Howard Johnson by Wyndham Nanaimo Harbourside

It’s a great spot, just minutes from the wharf, and the staff are friendly and extremely helpful. The rooms are small and the bathroom could use updating, but it works for a short stay. The outdoor pool is nice for the kids, and I’d stay here again.

The room was clean and had the basics, including a fridge, iron, heater, and hairdryer. Free WiFi was decent, and the location and price helped make up for the noise. The building feels old: things squeak and creak, you can hear movement from nearby rooms, and even their conversations carry through the walls, which was annoying at night. The stay was good, though not excellent, but at this price I guess I shouldn’t expect more.

For what it cost, this was underwhelming. Online photos leave out the chain link fence around the pool, which felt quite deceiving. There were cigarette burns on the drapes and carpet, no bathroom fan, and no window screens. At check-in I took a luggage trolley outside, loaded it up, and wheeled it down the hall, only to discover there’s no elevator. Neither the front desk agent nor the housekeeper mentioned that while I was checking in. I’ve paid less for much nicer accommodation, and wouldn’t pay more than $50 for this hotel, even in high season.

With all our camping gear and two small kids, we were very relieved the front desk could arrange a last-minute early check-in when we arrived. We took a quick dip in the outdoor pool, then walked to the waterfront for dinner and ice cream. The big playground in the park right across from the hotel was great too. It was a bit noisy until about 10, but the beds were super comfy and the air conditioner worked well, so we slept fine. The location is so convenient, with a 24 hour Tim Horton's across the street, and we’d consider staying again.