Hostelling International uses cookies to ensure you have the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings we'll assume that you are happy to accept these cookies. For more information please see our Privacy & Cookie Policy.

Please accept the use of cookies before you continue
English: $ USD
Viewed

Recently Viewed

HI - Nanaimo - Painted Turtle Guesthouse

HI - Nanaimo - Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Viewed
Open search options
Explore
0 | $0.00
Open user options
No Booking Fee
10+ guests?
Clear dates

Sorry, this content is not currently available in the mobile view. Switch back to desktop view to access this page.

HI - Nanaimo - Painted Turtle Guesthouse

121 Bastion St, Nanaimo, V9R 3A2, Canada

See us on a map

See prices See facilities

Overall Rating 94%

From 3 Reviews

Hostel rating (3)

Rating category Satisfaction percentage
Staff 100%
Cleanliness 93%
Location 93%
Security 93%
Service 93%
Comfort 93%
Green rating 93%

Basecamp Vancouver Island! Hop on a ferry or floatplane then stay 2, 3 or 5 nights in Nanaimo to experience the best of Vancouver Island.

  • Dorm
    From $22.68
  • Private
    From $52.16
10 or more people?
hi-nanaimo-painted-turtle-guesthouse

Nanaimo Hostel

Hostel Nanaimo

Hostelling International

Welcome to our hostel

HI-Nanaimo Painted Turtle Guesthouse is a fully renovated 1913 heritage building. Located in the heart of the waterfront/arts district in downtown Nanaimo, it sits amongst trendy cafes & restaurants, pubs & clubs, art galleries, bakeries, street performers and local points of interest. The Guesthouse is well appointed and has achieved the highest standard available under the Hostelling International group.

All features have been designed with the active traveller in mind, and we have thrown in a few special features: private bathrooms, FREE internet (terminals and wireless), free luggage storage and a living area that includes kitchen and dining facilities, a cosy fireplace and free games.

The Painted Turtle is so close to everything that within 5 minutes you can walk to the Port Theatre, Harbour Lynx and BC ferry terminals, the 4km Harbourside Walkway, the Old City Quarter shopping district, outdoor and indoor recreation facilities, and other key tourist attractions.

Prices

10+ guests?
Clear dates

Prices are members' prices

Dorms - Per guest per night

Beds

Private - Per room per night

Rooms

Important info

  • Additional tax is payable at check-in.

  • Government-issued photo ID is required to check in.

  • Children under the age of must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

  • Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 can be accommodated only with a letter from a parent or legal guardian providing permission for the child's unsupervised stay.

  • Children under the age of 5 are unable to be accommodated in shared dormitories

  • Children under the age of 5 stay free.

  • Membership can be purchased on arrival at hostel.

  • Rates quoted assume guests are members of Hostelling International or a National Youth Hostel Association.

  • Pets are not permitted in the hostel.

  • Prices and product availability is as accurate as possible but may be subject to change during checkout

Facilities

Facilities

Leisure & Fitness

  • Common room
  • Disco
  • TV room

Accessibility

  • Not suitable for wheelchair users

Food & Drink

  • Licenced Bar/Pub
  • Self-catering kitchen

Facilities - Internet Access

  • Computer Charges - Charges Apply
  • Wifi
  • WIFI Charges - Free
  • Internet Cafe Nearby
  • Internet Cafe Distance - At or next to the hostel

Facilities - In-Hostel Services

  • Basic Shop
  • Car parking nearby
  • Car Parking Nearby Distance - At or next to the hostel
  • Booking Centre for HI hostels worldwide
  • Conference Facilities
  • Cycle Rental
  • Cycle Storage
  • Laundry Facilities
  • Library / Book Swap
  • Lockers Available
  • Locker Type - In Room
  • Luggage Room
  • Luggage Room Availability - Available during hostel reception times
  • Sports Equipment Storage
  • Travel / Tour Desk
Opening times

Opening times

Open all year

Reception:
From 07:00 to 22:00
From 08:00 to 21:00
Check-in:
Open 24 hours

Get in touch

Get in touch

Tel. (250) 753-4432

Fax. (250) 753-4434

stay@paintedturtle.ca

Main attractions

Main attractions

  • Port of Nanaimo Harbourfront (Less than 500 m)
  • Vancouver Island Conference Centre & Museum (Less than 500 m)
  • Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park (1 to 2km)

See the full list of attractions

Reviews

Reviews

Everything at the hostel was great. Only problem was a $30 parking ticket received in the car park. I was told parking was free Thursday afternoons and evenings due to the street fair. Unfortunately this isn't so.

100%

Avatar for Lucy

Lucy,

Mon 08 Jul 2019

Hello Lucy, We regret that you received a ticket and have options to help you with this issue. Bylaws has agreed to cancel the ticket if you have not paid it yet and mail the unpaid ticket to us. If you have already paid the ticket, we will be pleased to credit you the cost of the parking ticket for your future reservations. Sincerely, Jeff

Manager avatar

Alice Wu, Owner

Wed 10 Jul 2019

Nice cosy hostel. The receptionist was top, he gave me a lot of advice about what to visit and which park to camp. A lot of place were not very famous but they were so beautiful.

100%

Avatar for Charline

Charline,

Thu 13 Jun 2019

I was welcomed and felt very welcome. Staffer was knowledgable of places to eat and snjoy music..

83%

Avatar for Heather

Heather,

Sat 24 Nov 2018

Können wir nicht wirklich weiterempfehlen. Küche schmutzig, Bettlaken blutig, Geruch Zumutung

57%

Avatar for Ralf

Ralf,

Fri 14 Sep 2018

I was extremely disappointed by the service that I got in Nanimo. I’d booked a private room which I have in writing however when I arrived I was told that the hostel didn’t have me down as having a private room & so was given a dorm. When I showed the reception staff the booking he phoned his manager and told that I was not to have a private room unless I paid more. I was so displeased that I cancelled the next two night booking which I had made. I also wrote to HI but have heard nothing back.

23%

Avatar for Jeremy

Jeremy,

Fri 17 Aug 2018

See More Reviews

Location

Location
Around the hostel

Around the hostel

Nearby attractions

  • Beach (500m - 1km)
  • Cinema (More than 10km)
  • City Centre (At or next to the hostel)
  • Cycle trails (Less than 500m)
  • Golf course (3 to 5km)
  • Gym (1 to 2km)
  • Hiking / Walking trails (Less than 500m)
  • Local market (Less than 500m)
  • Mountainous Area (2 to 3km)
  • Museums / Art Galleries (Less than 500 m)
  • National / State Park (500m - 1km)
  • Nightlife (At or next to the hostel)
  • Parks / Green Area (Less than 500m)
  • Restaurants (At or next to the hostel)
  • River / Harbour / Lake (At or next to the hostel)
  • Shopping area / Mall (Less than 500m)
  • Ski area (More than 10km)
  • Swimming pool (1 to 2km)
  • Supermarket / Food store (Less than 500m)
  • Theatre (Less than 500m)
  • Water park (Less than 500m)
  • Wooded Area (1 to 2km)
Getting to us

Getting to us

Airport
Fly directly into Nanaimo Airport with Air Canada West Jet or Kenmore Air. Take a taxi ($50) or shuttle service ($26) 18km to city.
Bus
Take Greyhound bus from Vancouver ($30) Victoria ($25) or Port Hardy ($75) to Nanaimo. Take Bus #2 to City Centre or #25 Ferry Shuttle. Both buses stop at the bus exchange. Walk down the hill for 5 minutes and we are located on the right hand side of the street.
Ferry/Boat
Nanaimo is directly linked to the British Columbia mainland by two major BC Ferry routes for vehicle traffic (starting at $45). Horseshoe Bay - Departure Bay (Close to downtown) or Tsawwassen - Duke Point (13km from City Centre)
Taxi
AC Taxi - 250-753-1231 OR Yellow Cab - 250-751-1111
Car
The Painted Turtle Guesthouse is located in the Arts District downtown -the corner of Commercial and Bastion St (121 Bastion St). From Hwy 19/#1 (TransCanada) take exit to Hwy 19A and follow to city centre (approx. 5km). Parking is available on Commercial St. Two hours free on Mon-Sat from 8am-5pm. Free after 5pm and all day Sunday. Paid parking is available across the street at the Bastion street parkade for $0.50/hour; or $6 for 24 hours.
Rail
Passenger trains do not currently operate on Vancouver Island.
Sports & activities

Sports & activities

  • Birdwatching
  • Boating
  • Canoeing
  • Cycling
  • Dance
  • Fishing
  • Golf
  • Life Saving
  • Motorsports
  • Mountain Biking
  • Rock Climbing
  • Scuba / Snorkelling
  • Skateboarding
  • Ski / Snowboarding
  • Swimming
  • Team-Building
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Walking / Hiking
  • Whale Watching
Sustainability

Sustainability initiatives

Air

  • Low carbon activities
  • Public transportation is promoted
  • Environmental cleaning

Energy

  • Energy saving lights
  • Insulation and ventilation systems
  • Double-glazing windows

People

  • Working with local community
  • Educational programs

Waste

  • Recycling areas
  • Composting
  • Fairtrade food served
  • Organic food served
  • Local and seasonal food

Water

  • Water savers in showers

Website terms

  • © 2019 Copyright Hostelling International

Recently Viewed

HI - Nanaimo - Painted Turtle Guesthouse-image

HI - Nanaimo - Painted Turtle Guesthouse