Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) is a haven for active travelers near Old City Quarter, with amenities like cycling and ecotours. Unwind in the library or bar, take advantage of bike rentals and laundry facilities, enjoy coffee/tea in the lobby, explore nearby attractions with tour/ticket assistance.
Vancouver Island Military Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Old City Quarter - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Casino Nanaimo - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
Getting around
Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) - 1 min drive
Nanaimo, BC (YCD) - 13 min drive
Maple Bay, BC (YAQ-Maple Bay Seaplane Base) - 57 min drive
Ganges, BC (YGG-Ganges Harbour Seaplane Base) - 81 min drive
Sechelt, BC (YHS-Sunshine Coast Regional) - 22.5 miles/36.2 km
Restaurants
Starbucks - 7 min walk
Old City Station Pub - 2 min walk
The Vault - 4 min walk
Noodlebox - 7 min walk
Red’s Bakery - 2 min walk
About this property
Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)
Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) offers a fantastic location, putting you just a 5-minute walk from Bastion and Nanaimo Museum. Freebies like WiFi and self parking are added perks, and guests looking to stay active can check out the nearby hiking/biking trails, kayaking, and mountain biking. Also, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Old City Quarter are just a 5-minute drive away.
At a glance
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Hotel size
24 rooms
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Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11:00 AM
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Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 8:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
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Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
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Children
Up to 2 children (10 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
No cribs (infant beds)
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Pets
Pets not allowed
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free onsite self parking
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Other information
Designated smoking areas
Property amenities
Food and drink
Bar/lounge
Coffee/tea in a common area
Traveling with children
Children stay free (see details)
What to do
Ecotours
Ecotours nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Kayaking nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Ziplining nearby
Working away
Meeting room
Services
Front desk (limited hours)
Concierge services
Tour/ticket assistance
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Bicycle rentals
Facilities
Library
Accessibility
Front entrance ramp
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
Room amenities
Home comfort
Heating (climate-controlled)
Sleep well
Premium bedding
Freshen up
8 bathrooms
Shower only
Towels
Stay connected
Free WiFi
Food and drink
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Freezer
Microwave
Shared kitchen access
Stovetop
Oven
Rice cooker
Toaster
Free bottled water
Cookware, dishes, and utensils
Blender
Paper towels
More
Housekeeping on request
Cleaning supplies
Fees & policies
Optional extras
Late check-in between midnight and 2:00 AM can be arranged for an extra charge
Children & extra beds
Rollaway beds are available for CAD 10.0 per stay
Policies
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards on site.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
This property accepts credit cards and cash.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard
Cashless transactions are available.
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Only bookings from non-local guests are accepted. Guests whose residence is within 16 mi (25 km) of the property will not be allowed to check in.
Also known as
Painted Turtle Guesthouse Hostel Nanaimo
Painted Turtle Guesthouse Hostel
Painted Turtle Guesthouse Nanaimo
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
Painted Turtle Hostel Nanaimo
Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) Nanaimo
Frequently asked questions
Does Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.
Is there an onsite casino at Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel)?
No, this hostel doesn't have a casino, but Casino Nanaimo (5-min walk) is nearby.
What is there to do at Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities like boat tours, fishing, and hiking. Additional recreation onsite includes ecotours.
What's the area around Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) like?
Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) is in Downtown Nanaimo, a short 1-minute drive from Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) and 3 minutes' walk from Nanaimo Museum.
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Reviews
Painted Turtle Guesthouse (Hostel) Reviews
7.8
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
8.0
Cleanliness
8.4
Location
8.4
Staff & service
7.4
Property conditions & facilities
Popular mentions
Room
Service staff
Bathroom
Kitchen
Location
Shower
Downtown
Accomodation Type
Apparel
Bar
Reviews
Verified
8/10 Very good
Mar 23, 2026
Great location. Value for your money. John the owner is a great guy. Accomodating and friendly
Jerome Almir
Jerome Almir, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 25, 2026
John the steward of the place was great. He's helpful and helped us check in no problem.
Mary
Mary, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 10, 2025
Very good location reasonable pricing clean
Saied
Saied, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 20, 2025
Sorry can't remember name but host was very friendly and helpful. Great place to stay.
Shop
Shop, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Oct 29, 2023
Great location
Brody
Brody, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Aug 13, 2024
I had a great check in experience and enjoyed the kitchen/lounge space - thanks
Beth
Beth, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 6, 2024
The property location is central to most activity points and easy to commute
James
James, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 24, 2024
Super friendly and great central location. There was always a washroom available.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 21, 2025
The staff was very kind and accommodating. The bed was very clean and comfortable. I had wonderful roommates and the main area kitchen was user friendly and the people were very nice. Mu new Nanaimo place to stay.
Christina
Christina, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 15, 2024
It was a nice stay. The stuff is really friendly. The room is clean and the bathroom too.
Denise
Denise, 2-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Nov 4, 2025
The staff was very kind and friendly but the room condition was not recommendable.
sunhee
sunhee, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Aug 21, 2023
Central location and cost. Friendly staff.
Lee
Lee, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 27, 2024
Parking was only issue, but they helped out , enjoyed meeting people from everywhere. Very helpful staff!
Sheila l
Sheila l, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 2, 2025
Our grandson recently visited, and we were fortunate to secure a room for him at Painted Turtle. The staff were exceptionally kind and attentive, making him feel welcome and comfortable. His room was clean, warm, and quiet, and the establishment felt very safe, giving us peace of mind knowing he was in a great place. If you’re looking for a wonderful place to stay, both our grandson and we highly recommend Painted Turtle.
Glen
Glen, 21-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 4, 2024
Excellent service
It was good, staffs were friendly and helpful . Overall service. Was okay
Rosemary
Rosemary, 4-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Oct 4, 2024
The property location is central to most of my activities. I am happy with it.
James
James, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 18, 2025
I lucked out during my stay since the roads around the Painted Turtle were closed due to construction. Arrive after 4:30pm and no noise!
Oh and the industrial size fan in my shared room was the best surprise EVER!!! :)
Darcie
Darcie, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 7, 2023
We arrived late (10:50pm). The night clerk was friendly and efficient with the check in. The room and bathroom facilities were simple yet clean and comfortable.
Ludovica
Ludovica, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 11, 2023
Even its outdated, it is very clean , well maintained by Paul and staff, walkable to restaurant, the harbour, shopping mall, very convenient and reasonable price. The customer service are excellent. Show us the easy way to get to Departure Bay bus depot by bus.
Thank you Paul for the warmest accommodations.
Lorena
Lorena, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Aug 23, 2024
Generally positive experience, front desk staff was very welcoming, and shared clear expectations on how everything worked.
It was loud outside late into the evening, and was pretty hard to sleep until 1-2AM.
Steven
Steven, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 19, 2025
I think this is a great little place if you wanna stay a couple nights in Nanaimo, but don’t want to pay the big hotel prices.
I was accommodated for late check-in, which was very nice and I was even able to self check out. A parking area is right next to the hostel which is great. This hostel has everything you need to get by however, some of the amenities were out of service such as the oven and microwave when I was staying. There was also a door lock that was out of service, but you can make deal with the inconvenience. I’d suggest coming here if you are okay with being flexible and are not planning on staying inside most the day.
Would come back again!
William
William, 4-night trip
Verified
2/10 Poor
Jul 1, 2025
Avoid this place.
No pictures on the walls in the room. The walls, doors, flooring and furniture were dirty, stained, and full of holes and heavily damaged. The whole place had a very creap serial killer vibe. We felt very uncomfortable there making it difficult to rest and relax. Did not know when i booke it that this was a hostel with shared bathrooms and limited reception hours to check in. Location was fantastic.
Amanda
Amanda, 2-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Oct 26, 2024
The room heater is not work and no elevator and has to share bathroom which was not noticed at booking. The staff is not professional. The key is not easy to open the door. The location is excellent!
Jing
Jing, 1-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Aug 11, 2023
kitchen & living room are big. kitchen stove is not very clean. Room & toilet is clean. some bath room without hook to hang clothes when you take shower.