Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)

The area made getting around easy, with the sea wall, restaurants, gas station, drug store, mall, casino, and 24 hour cafe all within walking distance. Staff were great, too. I had a great stay and would 100% come back. Everything was clean, from the many bathrooms, cleaned daily, to the kitchen and common areas. My bed had comfortable white linen, and the towels were large and plush. I was there in September, so the air flowed nicely and there were no smells.

The equipped kitchen was a big help for me as a solo traveller, and it was always thoroughly cleaned and ready to use. Basic amenities were all I needed to feel comfortable. The staff were friendly, and I felt at home at Painted Turtle. It was my first time in Nanaimo, and I learned a lot while enjoying my stay. I’m looking forward to returning, especially as my company, Live Peace 24/7 Seniors Home Care Corp, gets ready for a new location in Nanaimo.

I paid the same price for a much nicer hostel in Vancouver, though this was the cheapest option in Nanaimo. The bed was clean and comfortable, and I met some nice people. The house is really old, with carpet over most of the floors, and it had a particular smell, probably because of its age. It was chilly in the rooms and kitchen, and there were mice in the kitchen, apparently due to nearby construction.

The washrooms are shared and aren’t attached to the rooms, so keep that in mind. Still, this is a lovely hostel, and the service made it a wonderful stay. I especially want to commend receptionist John, who was incredibly kind and kept going above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable.