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Best Western Dorchester Hotel

2.5 star property
Travelers wake up to ocean panoramas and a hearty breakfast at this Departure Bay hotel, where upscale shopping and premium amenities create a memorable stay

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Photo gallery for Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Daily cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee - Best Western Dorchester Hotel (Nanaimo)
3 restaurants, breakfast served - Best Western Dorchester Hotel (Nanaimo)
View from room - Best Western Dorchester Hotel (Nanaimo)
Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Refrigerator, Harbor View | View from room - Best Western Dorchester Hotel (Nanaimo)
Lobby - Best Western Dorchester Hotel (Nanaimo)
The Best Western Dorchester Hotel pairs Departure Bay's ocean views with modern comforts. Guests can use the fitness center, enjoy breakfast with scenic vistas at two restaurants, and benefit from dry cleaning services or the on-site hair salon.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 19 of 19 rooms

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

  • Sleeps 2

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)

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(6 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(30 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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
(16 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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
(23 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)

  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

Junior Suite, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator (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

Located in Nanaimo, Best Western Dorchester Hotel is in the city center and near a boardwalk/promenade. Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Duke Point Ferry Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda. The OV Arts Centre and Nanaimo Aquatic Centre are also worth visiting. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby. Visit our Nanaimo travel guide
Map
70 Church St, Nanaimo, BC, V9R5H4

What's nearby

  • Maffeo Sutton Park
    Maffeo Sutton Park
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Coloful victorian style streets of the old town of Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
    Old City Quarter
    6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Bastion
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Casino Nanaimo
    6 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Nanaimo Museum
    6 min walk - 0.3 miles

Getting around

  • Nanaimo, BC (YCD)
    13 min drive

Restaurants

  • Tim Hortons
    9 min walk
  • Starbucks
    7 min walk
  • Old City Station Pub
    2 min walk
  • The Vault
    6 min walk
  • Red’s Bakery
    3 min walk

About this property

Best Western Dorchester Hotel

Hotel near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
You can look forward to designer stores on site, a hair salon, and laundry facilities at Best Western Dorchester Hotel. At the 3 on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and ocean views. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a bar and a gym.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
  • Free self parking
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk, and a vending machine
  • Smoke-free premises, a banquet hall, and a water dispenser
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All 71 rooms boast comforts such as premium bedding and laptop-friendly workspaces, in addition to perks like air conditioning and separate sitting areas. Guest reviews speak positively of the clean rooms at the property.
Other amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with shower/tub combinations and hair dryers
  • Flat-screen TVs with premium channels
  • Wardrobes/closets, separate sitting areas, and mini fridges

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9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 1,585 reviews
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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

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

Property 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, a fire extinguisher, 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

Frequently asked questions

Is Best Western Dorchester Hotel pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 35 lbs per pet. There's a fee of CAD 30 per pet, per night. Service animals are exempt from fees. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property; nearby parking is also free.

What time is check-in at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight. A fee applies for early check-in (subject to availability). Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?

Check-out is at 11 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Where is Best Western Dorchester Hotel located?

Located in the heart of Nanaimo, this hotel is steps from Bastion and 2.1 mi (3.3 km) from Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. Vancouver Island Military Museum and Nanaimo Museum are also within 5 minutes.

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Reviews

Best Western Dorchester Hotel Reviews

8.4

Very Good

8.6

Cleanliness

8.2

Amenities

8.8

Staff & service

8.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 451 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 328 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 136 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 54 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 34 out of 1003 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leonard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice stay staff friendly and helpful
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Danielle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel is great, front desk staff are wonderful, attention to detail, friendly, accommodating and making your stay special! It’s conveniently located and reasonably priced.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dave

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Big room, great water view, friendly and helpful staff.
View from room 202
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dawn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Service was amazing
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Was clean 2 restaurants on site, staff was great, only down fall going through some Reno’s , not a big deal but noisy at times during day. Over looking water
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Kristi

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice, clean hotel in great location for downtown Nanaimo lax amenities… Coffee in the lobby would be nice
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness
The staff was very nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Helena

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, friendly, great location. The restaurant off the lobby, Top Notch is really nice!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Suzanne

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was comfortable and clean. Shower went cold fairly quick...but other than that was a great place to stay. Very friendly staff and perfect location for us.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jerri-Lynn

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel staff was helpful and friendly!! The room was very clean as well. We had a great view of harbour. We will stay here again!!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Sara

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and our view was lovely. Helpful and kind staff. Top Notch Burger was delicious!!!!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
On arrival we were greeted by Vishal, he was lovely and had a big smile on his face. He was very helpful and helped answer all our questions we had. Very clean it was a comfortable stay. We will defiantly be back ☺️ Thank you! Jessica
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cora

Very comfortable
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lakhvinder

Great location, lots of restaurants and shops all around as well as ocean view
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephenie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Overall was a great stay. Beds were super comfortable. Pillows were great. Room was super clean. Rooms were very small but not a huge deal for what we needed the room for.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Paulette

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Conveniently located to our medical appointment. The View restaurant is fantastic
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Kaileigh

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
the room was nice and clean. had a comfortable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Kirsten

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Older building, soft beds, weak pillows, low efficiency toilet, tv had a repetitive glitch, odd stairway layout, but potentially some of these could be addressed by reno underway. The lobby/water feature area had a strange fishy odor. The blinds arent 100% black out. No pool or hot tub. Some rooms do have nice harbour view. Fair price reflects quality and amenities.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Courteous and friendly staff, great location, clean, well kept.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

maurice

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
everything from room to service to location is first rate. we will return.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff and room perfect
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Amin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Clean Room, Staff Really Good
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Sable

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We appreciated the free parking and room was great for our pet with laminate floors. Room was functional and clean. Pod coffee was great for the morning.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Monica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Lovely staff. Clean rooms. Lovely view.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jimmy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Check in was quick and seamless. Staff was welcoming. Room was clean and well equipped. I would recommend to others.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025