Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Hotels
•
Best Western
8.1 (1495 reviews)
70 Church St. , Nanaimo , ca

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Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Location
Friendly staff
Good breakfast
Cons:
Poor cleanliness
Service inconsistencies
Small rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
6.8
The floors were sticky and the room smelled foul, indicating poor cleanliness.
Service
7.77
Mixed experiences; some found staff helpful while others faced issues at checkout.
Location
9.3
Multiple reviews highlighted the great central location.
Room Quality
7.26
Some rooms were comfortable and nicely renovated, but others were too small and had maintenance issues.
Amenities
7.79
Basic amenities noted, but some users mentioned missing items like body wash.
Value for Money
8.74
Many found it to be a fair price considering the location and services.
Food and Beverage
8.79
Guests enjoyed the restaurant's breakfast and meals, though not included in price.
Overall Experience
8.37
Overall guests appreciated the location despite some service and cleanliness issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 14:32

Property Description

Stunning Waterfront Views

Luxurious Amenities

Delicious Dining Options

Experience the breathtaking waterfront views at the downtown Nanaimo hotel, overlooking the Inner Harbour. Stay connected with free WiFi and take advantage of complimentary parking. Relax in rooms equipped with flat-screen TVs and enjoy the convenience of in-room coffee makers and free local calls. Indulge in delectable dishes and impeccable service at The View restaurant or grab a bite at Top Notch Burgers. With the Departure Bay BC Ferry Terminal and the Bastion Museum just a short distance away, adventure is at your doorstep. Book now for an unforgettable stay at the Best Western Dorchester Hotel.

Important information:

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card is required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: YCD

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 9 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.1
Based on 1495 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.8
Service: 7.77
Location: 9.3
Room Quality: 7.26
Amenities: 7.79
Value for Money: 8.74
Food and Beverage: 8.79
Overall Experience: 8.37
N
Noelle • couple • ca
8
A fine place with good restaurants
Pros:

Great location to attend events at the Port Theater

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
P
peter • couple • ch
8
2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
M
Monika • family_with_children • ch
8
2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
V
Vila Mas • extended_group • es
8
Un hotel agradable y muy bien situado!
Pros:

Ubicación perfecta, de hecho fue lo que me hizo decidir mi estancia aquí, además la parada tanto para llegar como venir del ferry está muy muy cerca. Habitación de tamaño correcto y camas cómodas. Descuento en el restaurante Top Notch que está dentro del mismo edificio si te alojas en el hotel. Tiene un pequeño gimnasio por si te quieres poner en forma durante tu alojamiento. Personal atento y amable en todo momento. Repetiría sin duda! Hay aparcamiento disponible aunque en mi caso no lo utilicé.

Cons:

Pues, la verdad no tengo queja. Aunque sí que las camas son quizás un poco pequeñas para dos personas.

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
D
Dave • couple • ca
8
Cons:

The power went off in the middle of the night. It could have been tragic as my partner needs a CPAP machine to breathe. With out this machine he had a very restless sleep.

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
C
Cappeto • couple • us
9
Pros:

We were in room 309. The room is beautifully appointed, nice view, bed was super comfortable, the fridge was a huge plus, great outdoor roof access. We had our dog with us and the whole set up was super convenient. Having parking included puts a huge checkmark in the plus category. We hung out in the restaurant and bar. The French Onion Soup was deelish and what a fun atmosphere with many patrons. The coffee shops and retailers nearby were high quality with unique offerings.

Cons:

We understand that the hotel has been beautifully remodeled. That said, the floor in our room was uneven in spots like the bathroom and bedroom area. Not a hug deal for us but if a guest had balance issues it could be a problem. We wished we had a marble to roll on the floor to see the pitch. = ) Also, the coffee maker in our room was not working. The hotel addressed it as soon as we reported it. One last minor issue was the super bright LED numbers on the AC unit facing the bed. I was tempted to cover it with something but didn't have tape. Just mentioning these as inconveniences, not deal breakers. We love Nanaimo and would stay at BW Dorchester again in a heartbeat!

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
J
J. Kevin • couple • ca
9
Pros:

Friendly staff. Very comfortable. Great view of the harbour. We had a fantastic meal at the Oceanside View Restaurant attached to the hotel.

2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
V
Vivian • solo_traveller • mx
10
Pros:

The room was bright and clean and nicely designed

Cons:

Nothing in particular.

2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
A
Anita • solo_traveller • ca
2
2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
F
Felicity • couple • ca
8
2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
B
Bernice • couple • us
8
2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
A
Antje • couple • de
6
Cons:

Zimmer nur über Treppe erreichbar, nachts sehr laute Maschinengeräusche, Blick auf Schacht

2026-06-09 • via Nuitee
E
Erin • family_with_children • ca
9
Pros:

ALl of it

2026-06-09 • via Nuitee
A
Anna • couple • ch
7
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
J
Johnathan • solo_traveller • ca
9
2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
T
Therese • couple • ch
7
2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sandra • extended_group • au
8
Great location, comfortable beds
Pros:

Arrived late and were well looked after. Food and service in restaurant were great. Great location for town and harbour

Cons:

Rooms a little bit tired. No twin singles available so had to reorganise the sleeping arrangements 🤷‍♀️

2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
H
Hiltrud • extended_group • de
8
2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
H
Hiltrud • couple • de
8
2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jos • couple • be
10
2026-06-02 • via Nuitee