If I were to stay in Nanaimo again, I would stay here, but only because it seemed to be the best of what is offered in this town. The service was fairly friendly, but they were confused, including the manager. One elevator was out so we waited quite a bit to go to our room.

The room itself was reasonably clean, but the whole hotel felt shabby.

It is however, VERY convenient. There are many shops, coffee places, bookstores, and a few restaurants in a quaint little street right outside the hotel. Out the other entrance takes you to a waterfront promenade.

We've stayed at the BW Dorchester a couple times when there has been no other choice. The last time we passed through was the same as the first:

We arrive at the hotel around 1am just off the ferry at Duke point. Despite our calling in to say that we are arriving late for reservation, the clerk asks us questions through the locked glass door (on the harbour side) before letting us in, then after letting us in, he goes through a song and dance about the need for security. Gee thanks, am I to take it that my lovely wife and I with our roller luggage and car keys look sketchy at 1am?

Next we get to our room, right next to the ice machine -- despite asking in our advance reservation explicitly for this NOT to be the case. I would not be complaining if we were paying $99, but the price was more like $179. What kind of room do we get for that money you ask? Well it opens right onto the corridor -- no separation -- and is jammed tight with a bed, a desk and a crappy little TV. I doubt there is 3 feet of margin to maneuvre around the bed. You practically have to stand on the bed to get undressed. And if you do that you see the dust and dirt built up on top of the ledges. Yech.

The one thing that I was happy with: the windows open.

Otherwise, not worth it.

I always enjoy my stay at the Dorchester. The service is friendly, the hotel is clean and in the heart of the historic downtown part of Nanaimo near lots of interesting local shops, restaurants, government offices, theatres, galleries, etc. and not far from the ferry to Vancouver. The restaurant is reasonably priced with good service, good food and a wonderful view of Nanaimo Harbour. Yes, the hotel is not your usual, cookie-cutter hotel but it is a well maintained historic building with modern upgraded rooms. As for the traffic, after business hours there is very little.

I thought the price should have been more like $99. But we paid $ 149 before taxes (or almost $ 200) We were down the hall from some load party that no one seemed to controll, but the breakfast was a great, older building but well kept. Poor parking but close to every thing down town.