Departure Bay Motel

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Departure Bay Motel

Reception
Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette | Terrace/patio
Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette | Living area | LCD TV
Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette | Private kitchen | Coffee/tea maker, electric kettle, cookware/dishes/utensils
Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette | 1 bedroom, laptop workspace, free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

7.8 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
$83
includes taxes & fees
Oct 2 - Oct 3

Explore the area

View in a map
2011 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo, BC, V9S 3Y9
  • Place, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Duke Point Ferry Terminal
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Airport, Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome)
    ‪4 min drive‬

Room options

Room, 1 Queen Bed

7.6 out of 10
Good
(29 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Similar properties

About this property

Departure Bay Motel

Nanaimo motel close to Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
Along with laundry facilities, this motel has a picnic area and free self parking. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a vending machine.
Departure Bay Motel offers 22 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and complimentary toiletries. Accommodations offer separate sitting areas. LCD televisions come with premium cable channels.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 25+ Mbps).

Departure Bay Motel features a vending machine, a picnic area, and laundry facilities. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. Complimentary uncovered self parking is available on site.

Departure Bay Motel has designated areas for smoking.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Vending machine

Outdoors

  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Front entrance ramp
  • No elevator
  • Tile flooring in room
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • LED TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Laptop workspace
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 19

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - midnight
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of CAD 21.00 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A damage deposit of CAD 200 will be collected before check-in.

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: CAD 21.00 per pet, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 5031994

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property is also known as

Departure Bay Motel Motel
Departure Bay Motel Nanaimo
Departure Bay Motel Motel Nanaimo

Departure Bay Motel Reviews

Reviews

7.8

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 179 out of 475 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 161 out of 475 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 67 out of 475 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 32 out of 475 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 36 out of 475 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

7.2/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Melanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
Very hot as there was no air conditioning. We did NOT sleep well.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

David

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nothing fancy, but a simple cheap clean place to sleep and have a shower.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

brent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Louis

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Xenia

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

paula

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Linda

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
Only good thing about this hotel was the location to the ferry. There is nothing around here. Room was old and and worn. I would not stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Peggy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The staff were so friendly and willing to help when we needed anything. The air conditioner didn’t work very well and the water from the faucet didn’t shut off when the shower was turned on.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kayla

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Kelly

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Beds were comfy
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Karamveer

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amir

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Robert

Business traveler, Traveled with partner, Traveled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The receptionist was very thoughtful and offered to upgrade our room as well as provide a new special purpose bed for our dog. Although there were two double beds, the room was small and there was little space to sit or move around. Our stay was only one night, so it was liveable. There was a fair amount of traffic noise from a nearby busy thru street and guests in an adjacent room were outside talking loudly until late. The rooms are not "noise proof" so it was difficult going to sleep. There were signs of wear in the room, but the motel is not a Four Seasons so guests should not be surprised if their room is not pristine. However, at least the room was comfortable and stocked with the typical amenities - soap, coffee, shampoo, towels etc. Generally, our one night stay was adequate and the receptionist made us feel welcome.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Kane

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Customer service was great. The staff members were friendly, informative and professional. Cleanliness was average, could have done a better job cleaning the soap scum in the shower, the bathroom sink and kitchen sink needed a better clean as well and the cupboard under the sink had a dish rack that when i went to pull out to use water got everywhere because it was never emptied out and cleaned before. Everything else was great thougn. They have laundry sevice there as well. Overall a safe, clean place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ron

Liked: Amenities
Excellent value. Super clean and friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Shawn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Teresa, Alert Bay BC

Traveled with family
It’s good, you get what you pay for though. Great for just a place to sleep for a few hours
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Raven

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
So conveniently close to the ferry which was why I chose this place. Obviously very dated and in need of some renos, the bed could use a flipping as it was pretty indented. Decently clean. I didn’t find it too noisy like some other reviewers complained about. The price was great, you get what you pay for. Staff was very friendly and welcoming.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

ROBERT

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good location

Great location for the night before catching the early ferry. Basic motel room but clean and a great shower. Reasonable value.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aman

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Management was pretty good, everything else was well organized and people were friendly, respectful and really helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tamara

Traveled with family
Liked: Amenities
Lovely and kind staff ☺️
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicola

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and affordable property. Staff are friendly and professional. Exactly what I hoped for when I booked this place
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Yuliya

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good for the price. Staff was very friendly and helpful
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
We thought the staff nice and helpful. The room was very dated, but clean. The bed was not very comfy and we could smell cigarette smoke from other rooms.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Joanne

Liked: Cleanliness
Is very close to ferries. Clean but needs updating.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025