Name: Painted Turtle Guesthouse
Address: 121 Bastion Street, Nanaimo, Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, CA
Price range: $90–$102 per night
Rating: 7.78

What guests think

Painted Turtle Guesthouse is a budget, hostel-style stay in central Nanaimo with friendly, accommodating staff, basic private and dorm rooms, large communal spaces, and shared bathrooms; reviews praise value and atmosphere but also note occasional issues.

Many reviews highlight the central, walkable location near the waterfront and ferry. Cleanliness feedback is mixed: several find rooms and common areas very clean, while others mention smelly or grimy bathrooms and worn, damaged finishes. Common drawbacks include street or bar noise, warm rooms without AC and thin walls, limited or paid parking, and occasional maintenance outages; a few felt the surrounding area less safe at night. Expect a simple, budget-friendly base best for flexible travelers.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Large communal kitchen and lounge with multiple shared bathrooms; some appliances and a door lock were out of service during some stays. No AC (fans provided), no elevator, and parking is limited or paid nearby.

Related guest reviews

8

Mayank

Jun 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall okay, but facilities are not good, like no parking or AC, close to nightclubs so some noise in the night

6

Wai Suen Loretta

Aug 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

kitchen & living room are big. kitchen stove is not very clean. Room & toilet is clean. some bath room without hook to hang clothes when you take shower.

4

Jing

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room heater is not work and no elevator and has to share bathroom which was not noticed at booking. The staff is not professional. The key is not easy to open the door. The location is excellent!

8

Catherine

Jul 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Economical. Clean. Spacious common area with comfortable furniture, tables, chairs, large communal kitchen, refrigerators, tea and coffee in the morning. Lots of books to read. Probably the nicest hostel I have ever stayed at. I felt safe and comfortable in this hostel.

2

Tajinder

Jul 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room size so small, no AC, window has no net , noisy. Overall not recommended.

6

Wai Suen Loretta

Aug 7, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

washroom has bad smell, some bathroom doesn't have hook to hang bath towel, clothes etc.. Light in washroom is dark.

8

Evelyn

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Felt like staying at a youth hostel, brought back great memories! Huge common room with cooking area. Lots of private bathroom/showers. Found an excellent Mexican restaurant Gina’s walking distance. Close to ferry.

8

William

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

I think this is a great little place if you wanna stay a couple nights in Nanaimo, but don’t want to pay the big hotel prices. I was accommodated for late check-in, which was very nice and I was even able to self check out. A parking area is right next to the hostel which is great. This hostel has everything you need to get by however, some of the amenities were out of service such as the oven and microwave when I was staying. There was also a door lock that was out of service, but you can make deal with the inconvenience. I’d suggest coming here if you are okay with being flexible and are not planning on staying inside most the day. Would come back again!

8

John

Jan 29, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

FYI: there is no free parking included as stated. There is a parkade nearby that's really cheap but you do still have to pay to park your car between the hours of 8am to 5pm on weekdays. Outside of that it is free. Other than that it was a clean, tidy and seemingly well maintained hostel. Room, bathroom and kitchen all seemed very clean.

10

Margareta

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Comfortable bed and cosy warm bedding. Older but very clean facility. Well equipped communal kitchen with pleasant dining room.

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Cleanliness

Feedback is mixed: many guests found rooms and common areas clean, while others reported smelly or grimy bathrooms and occasional dirty or worn items.

Related guest reviews

6

Wai Suen Loretta

Aug 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

kitchen & living room are big. kitchen stove is not very clean. Room & toilet is clean. some bath room without hook to hang clothes when you take shower.

8

Geraldine

Jan 23, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Was ok, shower was dirty and nozzle was too high and fixed. Nice people.

2

Olive

Aug 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I had a disappointing experience during our stay. The room had a strong, unpleasant smell.The beddings were also in poor condition — they looked old, felt dirty, and had a noticeable odor The towels provided were dirty—one even had blood and a hole in it, which was unacceptable. Overall, the cleanliness and condition of the room were poor. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel for families. It would be better if the air conditioning or ventilation was improved.

10

Denise

Aug 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was a nice stay. The stuff is really friendly. The room is clean and the bathroom too.

2

Amanda

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

No pictures on the walls in the room. The walls, doors, flooring and furniture were dirty, stained, and full of holes and heavily damaged. The whole place had a very creap serial killer vibe. We felt very uncomfortable there making it difficult to rest and relax. Did not know when i booke it that this was a hostel with shared bathrooms and limited reception hours to check in. Location was fantastic.

6

Wai Suen Loretta

Aug 7, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

washroom has bad smell, some bathroom doesn't have hook to hang bath towel, clothes etc.. Light in washroom is dark.

6

Lana

Nov 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fine for a stop over, hostel lovers or for those that don't need much space. Room was very small but clean, building is old and charming; creaky floors with thin walls. The bathrooms were not very clean, smelled like urine with dirty, small and grimy shower.

8

John

Jan 29, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

FYI: there is no free parking included as stated. There is a parkade nearby that's really cheap but you do still have to pay to park your car between the hours of 8am to 5pm on weekdays. Outside of that it is free. Other than that it was a clean, tidy and seemingly well maintained hostel. Room, bathroom and kitchen all seemed very clean.

10

Ludovica

Aug 16, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly reception, rooms and bathrooms are basic but clean.

10

Margareta

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Comfortable bed and cosy warm bedding. Older but very clean facility. Well equipped communal kitchen with pleasant dining room.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are basic and compact across private and dorm options, with comfortable bedding noted by some. Expect heat in warm weather and noise transfer from thin walls or nearby venues; there is no AC, though fans are sometimes provided.

Related guest reviews

10

Stephen

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Friendly staff, let me check in early. Great location, could use ac, and an in house coffee service, even if i had to pay.

8

Daniel

Aug 6, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a decent hostel. Rooms are a bit warm, but fans provided. Get creative with your fans. Had the facade of eco-friendliness, but 4 "recyling" bins in kitchen with none labeled makes this aspect rather silly. Its right downtown, so expect the usual crap in our west coast dt areas....

2

Joe

Jul 30, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

i thought it was dorm style with separate bedroom and shared kitchen/living room/bathroom but it was 4 in a room -- two bunk beds. My bad, I didn't check closely enough. But the sleeping arrangement was brutal. Couldn't recharge phone or laptop without turning on the light and dude in the top bunk was trying to sleep and couldn't stand light being on. I had to leave and managed to find a room at the Days Inn.

2

Tajinder

Jul 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room size so small, no AC, window has no net , noisy. Overall not recommended.

6

Lana

Nov 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fine for a stop over, hostel lovers or for those that don't need much space. Room was very small but clean, building is old and charming; creaky floors with thin walls. The bathrooms were not very clean, smelled like urine with dirty, small and grimy shower.

10

Darcie

Jun 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I lucked out during my stay since the roads around the Painted Turtle were closed due to construction. Arrive after 4:30pm and no noise! Oh and the industrial size fan in my shared room was the best surprise EVER!!! :)

6

Abby Joe

Jul 26, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I sayed 2 nights, I was able to sleep despite the loud music from the pub underneeth... staff was friendly aldough didn't say much. Rooms where ok but not outstanding. all in all I had a good stay.

10

Ludovica

Aug 16, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly reception, rooms and bathrooms are basic but clean.

10

Margareta

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Comfortable bed and cosy warm bedding. Older but very clean facility. Well equipped communal kitchen with pleasant dining room.

8

Steven

Aug 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Generally positive experience, front desk staff was very welcoming, and shared clear expectations on how everything worked. It was loud outside late into the evening, and was pretty hard to sleep until 1-2AM.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Service is widely praised as friendly, accommodating, and helpful, with support for late check-in and clear guidance. A few guests noted delays at check-in or less professional interactions.

Related guest reviews

10

Steven

Oct 13, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

If you’re open to bare-bones, inexpensive, quirkiness, remember this is a hostel (though I rented a private room. Very accommodating, all requests fulfilled. Friendly staff.

10

Stephen

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Friendly staff, let me check in early. Great location, could use ac, and an in house coffee service, even if i had to pay.

10

Andrew

Feb 23, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Awesome customer service - went far above and beyond to make sure I got checked in, even at 1:30AM (they normally close standard check-in at 8PM).

4

Jing

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room heater is not work and no elevator and has to share bathroom which was not noticed at booking. The staff is not professional. The key is not easy to open the door. The location is excellent!

2

Rebecca

Aug 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The check in time was 4pm. I called ahead and told them I’d be there just before 5pm, my room wasn’t ready. Had to be late to an event I was working because I had to wait.

10

Lorena

Aug 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Even its outdated, it is very clean , well maintained by Paul and staff, walkable to restaurant, the harbour, shopping mall, very convenient and reasonable price. The customer service are excellent. Show us the easy way to get to Departure Bay bus depot by bus. Thank you Paul for the warmest accommodations.

8

William

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

I think this is a great little place if you wanna stay a couple nights in Nanaimo, but don’t want to pay the big hotel prices. I was accommodated for late check-in, which was very nice and I was even able to self check out. A parking area is right next to the hostel which is great. This hostel has everything you need to get by however, some of the amenities were out of service such as the oven and microwave when I was staying. There was also a door lock that was out of service, but you can make deal with the inconvenience. I’d suggest coming here if you are okay with being flexible and are not planning on staying inside most the day. Would come back again!

10

Shannagh

Nov 30, 2022

·

Stayed 2 nights

A great little hostel in the centre of Nanaimo. The staff - and here I give a shout out to Paul, the night manager - are incredibly helpful and accommodating. I would stay again!

10

Nanoha

May 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff

8

Steven

Aug 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Generally positive experience, front desk staff was very welcoming, and shared clear expectations on how everything worked. It was loud outside late into the evening, and was pretty hard to sleep until 1-2AM.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Central downtown location within walking distance of the waterfront, restaurants, and ferry connections. Some guests experienced late-night street or bar noise and a few felt the surrounding area less safe.

Related guest reviews

8

Mayank

Jun 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall okay, but facilities are not good, like no parking or AC, close to nightclubs so some noise in the night

10

Catherine

Jul 14, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

A comfortable hostel with clean private room right in a central area of downtown Nanaimo. Waterfront and other sites of interest an easy short walk away.

8

Brody

Oct 29, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location

6

Shelly

Aug 25, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a very basic place to spend the night before heading out on ferry. Neighborhood did not feel very safe. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Had a family room but not really a family friendly environment.

6

laurence

May 23, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Les alentours sont un peu dangereux. Beaucoup d’itinérance.

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8

Lee

Aug 21, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Central location and cost. Friendly staff.

10

James

Oct 6, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The property location is central to most activity points and easy to commute

8

Evelyn

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Felt like staying at a youth hostel, brought back great memories! Huge common room with cooking area. Lots of private bathroom/showers. Found an excellent Mexican restaurant Gina’s walking distance. Close to ferry.

8

James

Oct 4, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property location is central to most of my activities. I am happy with it.

8

Mike

Oct 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Okay for the night. Kind of sketchy area of town.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Not enough information in reviews.

Related guest reviews

10

Stephen

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Friendly staff, let me check in early. Great location, could use ac, and an in house coffee service, even if i had to pay.

8

Catherine

Jul 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Economical. Clean. Spacious common area with comfortable furniture, tables, chairs, large communal kitchen, refrigerators, tea and coffee in the morning. Lots of books to read. Probably the nicest hostel I have ever stayed at. I felt safe and comfortable in this hostel.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$74
February	$73
March	$71
April	$85
May	$85
June	$88
July	$88
August	$86
September	$86
October	$75
November	$67
December	$69

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17 $100	18 $98	19 $93
20 $95	21 $90	22 $90	23 $92	24 $92	25 $102	26 $102
27 $92	28 $95	29 $95	30 $94

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $93	2 $94	3 $101
4 $102	5 $102	6 $102	7 $102	8 $102	9 $102	10 $102
11 $102	12 $102	13 $102	14 $92	15 $102	16 $102	17 $102
18 $101	19 $101	20 $101	21 $101	22 $101	23 $101	24 $102
25 $101	26 $101	27 $101	28 $101	29 $101	30 $101	31 $101

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Shared Dormitory, Women Only, Shared Bath

Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Shared Dormitory, Men Only, Shared Bath

Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Painted Turtle Guesthouse

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Prices for upcoming dates