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Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)

1.5 star property

Photo gallery for Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)

Water view
Full-sized fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space
Front of property – evening/night
Reception hall

Reviews

7.8 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Business services
  • Bar
  • Laundry room
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
121 Bastion St, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 3A2
  • Place, Bastion
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Nanaimo Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Old City Quarter
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Airport, Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome)
    ‪3 min walk‬

Room options

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Men only, Shared Bath

Premium bedding, free WiFi, bed sheets

Shared Dormitory, Men only, Shared Bath

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)
  • Partial sea view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Single Bunk Beds

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Women only, Shared Bath

Premium bedding, free WiFi, bed sheets

Shared Dormitory, Women only, Shared Bath

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Single Bunk Beds

View all photos for Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(8 reviews)
  • Partial ocean view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

View all photos for Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

Family Room, Shared Bath, Shared Living Space

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

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About the area

Nanaimo

With a stay at Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) in Nanaimo (Downtown Nanaimo), you'll be steps from Bastion and Nanaimo Museum. .This hostel is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Old City Quarter and 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Vancouver Island University.
View more Hostels in NanaimoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Bastion - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Nanaimo Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Old City Quarter - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Casino Nanaimo - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Vancouver Island University - 8 min drive - 2.7 km

Getting around

  • Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) - 1 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Old City Station Pub - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Vault - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Noodlebox - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Red’s Bakery - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)

Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) offers 24 accommodations with complimentary bottled water and rice cookers. Beds feature premium bedding. Full-sized refrigerators/freezers and microwaves are provided.

Rooms have detached private bathrooms. Bathrooms include showers. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided on request.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 24 guestrooms featuring microwaves. Prepare your meals in the shared/communal kitchen. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms with showers are provided.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as bicycles to rent, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge.
Featured amenities include luggage storage, laundry facilities, and a library. 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 self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals
  • Ecotours
  • Library

Family friendly

  • In-room full-sized refrigerator/freezer
  • In-room microwave
  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping on request
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Meeting room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • 8 detached private bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Blender
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Free bottled water
  • Freezer
  • Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Rice cooker
  • Shared kitchen access
  • Toaster

More

  • Heating (climate-controlled)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM

Early check-in subject to availability

Late check-in subject to availability

Late check-in fee for check-in between midnight and 2:00 AM

Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Front desk staffed during limited hours

If you are planning to arrive after 8:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

2 children, up to the age of 10 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room

Rollaway/extra beds are available for CAD 10.0 per stay

Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Late check-in fee for check-in between midnight and 2:00 AM
  • Rollaway bed fee: CAD 10.0 per stay

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 and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Only bookings from non-local guests are accepted; guests whose residence is within 16 mi (25 km) of the property will not be allowed to check in
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Property is also known as

Painted Turtle Guesthouse Hostel Nanaimo

Painted Turtle Guesthouse Hostel

Painted Turtle Guesthouse Nanaimo

Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Painted Turtle Hostel Nanaimo

Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) Nanaimo

Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) Reviews

Reviews

7.8

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 104 out of 271 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 92 out of 271 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 36 out of 271 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 271 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 29 out of 271 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
John the steward of the place was great. He's helpful and helped us check in no problem.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Lana

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness
Fine for a stop over, hostel lovers or for those that don't need much space. Room was very small but clean, building is old and charming; creaky floors with thin walls. The bathrooms were not very clean, smelled like urine with dirty, small and grimy shower.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

4/10 Poor

sunhee

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The staff was very kind and friendly but the room condition was not recommendable.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Owen

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

My week sketching in Nanaimo.

If you’re open to bare-bones, inexpensive, quirkiness, remember this is a hostel (though I rented a private room. Very accommodating, all requests fulfilled. Friendly staff.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Geunwoo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing for stay in Nanaimo
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tafadzwa

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vinicio

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Chet

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
So clean and comfortable. Would stay a week if i had time. Want to return
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Florencio

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Tanya

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Eleanor

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Evelyn

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Felt like staying at a youth hostel, brought back great memories! Huge common room with cooking area. Lots of private bathroom/showers. Found an excellent Mexican restaurant Gina’s walking distance. Close to ferry.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen, VANCOUVER

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, let me check in early. Great location, could use ac, and an in house coffee service, even if i had to pay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Mark

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Doug

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Melissa

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Margareta

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Comfortable bed and cosy warm bedding. Older but very clean facility. Well equipped communal kitchen with pleasant dining room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Olive

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I had a disappointing experience during our stay. The room had a strong, unpleasant smell.The beddings were also in poor condition — they looked old, felt dirty, and had a noticeable odor The towels provided were dirty—one even had blood and a hole in it, which was unacceptable. Overall, the cleanliness and condition of the room were poor. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel for families. It would be better if the air conditioning or ventilation was improved.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

William

Liked: Staff & service
I think this is a great little place if you wanna stay a couple nights in Nanaimo, but don’t want to pay the big hotel prices. I was accommodated for late check-in, which was very nice and I was even able to self check out. A parking area is right next to the hostel which is great. This hostel has everything you need to get by however, some of the amenities were out of service such as the oven and microwave when I was staying. There was also a door lock that was out of service, but you can make deal with the inconvenience. I’d suggest coming here if you are okay with being flexible and are not planning on staying inside most the day. Would come back again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Frank

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

8/10 Good

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Economical. Clean. Spacious common area with comfortable furniture, tables, chairs, large communal kitchen, refrigerators, tea and coffee in the morning. Lots of books to read. Probably the nicest hostel I have ever stayed at. I felt safe and comfortable in this hostel.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Joash

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025