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 - 18 min drive - 18.4 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
The Nanaimo Bar - 1 min walk
Flamez - 5 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
Best Western Dorchester Hotel Reviews
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.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 430 out of 1001 reviews
10 - Excellent
430
Rating 8 - Good. 334 out of 1001 reviews
8 - Good
334
Rating 6 - Okay. 138 out of 1001 reviews
6 - Okay
138
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1001 reviews
4 - Poor
63
Rating 2 - Terrible. 36 out of 1001 reviews
2 - Terrible
36
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
4/10 Poor
Sandra
2 July 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Less than stellar!
Toilet wouldn’t flush, bathroom door didn’t lock, air conditioner did not keep the room cool, hallway stunk.
Sandra
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Erin
1 July 2025
Staff was excellent. Room clean. Restaurant had great options. Perfect stay for our family. We appreciated the access to laundry as well as the 3rd floor deck. Thank you , especially, to Hayden.
(like) cozy and clean room
(like) nice harbour view from the room
(like) friendly staff
(don't like) the washroom door lock would not function properly
Great location with access to many restaurants and local interest spots. Staff was incredibly helpful and very welcoming. Room was very comfortable with lovely light decor - very airy and inviting! Took advantage of the guest laundry as we have been travelling for many days - they only have one washer & dryer unit and to purchase products need to go to a vending machine down the hall.
Aside from this would recommend as an option for anyone looking to be central.
Jessica
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
8/10 Good
John
29 June 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
One night stay
One night stay waiting for a ferry, quiet comfortably clean what is more is there to say and free parking.
I would stay again.
For a 24 hour sojourn in Nanaimo (from Vancouver) the Dorchester provided ideal accommodation in terms of location, safety (women alone), and amenities.
Wasnt to happy with my stay.
Staff was very nice.
Room was okay.
For me it was bugs.
I found many beetles in the room as well as sprider webs with spiders in the the shower.
Not fun finding big spiders while in a vulnerable state just getting into the shower..
Justin
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
8/10 Good
William, Kamloops
Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
24 June 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The hotel has a great location for people attending conferences at VICC or even if you want to spend some time exploring the city. It is close to the marina and B.C. Ferries docks. The restaurants in and around the hotel are quite good. The hotel itself is in average condition my room was clean and had some upgrades but the bathrooms are small and the fan drove us crazy as the motor was failing. It’s dog friendly just make sure you inform them ahead of time to ensure they have a pet room
We had the harbour view that was nice. Weird that there were no screens on the big windows. They opened wide and someone could fall out.
The toilet ran on its own at times and for a long time when flushed.