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Best Western Dorchester Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel in Nanaimo with 3 restaurants and a fitness center

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Photo gallery for Best Western Dorchester Hotel

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

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym

Explore the area

View in a map
70 Church St, Nanaimo, BC, V9R5H4
  • Place, Bastion
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Nanaimo Museum
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Old City Quarter
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, Nanaimo, BC (YCD)
    ‪14 min drive‬

Room options

1 King Bed, Non-Smoking, Harbor View, Refrigerator, Wi-Fi

  • Sleeps 2

View all photos for Queen Room

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

Queen Room

  • Sleeps 2

Queen Room with Sofa Bed

  • Sleeps 4

King Suite

  • Sleeps 4

Harbour View Room With Two Queen Beds

  • Sleeps 4

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, Harbor View

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

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbor 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
(22 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, Harbor View

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

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbor View

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

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

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

Suite, 1 King Bed, Refrigerator, Harbor 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)

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 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

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

  • Sleeps 4

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

  • Sleeps 4

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

  • Sleeps 4

Guest Room With 2 Double Beds, Non-Smoking, Harbour View, Refrigerator And Wi-Fi

  • Sleeps 4

2 Double Beds, Non-Smoking, Refrigerator, Wi-Fi

  • Sleeps 4

Two Double Bed Suite

  • Sleeps 6

Premium Queen Suite with Harbor View

  • Sleeps 4

About the neighborhood

Nanaimo

Best Western Dorchester Hotel places you next to Bastion and within a 5-minute walk of Vancouver Island Military Museum. This 71-room hotel has 3 restaurants along with conveniences like free in-room WiFi and free self parking.

What's nearby

  • Bastion - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Casino Nanaimo - 6 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Nanaimo Museum - 6 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Old City Quarter - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Vancouver Island University - 4 min drive - 1.7 miles

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
Guests of Best Western Dorchester Hotel enjoy a gym, free WiFi in public areas, and a conference center. Free parking is included with your stay. The 24-hour front desk has staff standing by to help with luggage storage and securing valuables. If you like to take your furry friend along on your adventures, this pet-friendly property offers food and water bowls. Additional amenities include a business center, coffee/tea in a common area, and laundry facilities.
Guests can expect to find free WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Beds sport premium bedding and bathrooms offer hair dryers. Sitting areas, coffee makers, and free local calls are other standard amenities.
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.

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

Similar properties

Room, 1 King Bed, Harbor View (Coast Premium King with Ocean View) | Room amenity
Coast Bastion Hotel
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 1,495 reviews
$124 nightly
The price is $143
Jan 22 - Jan 23, 2026
Total with taxes and fees
Coast Bastion Hotel

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Free 24-hour offsite parking
  • Street parking available
  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Limited onsite self 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 center
  • Conference center (5,000 square feet 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.
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator

More

  • Ballroom
  • Banquet hall
  • Smoking not allowed

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

  • This property welcomes pets for CAD 30 per pet, per night
  • Dogs and cats only
  • 2 total (35 lbs is the maximum weight per pet)
  • Pets may not be left unsupervised
  • Food and water bowls are available
  • Certain rooms only, restrictions apply
  • Guests can request a pet-friendly room by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Up to 2 kids 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

These fees and deposits will be charged at check-in, check-out, or the time of service.

  • 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)

This list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits might 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)
  • Check-in: 4:00 PM—-midnight
  • Check-out: 11 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 19
The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Driving? This property offers free parking.

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • 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.
  • Onsite safety features 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).

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • No cribs or infant beds are available.
  • No rollaway or extra beds are available.

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

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do within easy reach of Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

Guests positively rate the hotel's walkable location in Nanaimo, just steps from Bastion, and within a 10-minute walk of Nanaimo Museum and Casino Nanaimo. You'll also find Old City Quarter and Vancouver Island Military Museum less than a mile away.

Is there parking available at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

Yes, uncovered self parking is offered for free at the hotel.

Does Best Western Dorchester Hotel include a casino on the premises?

No, Best Western Dorchester Hotel doesn't have a casino.

Will I find an indoor pool at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

No, there is no indoor pool at this hotel.

What will couples enjoy most about a stay at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

There are plenty of amenities for couples at this hotel, including a bar, an ocean-view restaurant, and public winery tours.

Are there hot tubs at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

No, this hotel doesn't have a spa tub.

Does Best Western Dorchester Hotel feature a restaurant that includes a breakfast menu?

Yes, Best Western Dorchester Hotel has 3 restaurants, and serves a cooked-to-order breakfast each morning for a surcharge.

Will Best Western Dorchester Hotel allow pets to stay free of charge?

Although they can't stay for free, cats and dogs are welcome at Best Western Dorchester Hotel for a fee of CAD 30 per pet, per night. The property also provides food and water bowls.

Does Best Western Dorchester Hotel have connecting rooms?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this hotel.

How far is the airport from Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

The closest major airport to Best Western Dorchester Hotel is Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome), which is within a mile. Another top airport is Nanaimo, BC (YCD), which is located 8.7 mi away (13-minute drive).

Can I book a room with a balcony at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

No, there aren't any guestrooms with balconies at Best Western Dorchester Hotel.

Best Western Dorchester Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 437 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 330 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 139 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 32 out of 1001 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Patricia

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

6/10 Okay

robert

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Brennen

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Well-situated in the centre of town, lots of cute shops and eating places within a few minutes and some in the hotel itself. We have to wait about 10 mins at check in as there was nobody at the front desk and no other staff around. Bathroom in standard suite needed maintenance and the floor was muddy. If I had been staying more than one night I would have had to change rooms as I couldn't take a shower.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ted

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Leanne

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

8/10 Good

john

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

1 week stay in Nanaimo bc

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
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is great right on the harbour front.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were A-one. Went above and beyond in service. Would definitely recommend staying at BW Dorchester .
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
N/a
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Tracey

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort

No hot water

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.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Thank you in particular to Adam in the restaurant who mentioned stopping off in Coombs . . we saw the Goats on the Roof !
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Paul

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Zachary

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

10/10 Excellent

shane, Mississauga

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Old with a great location

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.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cindy

Traveled with partner
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)
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

geraldine

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

8/10 Good

Valerie

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ishita

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The rooms were very clean and very ideal location to walk around the town centre
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Small hotel super location. Great transport to Hullo ferry to Vancouver. Great views from room. Bed bedding etc good.Breakfast Excellent.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Lisa

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Fan

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, a bit of walk to the parking, but it's free
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cletus

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Michael

Traveled with partner
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
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025