7.1

613 reviews

Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Painted Turtle Guesthouse

121 Bastion Street, Nanaimo, V9R 3A2, British Columbia, Canada

Choose dates to view prices

Free wifi

Tour desk

Non-smoking rooms

Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Painted Turtle Guesthouse sits in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, just 0.1mi from the city center at 121 Bastion Street.

Minimum price starts from $41. The property has 613 reviews. Featured amenities include Parking (extra charges), Wifi (free), Tour desk, and Non-smoking rooms.

Free Wifi and a tour desk support a traveler-friendly stay in Nanaimo, with non-smoking rooms keeping the air fresh. A laid-back vibe invites a relaxed Nanaimo visit.

Painted Turtle Guesthouse in Nanaimo, British Columbia, sits just 0.1mi from the city center at 121 Bastion Street, a convenient launching pad for daily strolls and harbor town explorations. Free Wifi keeps connections seamless, and a tour desk helps chart local adventures. Parking is available for an extra charge, and non-smoking rooms help keep the air fresh. The laid-back vibe invites a relaxed Nanaimo visit.

Room options cover different travel styles. Private Queen rooms with shared bathrooms offer simple comfort, while Family rooms can accommodate up to 8 adults and 4 children for larger groups. Deluxe options, such as Deluxe, 2 Twin, add flexible sleeping arrangements for 2 adults and 1 child. Dormitory-style setups include shared rooms with male-only or female-only configurations, plus Queen Room, Shared Bathroom layouts for budget-conscious travelers.

Payment is straightforward: Visa and Mastercard are accepted, while cash is not. Minimum prices start from $41, inviting spontaneous getaways and budget trips. Free Wifi and a tour desk help maintain a traveler-friendly stay, complementing a laid-back Nanaimo experience.

Closest airports

Qualicum Beach Airport

23.9mi

Vancouver International Airport

34.3mi

Victoria International Airport

42.7mi

Comox Valley Airport

56.9mi

Friday Harbor Airport

60.7mi

Most popular amenities

Free wifi

Tour desk

Non-smoking rooms

Rooms

Show 6 photos

Family, Queen Size, Shared Bathroom

1 Queen Size Bed

100 sqft

Free wifi

+

More details

4 Person Family Room with Shared Bathroom/Shower down the hall. Free Wi-Fi, towels, and linens are included. Room has 1 Queen bed and 1 Bunk bed. Suitable for 2 adults and 2 children.

Queen Room with Shared Bathroom in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Show 11 photos

Queen Room, Shared Bathroom

1 Queen Size Bed

95 sqft

Shower

+

More details

Classic Queen Room with Shared Bathroom/Shower down the hall. Free Wi-Fi, towels, and linens are included. Suitable for 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child.

Family Room with Shared Bathroom in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Show 6 photos

Family, Shared Bathroom

1 Bunk Bed

1 Queen Size Bed

95 sqft

Shower

x8

+

x4

More details

4 Person Family Room with Shared Bathroom/Shower down the hall. Free Wi-Fi, towels, and linens are included. Room has 1 Queen bed and 1 Bunk bed. Suitable for 2 adults and 2 children.

Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room   in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Show 4 photos

Dormitory, Bunk, Female Only

1 Bunk Bed

120 sqft

Shower

+

More details

1 Single Bunk in a 4 Bunk Female Dormitory with Shared Bathroom/Shower down the hall. Free Wi-Fi, towels, and linens are included. Suitable for 1 adult.

Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Show 4 photos

Dormitory, Bunk

1 Bunk Bed

120 sqft

Shower

+

More details

Featuring a shared bathroom, this single bed is in a 4 bed mixed dormitory room. Free Wi-Fi and linen are included.

Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room  in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Show 4 photos

Dormitory, Bunk, Male Only

1 Bunk Bed

120 sqft

City view

Shower

+

More details

1 Single Bunk in a 4 Bunk Male Dormitory with Shared Bathroom/Shower down the hall. Free Wi-Fi, towels, and linens are included. Suitable for 1 adult.

Show 3 photos

Dormitory, Single, Bunk, Female Only

1 Bunk Bed

120 sqft

Free wifi

+

More details

Featuring a shared bathroom, this single bed is in a 4 bed female dormitory room. Free Wi-Fi and linen are included.

Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room   in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Show 4 photos

Dormitory, Twin, Bunk, Female Only

1 Bunk Bed

120 sqft

Shower

More details

Deluxe, 2 Twin Beds

100 sqft

+

More details

The double room provides a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a shared bathroom featuring a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features city views. The unit offers 2 beds.

Deluxe Room (2 Adults + 1 Child) in Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Deluxe, 1 Twin Bed

1 Twin Bed

1 Queen Size Bed

95 sqft

City view

Shower

More details

Deluxe

+

More details

Classic, Queen Size, Shared Bathroom

1 Queen Size Bed

More details

Guest reviews

7.1

613 reviews

Categories of assessments

Cleanliness

Comfort

Location

Facilities

Staff

Value for money

WiFi quality

Featured reviews:

🇨🇦

Lemire

9.1

October 2023

I love how it is central, in a cool old building, and a decent price. The staff are absolutely wonderful.

Through no fault of the staff, the noise was bad. If you like a quiet place to sleep on a weekend this is not for you. The bars close at 2am, and people tend to be rowdy. There also was a yelling incident, which I place no fault on the staff or location for, but you just need to be aware, the rooms aren't at all soundproofed.

🇨🇦

Juhasz

8.2

September 2024

Staff super professional and hospitable- provided help with things to do nearby. Loved the quite comfortable and safe place to return to after a long day of adventure! Comfy clean bed and appreciated the massive fan to drown out other noises outside, etc.

It was a fluke but went to grab a coffee in the common lounge/kitchen area and it just so happened that the huge Folgers container had just been finished- with that mornings pot which was already empty when I showed up- not a huge deal though; would have contacted front desk about a back up but this was prior to shift start that morning. All good, other coffee shops in close proximity! ☕️ ☺️

🇨🇦

Secret_mitty

8.2

May 2025

The host was very helpful and friendly, the shared kitchen and living quarters were great, the location in proximity to downtown was excellent, music from the adjacent bar music was audible but tolerable, no loss of sleep from me on this. Washroom nice and clean. Having washroom external to room reminded us of guest houses in Copenhagen.

The room scent was on the stuffy side.

🇨🇦

Misty

8.2

March 2024

The rooms were clean and quiet and there were a good number of bathrooms. I didn't stay long enough to use the kitchen and common room, but they were quite large and looked really nice. The gentleman at the front desk was also very helpful and friendly.

There wasn't really anything I didn't like for the one night I stayed there. If I had to say one thing it was that the electrical outlet in the room was too far from the bed to use my phone while it was plugged in, but that is such an incredibly minor thing that it almost isn't worth noting.

🇨🇦

Meghan

9.1

March 2025

Clean, friendly staff, location is awesome.

There is a bar downstairs at one corner of the hostel. It is below the communal living room and so ideally if you book a room ensure it is far enough away from there to not disturb your sleep if you tend to go to sleep early. But it is a super fun karaoke bar that locals go to so maybe if you can't beat em', join em'.

🇨🇦

Haley

9.1

August 2023

Easy check in and late availability was nice. I purchased an extra hour in the morning which was also easy to do and only 20 dollars- 10am checkout was too early (could have sworn I was told 11 but I'm not going to argue). The bed was comfy. The shared bathrooms had hot showers which was nice, with clean towels in the room. Well stocked and everything I could ask for in a cheap but private hostel room. Wifi was free I think but didn't need to use it. There was a sign with the password visible behind the host desk and I was told to snap a pic once I checked in.

I lost my necklace, I wish someone got it back to me since I work nearby and asked if it could be returned to me once found.

🇨🇦

Jon

8.2

July 2023

Nice friendly staff, accommodating ..... On my trip I stayed here on a few occasions (I went camping on Newcastle island and came back) letting me in to Shower early (after sitting on the train/ferry) and again to do my laundry (after camping) before the scheduled 4pm check in.

The Bar downstairs, it's a karaoke bar....I mean if it was just a regular bar it'd be fine, but you get to listen to very poorly sung songs into the wee hours of the morning. Also, I kept my marijuana in a cooler bag that I carried with me along with my electronics...I took a shower in the early morning and someone scooped my dope (but phone and electronics were there) I think the guy above me who checked out that morning did it. Not really the hostels fault, probably should have taken my cooler bag in the bathroom but.....I didn't like that (at least the pot shop is just around the corner)

🇨🇦

Anne

10

July 2024

The people who work at the Painted Turtle are wonderful and they go above and beyond to help you. We arrived at the hostel and needed help organizing long-term parking. The manager not only called around and checked for us, he went above and beyond to make sure we were looked after. This was outstanding service, the likes you rarely find nowadays.

The rooms get very hot in the summer though the fans help.

🇨🇦

Marius

10

August 2024

Situated in Downtown - one can safely work to whatever you need. All the basic necessities to be able to work and travel on ones own budget, at a good price and good, clean and comfortable facilities. I normally work in the lounge. Quiet, clean, neat and friendly environment. I get nervous every time when I book, that I might not get space 😊

🇿🇦

Ashtyn

8.2

April 2024

The property was in a good location by the harbour. It felt safe and was central to the shops and restaurants. The kitchen and common area was clean and gave off a very homely atmosphere. The staff were lovely and allowed an early check in. The check out process was also really simple and efficient. The bedding was clean and there was good laundry facilities on the premises.

Food needs to be locked away due to pests.

Points of Interest Around Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Attractions

Gulf Islands

23.3mi

Bowen Island

29.5mi

Amenities of Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Free wifi

Tour desk

Non-smoking rooms

Stay rules - Painted Turtle Guesthouse

  • Check-in / Check-out

  • Pets

  • Internet

  • Age restrictions

  • Curfew

  • Parking

  • Children and beds

  • Cards accepted at this property