Don't be misled by the name of this hotel - it was a disappointment for us. The room we stayed in was very, very dark - near impossible to read unless you pulled a chair over to the window. There is no overhead lighting and the floor/table lamps are not where they should be in relation to the furniture and/or where you are 'doing things'. I felt like I was going blind - couldn't even find things in the drawers/suit cases; especially on a grey west coast day.

Our room did not have a luggage rack and the shelf in the closet wouldn't hold a suitcase without leaving the closet door open and then in the way as you walk the hallway.

The room itself was just OK. Needed upgrading. The bed was comfy.

One of the biggest disappointments to us was the dining room was closed for private functions - both nights we were there. At check-in they told us it was closed for "tonight", not 2 nights. We were quickly told there were other restaurants around (Yes....Kelsey's, Montana's and other 'fast food like' places). We drove to Longwood Brew Pub and had a nice meal there and decided to come back and have a drink in the hotel, only to learn the lounge was closed due to private functions too! At this point we went to the desk to complain - and that's when we learned it would all be closed the next night as well!! Again, we were reminded about the other restaurants nearby.

We respect their right to sell out the restaurant, but it's something they should have told us at the time of booking - since we would never have stayed there had we known those services were closed for both nights! No different than if the pool or other major amentiy had been closed; they should make it known before-hand. The cost of those kinds of amenities are built into the room rates and if we weren't able to use those amenities, we would have stayed in different accommodation. The ability to have a nice meal - which is a big feature on their website - onsite was a big reason we stayed in this type of accommodaton.

When we made our formal complaint, they offerred to provide us with the meal that the Saturday night group was having on Saturday night if we ate it in the lounge and they wanted to know before hand what time we wanted it served, etc. It was too restrictive and we didn't want a pre-set meal. So it was a too little too late.

The locked garage doors to the underground parkade were left wide open both nights we were there, presumably to accommodate all the guests for the private functions, because nearby street parking is limited. So much for 'secure parking'.

The staff was friendly. The location is central for north Nanaimo area.

We will be regular visitors to this area for the next few months and next trip, we're staying @ the Inn on Long Lake. At least there we won't be paying for ammenities that we aren't able to use.

our whole reason for choosing THE GRAND HOTEL was for the use of the pool only to be disappointed by how cold it was! No hot tub to warm up in after the cold pool and the gym equipment was in rough shape. The room was adequate but poor lighting. our room was outdated (didn't know the floor above us was all updated, would of liked that but didn't know until reading these reviews, nor did we have the choice)
All in all, it was just OK for the price.

Have been stay at this property for several years and now just renovated a couple of floors. Very nice new bedding and furnishings. If you like to read in bed... forget about it as in other hotels the new low wattage light bulbs will make you go blind. To plug in your lap top you need to unblug a lamp. So even darker. Great underground parking. Checked for bed bugs, nothing. Pool and gym are acceptable. Eat and drink elsewhere. To lonely and no TV for entertainment at the bar.
As in past, I will be back as it is the best in town.

I stayed here a couple times. Once I paid quite a bit extra for a suit which was ok but not the luxury I was expecting. This is a nice place but I suspect it was nicer before. It could do with an update or lower prices because there are other places to stay in the area for the same price which are nicer.