Nanaimo Hotels with Balcony

Just a kilometer or two from the downtown core, the Grand Hotel is nestled near the malls and restaurant area. We were 3 (senior) sisters, one of whom was scheduled for eye surgery. Though we arrived just past noon, we were able to check in. The patient was able to nap as this is a quiet area. We chose an upgrade, a slightly larger room with a fireplace with a juliette balcony. Parking was convenient, right below our window. It was Valentine's Day! and we couldn't get a dinner reservation in any nearby restaurants. We declined the Sweetheart Special at the Grand as it was a bit pricy. Susie, the dining room hostess, asked the kitchen to accommodate us. They created braised ribs, mashed potatoes and vegetables for $45pp. Fair value and good food. The dining area is set up for quiet chat and eating, with a decor that absorbs the sound and pleases the eye. The room also had a frig and microwave. The shampoo and conditioner were exceptional quality. We had no issues and will stay again when the sister gets her follow up surgery. The desk clerk was courteous and accommodating, esp with our early check in. The total for an overnight stay for 3 people was less than $200.

We had a very comfortable room for three of us- we slept well. Not particularly luxurious but just what you need for a night or two. We were just passing through. Staff were friendly. Breakfast was muffin- based but enough to get you on the road!

All aspects are very good. The hotel is very clean, but there is no hot water bottle, you have to take it with the front desk, and there is no bottled water in the hotel.

Very basic hotel, they do not have any luggage storage (apparently a management decision since covid), breakfast is sausage links and cheese omelette patties that have been reheated from frozen. A few other things like grocery store bread for toast and a couple of apples and oranges. Front desk is all screened off like the covid era, but also lots of prominent signage that they don’t keep cash on premise. Gives off the general feeling that there are some safety issues, perhaps for both staff and guests. Rooms are only surface cleaned - lots of dust on light fixtures, stains on rugs, bathroom spaces not wiped that well, must smell, etc. Limited room decor, no paintings or anything. Very drab, beige space. My room had a small balcony, ash tray on table so maybe a plus if you smoke (although rooms are supposedly non-smoking). Back side of the hotel was relatively quiet, that’s the only positive thing I can say. Limited amenities outside the room - no pool, no ice machines (at least not on my floor, and no indications where they are), only one slow elevator (use the stairs if you can). Also in a weird area of Nanaimo right off the #1 highway that’s a bit of a dead zone. There are no restaurants, coffee shops, etc. that are all that close, besides an Italian/pizza restaurant that is only open in the evenings and most days only for takeout. If you’re of average mobility, you’re a 10-15 minute walk from the main action in the central harbour area. Relatively easy going to get there (downhill, some routes have stairs), but a bit of uphill walking back. For the nightly rate charged compared to other properties - including the 2-3 major hotels that actually are in the harbour area - this is not a property I will ever be back to. If you’re just driving through, need a place to put your head for the night, and every other place is booked then this might be an option. Otherwise I would avoid at all costs.

The environment is very nice and there is a garden, a large parking lot, and the rooms are large, like suites. It is only a few minutes drive from the hotel to the city centre, which is especially convenient.

This hotel is a bit biased on Victoria Island. If it is not self-driving, it is very inconvenient. The hotel is relatively new. The facilities are relatively complete. There are hot springs. Facing a small lake, it was quite peaceful. There is a kitchen, but we don’t have time to cook by ourselves. The breakfast at the hotel is good, you can make your own waffles. Did not see the Chinese. Because there was only a foreign couple who went to the hot springs late. There is free parking.

I stayed at the Beach Club Resort while I was attending a conference at the hotel. The hotel lobby is spacious and has adequate seating. Took under 10 minutes to check in. The room I received was a Studio 2 Queens beds with balcony facing the ocean. Most of the rooms have a balcony attached. The studio was clean and a descent size. Room comes with Mini-Fridge, Microwave, and cupboards. The bathroom is average size. Enough for 2 people Wireless Internet is available throughout the resort. The resort has Pacific Prime Steak Restaurant attached with in-door dining and outside dining overlooking the ocean. Restaurant is right on the Parksville boardwalk. Highly recommend to reserve a table outside on the patio. Beautiful views of the ocean and specially the sunsets. Resort is located in the center of Parksville. Close to little knickknack stores. While there, all staff were friendly and helpful. Will stay again. Points of Interests: Cathedral Grove: 25 minute drive Coombs (Goats On The Roof): 10 minute drive Parksville Community Park: 5 minute walk Qualicum Beach: 12 minute drive Quality Foods: 3 minute drive or 23 minute walk Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park: 6 minute drive Thrifty Foods: 3 minute or 12 minute walk

Our group of nine, four adults and five teenagers spent seven days at this resort. We had two separate units and we had the units with three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms is actually its own studio suite which was kind of nice because it does have its own fridge and a little AC unit and it’s own separate bathroom so it was really, great actually We were in the 200 building facing the pool. If you’re not a lover of family resorts or kids this may not be the place for you or at least don’t face the pool lol. There are a number of different types of accommodations here and there are also some townhouses which I think are two bedroom suites which looked very nice. There’s also some villas, but they book up a year in advance And they overlook the ocean which is beautiful. We were on the third floor of the 200 building and we could see a little bit of the ocean from our balcony. The nice thing about our room was that it did face the pool, but it was really quite private because there was trees in front and when you’re sitting on the patio , you had a lot of privacy. The balcony had an overhang as well, which was nice. There’s also a gas barbeque on the balcony which we used a few times The AC units are the ones that vent outside and they’re decent enough. (Not central air like the townhomes had). The pool is open until 11 o’clock every night. The teenagers had complaints about the hot tub that it wasn’t hot enough, but overall the pool was fine. My couple complaints are just observations about the places that you may not want to have somebody above you if you’re in the Buildings where the condo/Apartment style units are. As I said we were on the third floor and this building is four floors and you could hear a lot of the people above you stomping around. Not a dealbreaker I mean we were fine with it, but they had little kids and they were ripping around quite a bit so it was kind of annoying when they would start at 6 AM. anyway it wasn’t that bad Just an observation. The property, at least in the apartment style condo units don’t get cleaned for the time that you’re here so you have to constantly ask for things when you run out such as toilet paper, sugar, those kinds of things. Parking could be a struggle from time to time because the place fills up a lot every night, especially on the weekends, but it was never a huge deal for our group. Overall experience here though was very good and we would return.