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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 380 hostel reviews

7.9

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.1

  • Comfort

    8.0

  • Location

    9.0

  • Facilities

    7.9

  • Staff

    9.3

  • Value for money

    8.0

  • Free Wifi

    9.3

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: September 7, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Bathrooms are dirty

    Lovely front desk

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: September 3, 2025

    7.0
    Good location but equipment can be improved
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No individual light, no curtains, no locker to put your suitcase or backpack… The dorm (4 people) was also too small, we couldn’t stand all four in the room at the same time !

    Great location in Nanaimo. The kitchen and common area were good. The fan was really appreciated in the bedroom as it was quite hot during my stay.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: September 1, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    The place is a bit old and needs some work done.

    Very central location.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: August 31, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: August 30, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Clean room, excellent staff and great location!

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: August 27, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

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

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: August 14, 2025

    8.0
    In the middle of Nanaimo
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: August 12, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: August 1, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: July 31, 2025

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

    Slightly musty smelling room. Street outside was quite noisy

    Close to the centre and waterfront. Helpful staff

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 25, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: July 21, 2025

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

    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: July 12, 2025

    8.0
    Hat gepasst :-)
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

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

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 9, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Noise from street.

    Close to Port Theater and various restaurants

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 1, 2025

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

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

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 23, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: June 19, 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: June 9, 2025

    9.0
    Comfortable and convenient
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • 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: May 31, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: May 28, 2025

    9.0
    Nanaimo? na na, emo
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: May 26, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    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: May 24, 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: May 18, 2025

    7.0
    Vintage and highly recommended
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Great price and location.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: May 15, 2025

    7.0
    Not much to do.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • 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

Showing 1 - 25

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