Step into Best Western Dorchester Hotel, where the charm of Departure Bay's ocean views meets modern comforts. Enjoy a fitness session at the gym, indulge in breakfast with a view at one of two restaurants, and unwind with dry cleaning/laundry services or a visit to the on-site hair salon.
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 (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) - 1 min drive
Nanaimo, BC (YCD) - 13 min drive
Maple Bay, BC (YAQ-Maple Bay Seaplane Base) - 57 min drive
Ganges, BC (YGG-Ganges Harbour Seaplane Base) - 81 min drive
Sechelt, BC (YHS-Sunshine Coast Regional) - 176 min drive
Restaurants
Starbucks - 7 min walk
Red’s Bakery - 3 min walk
Brix & Mortar
The Nanaimo Bar
Flamez - 5 min walk
About this property
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
When you stay at Best Western Dorchester Hotel, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Duke Point Ferry Terminal. Guests can visit the fitness center for a workout or grab a bite to eat at Top Notch Burgers, which is one of 3 restaurants and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fellow travelers like the helpful staff and location.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
71 rooms
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Early check-in subject to availability
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 19
Check-out time is 11 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
DONE
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 19
DONE
Children
Up to 2 children (12 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
No cribs (infant beds)
DONE
Pets
Pets allowed (dogs and cats only, 2 total, up to 35 lbs per pet)*
Service animals welcome
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply*
Pets must be supervised
Food and water bowls available
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free uncovered onsite self parking
Onsite parking limited
Free 24-hour offsite parking within 98 ft
Street parking available
DONE
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge) each morning 8:00 AM–11:00 AM
3 restaurants
Bar/lounge
Coffee/tea in a common area
Traveling with children
Children stay free (see details)
What to do
Public winery tours
Shopping
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Whale-watching nearby
Fishing nearby
Working away
Business center
5 meeting rooms
Conference center (5000 square feet of space)
Services
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning/laundry services
Hair salon
Free newspapers in lobby
Luggage storage
Facilities
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Fitness center
Designer stores on site
Banquet hall
Accessibility
Elevator
Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
Room amenities
Be entertained
Flat-screen television
Premium TV channels
Home comfort
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Coffee/tea maker
Iron/ironing board
Sleep well
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
What to enjoy
Separate sitting area
Freshen up
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Desk
Free WiFi
Free local calls
Desk chair
Food and drink
Mini-fridge
More
Daily housekeeping
In-room safe
Special features
Dining
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.
Fees & policies
Optional extras
Cooked-to-order breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately CAD 10 to 22 for adults, and CAD 10 to 22 for children
Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)
Pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of CAD 30 per pet, per night
Policies
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector on site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of We Care Clean (Best Western).
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
Are pets allowed at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?
Yes, cats and dogs are welcome, with a limit of 2 total and maximum weight of 35 lbs per pet. There's a charge of CAD 30 per pet, per night. Service animals are exempt from fees. Food and water bowls are available. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
Is parking offered on site at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?
Yes, there's free self parking. Parking spots may be limited.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight. There's a charge for early check-in (subject to availability). Check-out time is 11 AM. Late check-out is available for a charge (subject to availability).
Is there an onsite casino at Best Western Dorchester Hotel?
No, this hotel doesn't have a casino, but Casino Nanaimo (6-min walk) is nearby.
What is there to do at Best Western Dorchester Hotel and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities like fishing and hiking. Additional recreation nearby includes casino gaming. Best Western Dorchester Hotel also has a fitness center.
Are there restaurants at or near Best Western Dorchester Hotel?
Yes, there are 3 onsite restaurants, featuring ocean views.
What's the area around Best Western Dorchester Hotel like?
Best Western Dorchester Hotel is a short 1-minute drive from Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) and 4 minutes' walk from Nanaimo Museum. Travelers recommend the hotel for its walkable location.
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Reviews
Best Western Dorchester Hotel Reviews
8.2
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers 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.More informationOpens in a new window
8.6
Cleanliness
6.0
Location
8.8
Staff & service
8.2
Eco-friendliness
8.0
Property conditions & facilities
What guests liked
The property offers excellent dining options with great restaurants on site and nearby. (27 reviews)
The property is very pet-friendly, welcoming dogs with amenities like beds and bowls in the room. (7 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Popular mentions
Room
Service staff
Location
Restaurant
Parking
View
Bed
Port
Water
Bathroom
Reviews
8/10 Very good
Aug 3, 2025
Great location
Kathy
Kathy, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 14, 2025
Good location
Good location nice hotel to stay in before ferry
Christine
Christine, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 19, 2025
Pleasant stay
Great stay. Very walkable. Loved the harbour view..
Snigdha at front wasmost helpful. Would definitely stay again. Everyone very friendly..
Debbie
Debbie, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 15, 2025
Was a good stay
Bhavya
Bhavya, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 3, 2025
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.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 17, 2025
Beautiful location.
S
S, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 5, 2025
Excellent accommodations.
Jeffrey
Jeffrey, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 23, 2025
Nicely renovated room, great amenities in the hotel (huge rooftop patio, kitchen, washer/dryer, ice machine)
Verified traveler
1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 14, 2025
Great location! Pleasant staff! Great food!
Cathy
Cathy, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 29, 2025
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.
John
John, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 10, 2025
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.
Kelly
Kelly, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 15, 2025
Excellent front desk staff
Steve
Steve, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 7, 2025
We will stay here again! Great views from a great room .
JoAnne
JoAnne, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 15, 2025
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
john
john, 7-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 5, 2025
Perfect location right in downtown core area. Nice staff and free parking
Baijun
Baijun, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 30, 2025
It was good and comfortable there
Marcina
Marcina, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 1, 2025
Room was perfect for us. Comfortable beds and pillows, everything clean, nice view.
Karen
Karen, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 12, 2025
Location, location, location
Clean, comfortable and great location.
Nicole
Nicole, 3-night trip
8/10 Very good
Apr 22, 2025
Great hotel. Nice pub/restaurant on ground floor. Would stay again.
Kimberly
Kimberly, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 12, 2025
Great stay
Kevin
Kevin, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jul 27, 2025
Great location, reasonable price
Great location with amazing harbour views. The room was spacious, while still having everything thing that you need.
The room cleaning policy requires you to book the room clean the night before, but this was not explained at check-in. I like the idea of this, but better communication was needed.
Vickie
Vickie, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 30, 2025
Super Nanaimo hotel; highly recommend!
From the front desk to check in until check-out, we were more than impressed and so comfortable. We will be back to experience all of the fabulous restaurants associated with this hotel. Great location, lovely staff, nice clean, modern rooms.
James
James, 1-night trip
6/10 Good
Aug 9, 2025
Thank goodness for the staff
The food from the restaurant downstairs was not very good at all. They didn’t give us any cutlery knowing that we were staying in the hotel.
The best thing about the hotel was the bed and the staff. The bed was very comfortable, clean and had perfect pillows.
The staff were sweet, helpful and gracious.
The rooms really needs an up-date.
Nancy
Nancy, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 5, 2025
Beautifully renovated property with stunning harbour views. Helpful and friendly staff. Great restaurant on site.