With a stay at The Spot, you'll be centrally located in Nanaimo, within a 5-minute drive of Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. .This motel is 10.6 mi (17.1 km) from Duke Point Ferry Terminal and 1.1 mi (1.7 km) from Beach Estates Park.
Departure Bay Ferry Terminal - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
Old City Quarter - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital - 3 min drive - 2.0 km
Vancouver Island University - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
Duke Point Ferry Terminal - 17 min drive - 20.3 km
Getting around
Nanaimo, BC (YCD) - 16 min drive
Restaurants
Drip Coffee | Social - 3 min drive
Off The Hook - 20 min walk
Tim Hortons - 20 min walk
Tim Hortons - 2 min drive
McDonald's - 6 min walk
About this property
The Spot
Motel with free parking, near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
The Spot offers 10 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Beds feature premium bedding. 50-inch Smart televisions come with cable channels. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include showers with rainfall showerheads, and complimentary toiletries.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 10 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. 50-inch Smart televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and a picnic area.
Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and multilingual staff. Free self parking is available onsite.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Free uncovered self parking on site
Wheelchair-accessible parking available
Things to do
Bicycle tours
Family friendly
In-room microwave
In-room refrigerator
Conveniences
Virtual front desk
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Outdoors
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Hand-held showerhead
Handrails in stairways
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
More
2 floors
Designated smoking areas
Renovated entire property - April 2022
Room amenities
Bedroom
Blackout drapes
Premium bedding
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Rainfall showerhead
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
50-inch smart TV with cable channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Microwave
Refrigerator
More
Air conditioning
Desk
Free local calls
Iron/ironing board on request
Laptop workspace
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
There is no front desk at this property
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; access will be through a private entrance
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests
Access methods
Access code, private entrance
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of CAD 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: CAD 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are exempt from fees
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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
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.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Property Registration Number 5032890
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Colonial Motel Nanaimo
Colonial Nanaimo
The Spot Motel
Colonial Motel
The Spot Nanaimo
The Spot Motel Nanaimo
Reviews
The Spot Reviews
8.4
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.
I didn’t like the access system, but my kids liked this place.
Marshall
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Margaret
Travelled with partner
29 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Hotel and parking lot is kept clean (bottom edge of shower stall needs some repair). Staff was very responsive when I contacted them. A number of fast food chains are close.
This property is convenient for parking. Bed room and restroom are Clean. Some of the rooms that not along the roads are quiet. Check in is done one-line and suggest do the check in at least hours before so that you can receive the access code before you arrive. Convenient and suitable for young people who get easy access to internet.
The hotel is on a busy highway and it looks seedy from the outside. However, our room was clean, the kitchenette was nice and the bathroom towels were very luxurious. The noise of the highway traffic was lessened by using the fan in the room and because the door to the room is very thick. The bed was a little hard.
The check in is only on line, which some people may find difficult.
Worst hotel experience ever!!! From the beginning to the end it was an awful night. Here's a list of things that are awful about this place:
1. The shower did not work
2. WIFI user name and password were wrong in the book
3. No ice for the ice bucket
4. Outside door lock did not work until many tries, got locked out
5. Only 1 plug in in the entire room
6. There were bugs in the shower
7. Floors were unsafe, they were raised up, we tripped
8. Air conditioner did not work well
9. No lounge chairs only uncomfortable stools
10. No front desk attendant
That's the gods honest truth about this place. There was 1 guy that was cleaning the rooms, he was very friendly. That's the only good thing I can say about this hotel. Do not waste your money here!!!
The stay was good. I would NOT recommend staying on the bottom floor due to excessive noise from people on top floor. Hear so much noise that I did not get a good rest. Some of laminate flooring near tv was coming up so please wear shoes! Very nice and clean facility. Close to ferry and lots of shops.
Was nice enough. Beds were a bit hard. The latch on our bathroom door was broken and the beeping from the electronic locks on the main door and room doors was loud. AC is a bit small or perhaps the filter was clogged. It didn’t cool the room very well.
The room was clean though, tv was nice, bedding was clean,
Daniel
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
DARLENE
Travelled with family
9 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Very quaint and cute place. Just the parking lot was not user friendly to get in and out of with a truck. Otherwise great stay!