The Grand Hotel Nanaimo

After so many nights on the road, I really needed a comfortable bed, and the grand hotel delivered. We slept in for the first time in weeks. We chose it after one reviewer said she slept like Sleeping Beauty, and I can see why. The bathtub was perfect too, a good size with nice hot water.

The beds were comfy, the doors wide, and it was a wonderful place to rest. The atmosphere was relaxed, and wheelchair access was easy across the whole bottom level. In my room, the step-in shower was accessible, with no ledge to deal with and a built-in seat. The toilet height was perfect, though the helper bars, the grab bars, need some adjustment. Traffic near the hotel was extremely calm, so loud trucks didn't wake us in the middle of the night.

I booked at the last minute because of the convenient location and was pleasantly surprised. The main-floor room was quiet and spacious, with a comfortable bed and a clean bathroom and shower. Each room has a balcony, nice for getting some fresh air. There's a vintage feel to the hotel, and a pretty garden with a water fountain out back. The staff were friendly and accommodating. My only issue was that the TV was stuck on one channel and couldn't be changed. I don't watch TV anyway, so it wasn't a big deal. I'd definitely recommend staying here :)

The hotel looks beautiful until you pay attention to the details. The interior paint job looked unfinished, with gaps in coverage, like monkeys had done it. We went for brunch and got black-tie service with pub-style food. The cook doesn't qualify as a chef, in my view. Everything was deep-fried except the watery poached eggs, which were supposed to be basted, and the toast, which had enough butter to drown a horse. We booked for two days and left after one. A hotel six would have been a better experience. E for effort.