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Best Western Dorchester Hotel

2.5 star property

Photo gallery for Best Western Dorchester Hotel

3 restaurants, breakfast served
Exterior
Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbour View (with Sofabed) | Room amenity
Suite, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking (Living Room) | Room amenity
Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbour View | View from room

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Breakfast available
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Gym

Explore the area

View map
70 Church St, Nanaimo, BC, V9R5H4
  • Place, Old City Quarter
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Duke Point Ferry Terminal
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Airport, Nanaimo, BC (YCD)
    ‪14 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Junior Suite, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (with Sofabed)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Junior Suite, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (with Sofabed)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbour View

Premium bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbour View

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(7 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator

Premium bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(21 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator | View from room

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(15 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbour View

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbour View | View from room

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbour View

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(18 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbour View (with Sofabed)

Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbour View (with Sofabed) | View from room

Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbour View (with Sofabed)

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Family Suite, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (with Sofabed)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Family Suite, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (with Sofabed)

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Executive Suite, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (with Sofabed)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Executive Suite, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (with Sofabed)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Nanaimo

With a stay at Best Western Dorchester Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Nanaimo, a 5-minute drive from Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and 15 minutes from Duke Point Ferry Terminal. .This hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Bastion and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Maffeo Sutton Park.

What's nearby

  • Nanaimo Museum - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Old City Quarter - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Vancouver Island University - 4 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Departure Bay Ferry Terminal - 5 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Duke Point Ferry Terminal - 15 min drive - 18.1 km

Getting around

  • Nanaimo, BC (YCD) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Red’s Bakery - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Brix & Mortar - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Mrs. Riches - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪The Nanaimo Bar - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Hotel in Nanaimo with 3 restaurants and a fitness center
Best Western Dorchester Hotel offers 71 accommodations with safes and coffee/tea makers. Accommodations offer separate sitting areas. Beds feature premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and hair dryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and desk chairs, as well as phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Stay in one of 71 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and desks, as well as phones with free local calls.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a fitness center, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and a hair salon. Additional amenities at this hotel include shopping on site, a ballroom, and a vending machine.
Satisfy your appetite at Top Notch Burgers, one of the hotel's 3 restaurants. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include a business center, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. Planning an event in Nanaimo? This hotel has 5000 square feet (465 square meters) of space consisting of a conference center and 5 meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.
Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
Top Notch Burgers - This restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
The View Oceanside Grill - Overlooking the ocean, this restaurant serves dinner only. Reservations are required. Open daily.
Embers Wine & Charcuterie - Onsite fine-dining restaurant. Open daily.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free 24-hour offsite parking within 30 metres
  • Street parking available
  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Limited on-site parking
  • Onsite parking options include a carport

Food and drink

  • Daily cooked-to-order breakfast available 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: CAD 10 to 22 for adults and CAD 10 to 22 for children
  • 3 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Embers Wine & Charcuterie
  • The View Oceanside Grill
  • Top Notch Burgers

Things to do

  • Designer stores
  • Gym
  • Shopping
  • Wine tours

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Mini-fridge

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • 5 meeting rooms
  • Business centre
  • Conference centre (5,000 square foot of space)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift

More

  • Ballroom
  • Banquet hall
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with premium channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Free local calls
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 19

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of CAD 30 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total (up to 35 lbs per pet)
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Food and water bowls are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
2 children, up to the age of 12 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately CAD 10 to 22 for adults, and CAD 10 to 22 for children
  • Pet fee: CAD 30 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of We Care Clean (Best Western)

Property is also known as

Best Western Dorchester
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
Best Western Hotel Dorchester
Best Western Plus Dorchester
Best Western Plus Dorchester Hotel
Best Western Plus Dorchester Hotel Nanaimo
Best Western Plus Dorchester Nanaimo
Dorchester Best Western
Best Western Dorchester Hotel Nanaimo
Best Western Dorchester Nanaimo
Best Western Nanaimo
Nanaimo Best Western
Best Dorchester Hotel Nanaimo
Best Western Dorchester Hotel Hotel
Best Western Dorchester Hotel Nanaimo
Best Western Dorchester Hotel Hotel Nanaimo

Reviews

Best Western Dorchester Hotel Reviews

8.2

Very good

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 431 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 331 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 142 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 64 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 36 out of 1004 reviews

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Peter

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Parking was full. Was told be another guest that cars parking in the overflow lot often get vandalized or broken into. Lots of construction in the area made it hard to get around.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Timothy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
In a nice area
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Older building but nicely renovated. Very close to the waterfront and our room had a wonderful harbour view. Staff were friendly and helpful. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Tara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karli

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
I didn't love the light peering through doors at night but other then that wonderful!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

SYDNEY E

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful view, great harbour walks and shops. Great restaurants in the hotel and the immediate vicinity.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Syed

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Its conveniently located in the heart of downtown nanaimo and the Harbour view is nice but due to construction, parking is limited and se treet parking is encouraged by the staff but only on the weekends. Through 3rd party reservation, it saya breakfast included for free but actually you have to pay for it in the lobby restaurant with 15% discount. Overall good experience, evening walks by the Harbour is awesome.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tina

Travelled with family, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location! The room was nice and clean, beds were comfortable, and staff were super nice.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

G, Hamilton

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ching yin

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Waterfront walk
Park near.hotel
Seaview room
View from room
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Melvin

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Exceeded my expectations. Frost desk staff were great. Our suite was spacious and had windows all around
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Laurel

Business traveller
Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
I emailed and called 3 times for a 3rd party auth form. I work for transit and it was a corporate trip
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

clare

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Weilun

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Joyce

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Terrible hotel in an awful town! PTSD comes free with a night’s stay in this hotel! Upon check-in, the whole place smelled like sewage. This continued to the halls and rooms. The elevator takes you up a level just so you can walk back down half a floor to get to your room. They have fans in the hallway on 24/7, probably due to the constant complaint of smell from guests.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Ruby

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Rakesh

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a great place to stay. The parking is tricky unless you get there early. Really great people.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Vickie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location, reasonable price

Great location with amazing harbour views. The room was spacious, while still having everything thing that you need. The room cleaning policy requires you to book the room clean the night before, but this was not explained at check-in. I like the idea of this, but better communication was needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Suzanne

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location was excellent, we didn't have a car and could easily walk to just about anything you could possibly want - harbour walkway, ferries, shops, restaurants, cafes, groceries, liquor store, banks, etc. The property has a couple great restaurants as well as a nice women's clothing shop that you can all access via the hotel lobby. The hotel itself is definitely a bit older, but nicely appointed overall. Beds were quite comfy. We had a harbour view, which was lovely, except for huge splatters of seagull droppings on the windows. The hotel hallway in our floor had a bad smell for the entire week we were there, and all the room doors slammed very loudly so if guests are coming/going very early or late it will definitely wake you up. Overall it was very good and would stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

JUDITH

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Central, renovated room and reasonably priced.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nicely renovated room, great amenities in the hotel (huge rooftop patio, kitchen, washer/dryer, ice machine)
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great for an overnight stay before the ferry!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jay

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Problem with parking spaces it is very limited. Can’t get a spot.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025