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
Bastion - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Casino Nanaimo - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
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
Getting around
Nanaimo, BC (YCD) - 13 min drive
Restaurants
Starbucks - 7 min walk
Red’s Bakery - 3 min walk
Brix & Mortar - 2 min walk
Old City Station Pub - 2 min walk
Mrs. Riches - 8 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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
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
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
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
Hotel is old with alot of character however no hot water at all. When i mentioned it at checkout the only response was the breaker had beem off and was back on and water would be warm soon. That didn't help us as we had to check out to catch a ferry. No apology or compensation of any sort. This was not a cheap hotel and therefore will not stay again.
The hotel is past its best by a number of years. Furniture is ready for the skip, maintenance isn’t a good as new approach, and we were issued a room when checking in late in the evening, tired and ready for bed and only when it was too late we realised the air conditioning was faulty in an already very smaller than average hotel room, stay in any of the other hotels near here as we have before and it’s chalk and cheese. Best western didn’t even respond to my messages raising the issue with them.
The hotel offers a seamless check-in process and boasts a fantastic location, along with being nicely updated. However, due to the building's age, there is a noticeable slant of a few inches in the family suite. This can impact the balance of elderly parents, which became a concern during our stay. Within just a few hours, we received a noise complaint because of their difficulty in moving about.
Kelly
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
Cindy
Travelled with partner
9 Sept 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
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)
The harbour is beautiful. The panhandlers are annoying. The hotel is very old and the floors in my room were dirty.
The fire alarm going off in the morning was really unfortunate and it took quite some time for the fire department to resolve it. Was told two different things - front desk said there is no issue and it’s a false alarm and later I was told that there was an electrical issue in the basement.
Friendly staff, a bit of walk to the parking, but it's free
Fan
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Cletus
4 Sept 2025
Cletus
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
8/10 Good
Verified traveller
3 Sept 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Excellent staff
Hotel is a bit dated and could use a refresh. Hotel staff were excellent to the point of contacting us for an item we left at hotel and offering to ship to us. Staff would make us return to this location given the chance. Central location to Nanaimo.
Verified traveller
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
6/10 Okay
Michael
Travelled with partner
3 Sept 2025
The property was fair to average. But it seems all the hotels in Nanaimo are this way. Hallway floors are really unlevel. You can't take your luggage cart to your room because of stairs. The rooms are ok but older tvs, not smart TVs. Meh is really the best description