in the morning and was told in the morning no. I requested it prior to arriving as well.

10

David

15 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff were A-one. Went above and beyond in service. Would definitely recommend staying at BW Dorchester .

6

Laurel

31 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I emailed and called 3 times for a 3rd party auth form. I work for transit and it was a corporate trip

6

Brennen

21 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Well-situated in the centre of town, lots of cute shops and eating places within a few minutes and some in the hotel itself. We have to wait about 10 mins at check in as there was nobody at the front desk and no other staff around. Bathroom in standard suite needed maintenance and the floor was muddy. If I had been staying more than one night I would have had to change rooms as I couldn't take a shower.

10

Jennifer

18 Jan 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

I stayed at the Dorchester for a small conference. The service, staff and hotel were outstanding. They made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed and the food was excellent. The location is also very good- great views of the ocean and wonderful places to explore in the downtown area. I will certainly return to the Dorchester again!

8

john

15 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

the stay was good the staff were very friendly and helpful the biggest problem was the fact that i booked on-line with what was supposed to be the hotel site only to be informed at check in that it was booked through Expedia which i didn`t i think Expedia hijacked my booking which should be illegal is there a way for the Hotel to block them from doing so ? we didn`t get the ocean view room that we wanted ,street side was a little noisy at times, the Hotel manager was very helpful in compensating us for this inconvenience, Thank you, John Leese

10

Gord

14 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff were all very friendly and helpful

10

Michale M

30 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The check in staff was amazing. Friendly and lovely and made our check in smooth and quick. I will definitely stay there again

10

Lonny

13 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff were very accommodating and quick to help, whether at the front desk or via text. They checked in via text to see how my stay was going and was able to have towels and coffee supplies replenished through text which was super convenient while being busy at a conference. Rooms are nice, price was much more reasonable than some of the other hotels nearby, the 3rd floor patio is a lovely amenity as well. Super close to all the downtown attractions and ocean boardwalk. Stayed here multiple times and would stay again.

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Location

Waterfront downtown location is highly walkable to ferries, harbour, shops, and dining. Several guests noted construction disruptions and a visible homeless presence that can feel less comfortable at night.

Related guest reviews

10

Dan

20 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Homeless people taking over neighborhood Didn't feel safe walking around

10

Lakhvinder

7 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location, lots of restaurants and shops all around as well as ocean view

8

Iain

5 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location of this hotel was great, right at the waterfront, close to stores and lots of restaurants.

10

Ching yin

31 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent location at downtown. Just a step to free shuttle to hullo ferry terminal. Walkable at downtown. Oceanview room is a plus to our trip. Front desk staff are friendly and helpful. Check-in and out are smooth. Steps to ferry terminals to other islands. Evening view is incredible. Three restaurants on site. Definitely recommend to stay. Will come back for sure.

8

C P

23 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel is an older building that has been kept up Nanaimo. Unfortunately, downtown Nanaimo is in a bit of a slump and there are many unhoused people on the surrounding streets.

10

Elizabeth

24 May 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

located near the waterfront and walking distance for many interesting activities - close to ferries. Older building but beautifully updated.

8

David

28 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Central to the harbour, waterfront and downtown core. A short walk to the float plane base and convention centre.

10

Chui Fun Selina

6 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel is located in the heart of the city, just steps away from the sea! 🌊 It's so convenient, you can easily explore all the nearby attractions on foot. 🚶‍♀️ No need to drive, just enjoy the beautiful scenery and fresh air! 😍

10

Kelly

26 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Convenient downtown location. Lots to do within a short walk.

10

Cam

28 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It’s a great location with good eating options.

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Dining

Many guests enjoyed the on-site restaurants and nearby options. Feedback varies on quality and value, and there’s no free breakfast; some noted the lack of room service.

Related guest reviews

10

Herb

5 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautifully renovated property with stunning harbour views. Helpful and friendly staff. Great restaurant on site.

8

Yonghong

20 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Top Notch restaurant is great, Angela is super host

8

Thérèse

26 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

L'hôtel est en plein coeur du centre-ville. Toutefois, il y a beaucoup d'itinérance et cela contribue à donner l'impression que les environs sont moins sécuritaires et quelque peu plus négligés. Quant au restaurant, il y a un manque flagrant de raffinement au niveau de la nourriture, ce qui contraste avec son décor plutôt somptueux.

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6

Roman

3 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room but noisy Restaurant “ The View “ was excellent, great staff and Very good food!!!

10

Maja

21 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean hotel, 3 great restaurants on the property. Overlooks the harbour. Walking distance to shops and restaurants downtown

10

Mary

12 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Hotel was wonderful and service was terrific. However, the onsite restaurant had a very, very limited menu and the food was constantly overcooked and flavourless.

8

Raymond Wai Man

20 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Pro: very good view. We booked harbour view. Nice restaurants around. The view Oceanside restaurant has a good atmosphere but too expensive for the food quality. Wife can’t taste the liquor in the flambé we ordered. It doesn’t come with complimentary bread. You have to pay $8.50 for it. Cons: restaurant food wasn’t enough for us afterwards but the demonstrations with the flambé and the service was good along with the atmosphere with the lighting. Tips: make sure you reserve for a table by the little room with lots of lights decorated. So romantic. The other cons is that the street is really quiet and no street light for a section of the area so kinda scary if you come here in the fall or winter. The room was big enough for us. Can’t wait to go back.

8

Michelle

18 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Wish there was a free breakfast. And a pool. Hah. But all in all. A good place to stay

8

Kirby

6 May 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The area is great. Right near the harbour and there are lots of coffee shops, 24 hour bakery and shops near by. There was some confusion with the check in process??? Not sure if training new staff or staff not sure. Processed my card twice for pre authorization and was told it didn’t go through. I logged into my banking to show them that it was processed twice. The restaurant inside the hotel is excellent. Best seafood chowder and wait staff excellent.

8

Donna

11 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We enjoyed the restaurant, tasty.

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Month	Average price
January	US$86
February	US$96
March	US$103
April	US$118
May	US$129
June	US$144
July	US$156
August	US$162
September	US$152
October	US$122
November	US$107
December	US$92

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18 $187	19 $173
20 $122	21 $122	22 $177	23 $173	24 $128	25 $154	26 $141
27 $126	28 $115	29 $114	30 $115

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $166	2 $183	3 $176
4 $112	5 $112	6 $117	7 $115	8 $115	9 $124	10 $124
11 $112	12 $112	13 $112	14 $112	15 $112	16 $118	17 $119
18 $113	19 $136	20 $136	21 $136	22 $136	23 $164	24 $164
25 $119	26 $119	27 $143	28 $143	29 $119	30 $119	31 $118

Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Prices for Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Junior Suite, 1 Queen Bed, Refrigerator (With Sofabed)

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Refrigerator

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbor View

Executive Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator (With Sofabed)

Family Suite, 2 Queen Beds, Refrigerator (With Sofabed)

Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbor View (With Sofabed)

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbor View

Guest reviews of Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Prices for upcoming dates