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  5. Reviews of Painted Turtle Guesthouse

Reviews of Painted Turtle Guesthouse

121 Bastion Street, V9R 3A2 Nanaimo, Canada

#14 of 19 hotels in Nanaimo

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 387 hostel reviews

7.8

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.1

  • Comfort

    8.0

  • Location

    9.0

  • Facilities

    7.9

  • Staff

    9.3

  • Value for money

    7.9

  • Free WiFi

    9.3

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 31 August 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Since there was no ac a fan was provided (which is really nice), the fan only a little helped cool down room and myself.

    That it was a nice location downtown. Staff was really nice.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 30 August 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Clean room, excellent staff and great location!

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 27 August 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Great location, comfortable, perfect for a night stay before an early ferry.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 14 August 2025

    8.0
    In the middle of Nanaimo
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    I was there on a hot day and there was no AC.

    Really good location. Staff member was very helpful. The common facilities look very good though I didn’t have time to use them.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 August 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Traffic was a bit loud but made sense considering the location.

    Staff was really friendly. Room was clean and comfortable. The fan was very powerful which was nice since we visited during a heat wave. Location was very central.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 1 August 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No elevator, had to carry the luggage to the top floor

    It was clean and the person who welcomed me was very nice.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 31 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Slightly musty smelling room. Street outside was quite noisy

    Close to the centre and waterfront. Helpful staff

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 25 July 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Some electric sockets didn't work, toilet broken and no electrician/plumber was called in to fix either of these microwave not working, one microwave working, etc.

    Excellent staff! I felt welcome. Cozy shared spaces.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 July 2025

    7.0
    Good for a night or two stay. The receptionist was friendly and accommodating.
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room was stuffy and hot even with the fan. But we’re still thankful of it because it became our white noise at night.

    Located in downtown.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 July 2025

    8.0
    Hat gepasst :-)
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    I had a room all for my self. That was great.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 July 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Noise from street.

    Close to Port Theater and various restaurants

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 1 July 2025

    9.0
    Comfortable
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room was clean and bed was comfy - well situated in Nanaimo but the town itself was quite quiet

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 June 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Lacks some bigger lockers/storage in the rooms, although you can at least lock them which is still nice

    Very welcoming and friendly host! Clean and proper kitchen area/bathrooms

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 19 June 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Good location and friendly staff.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 June 2025

    9.0
    Comfortable and convenient
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Overpriced

    friendly & helpful staff, comfortable bed, nice kitchen/lounge, clean room and shared spaces, convenient location

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 31 May 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Needs a fan or air-conditioning very warm room and to loud with the window open.

    Large room very spacious. Amenities kept tidy

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 28 May 2025

    9.0
    Nanaimo? na na, emo
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Not easily accessible by car as the road is completely torn up.

    Great friendly staff who will make you feel at ease and near many of the ferries

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 May 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room scent was on the stuffy side.

    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.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 May 2025

    9.0
    We had a great time and will stay at The Painted Turtle again.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights

    I really cant think of anything. Our vies wasn’t the greatest, but our location was quieter than some of the other rooms and that was lovely.

    We had a great time. The room was very clean and comfortable. I was very impressed by the staff. We will definitely be back.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 May 2025

    7.0
    Vintage and highly recommended
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Great price and location.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 15 May 2025

    7.0
    Not much to do.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Not much to do. Mainly a port city, with a lot of homeless people walking around. Need a car or ride a bus to hiking trails.

    Very friendly staff, nice restaurants close by. Clean rooms.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 11 April 2025

    8.0
    Best location and value for simple solo travellers!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Outside noise at night! Mostly loud music. Fortunately, I had earplugs with me, so I was able to sleep through it.

    Ideal location, everything was a short walk away. The staff was welcoming and friendly. The room was neat and simple, which was all I really needed. The bed was comfortable enough.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 March 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Noisy, they allow small children into the hostel. Only public parking subject to rates

    Downtown location

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 March 2025

    9.0
    The turtle is THE place to stay affordabley in Nanaimo
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    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'.

    Clean, friendly staff, location is awesome.

    Stayed in March 2025

Showing 1 – 25

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