Departure Bay Motel

2.0 star property
your current months are January, 2025 and February, 2025.
January 2025
February 2025

Photo gallery for Departure Bay Motel

Room, 2 Queen Beds
Exterior
Laptop workspace, free WiFi, bed sheets
Coffee/tea maker, electric kettle, cookware/dishes/utensils
Reception

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
2011 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo, BC, V9S 3Y9
  • Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Departure Bay Beach
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Room options

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Kitchenette

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 Queen Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Similar properties

About the area

Nanaimo

With a stay at Departure Bay Motel, you'll be centrally located in Nanaimo, within a 5-minute drive of Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Beach Estates Park. .This motel is 11.7 mi (18.9 km) from Duke Point Ferry Terminal and 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park.

What's nearby

  • Nanaimo Regional General Hospital - 15 min walk
  • Departure Bay Ferry Terminal - 19 min walk
  • Nanaimo Aquatic Centre - 7 min drive
  • Vancouver Island University - 7 min drive
  • Duke Point Ferry Terminal - 19 min drive

Getting around

  • Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) - 6 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Off the Hook - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬13 min walk

About this property

Departure Bay Motel

Motel with free parking, near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
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).

Make yourself at home in one of the 22 air-conditioned rooms featuring LCD televisions. LED televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and toothbrushes and toothpaste. Conveniences include separate sitting areas and coffee/tea makers.
Make use of convenient amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access, a picnic area, and a vending machine.
Featured amenities include laundry facilities and a vending machine. Free self parking is available onsite.

Languages

Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), English, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and public transport

  • Free uncovered self-parking on site

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Laundry facilities

Outdoors

  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • This property does not have any lifts
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Hardwood flooring in room
  • Step-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning
  • Bed sheets
  • Heating

Bathroom

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

Entertainment

  • TV channels
  • LCD TV
  • Premium channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Electric kettle

More

  • Laptop-friendly 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 20.00 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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 100 will be collected before check-in.

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

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: CAD 20.00 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 fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

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

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 108 out of 313 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 107 out of 313 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 45 out of 313 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 23 out of 313 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 30 out of 313 reviews" "

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Cynthia

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We are AARP members who booked two pre-paid nights through the Expedia-AARP website but only stayed one due to the appalling conditions in the room. Surfaces were dirty, obviously not having been cleaned in a long time. Dust, dirt, hair, and food were in and around the coffee pot and microwave. The coffee pot had dirt and mold in the water tank. The carpet and bed mattresses had dirt and liquid stains, along with patches of black mold. Ceiling tiles were stained and hung loose from water damage. We reported our findings and discomfort the next morning when we checked out. We also asked for a refund for the second night. After two calls to the motel and one call to AARP, we still don’t have a satisfactory answer on if or how to get our second night’s money back. The motel simply refuses to refund anything because we did not cancel 24 hours prior. Nor have we found any way to give feedback on the Expedia-AARP website. As we loaded our luggage into our vehicle, we saw a truck drive out of the motel parking lot carrying six mattresses covered in black mold. It seems our room may not have been an outlier.

2/10 Terrible

Darlene

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
I missed the last ferry off the island and want to stay somewhere close to the terminal so I could be on the first boat , so location was good but I found long black hairs in my bed sheets and hairs around the toilet ,there was dirt all around the edge of the floor , the room was just not clean . And the one window in the room had a covering that was completely sheer and no other curtains for privacy. I would not stay there again
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Yulia

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kynat

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Ian

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Khang

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice clean place
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Ahmed

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Naomi

Lovely staff, great location when visiting the hospital
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Crystal, Penticton

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Will stay here again
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Helen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Altaf at check-in was very friendly and enjoyable to talk to. We had a couple of "glitches" that he fixed right away. Some of the rooms have been renovated, so do ask for one of them, if possible. We stayed in unit 19 and it was clean with a fantastic shower and comfy bed. A few things need to be finalized: A hook in the bathroom for a robe, a finial for one of the ends of the curtain rod. Proper curtains that open better and a security lock for when the window is partially open. This accommodation was a great value in both location and room condition. Would definitely stay here again. It is owned by the same company that owns the following: The Spot in Nanaimo, Sunshine Lodge in Gibsons and The Spot at Porpoise Bay in Sechelt, among others (25 properties in total).
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Louella Mae

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great customer service. Complete toiletries and there’s free coffee. The room is overall clean but we think the washroom could be cleaner. And some of the white towels has stain so I think just make sure everything looks clean.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Affordable and simple. All i needed.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness
Fast and conveinient.stay here frequently when passing through. Simple and affordable.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Charmaine

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nikki

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Weather stripping around the doors would be great.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Boris

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Irene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It was very quiet.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Finlay

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Geraldine, Whitby

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Budget-friendly accommodation. Would stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

2/10 Terrible

Jagwinder

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Owen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Decent enough for 1 night stay, close to ferry.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

2/10 Terrible

Bradley

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The ceiling has so much water damage it looks like itll fall any second. You can barely move in the room its so compact. They dont clean the rooms daily. You get the bare minimum for towels and toilet paper and the kitchenette lol..ok. Definitely will never stay again. Oh i also paid in full prior to arriving and they still wanted a damage deposit.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nikki

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean, comfortable, convenient and lovely staff.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Rebecca

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

2/10 Terrible

Jens

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Paper thin walls and ceiling, so noisy outside it felt like not door was open to the highway. May as well have slept in my car.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024