See all properties
Save

Departure Bay Motel

2.0 star property
Motel with free parking, near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal

Photo gallery for Departure Bay Motel

Reception
Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette | Living area
Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette | Private kitchen
Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette
Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette | Terrace/patio

Reviews

7.8 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View map
2011 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo, BC, V9S 3Y9
  • Place, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Departure Bay Beach
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed

7.6 out of 10
Good
(33 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Heating
LCD TV
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Shower/bath combination
Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette

Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette

Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchenette

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchenette
Dining table
LCD TV
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Heating
LCD TV
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Shower/bath combination
Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchenette
Dining table
LCD TV
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

About the area

Nanaimo

Departure Bay Motel places you in the centre of Nanaimo, within just a 5-minute stroll of Beach Estates Park and within 15 minutes of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Highlights at this motel include in-room free WiFi and LCD TVs. .This pet-friendly motel offers free WiFi in public areas, a picnic area and a vending machine. Added amenities include laundry facilities. There's also the convenience of free self parking. .Attractions within a 20-minute drive of this Nanaimo motel include Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Duke Point Ferry Terminal.
View more Motels in NanaimoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Beach Estates Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Departure Bay Ferry Terminal - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Nanaimo Regional General Hospital - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Departure Bay Beach - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - 5 min drive - 1.3 km

Getting around

  • Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) - 6 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Drip Coffee | Social - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Amoré Bistro - ‬20 min walk

About this property

Departure Bay Motel

Motel with free parking, near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
As a guest of Departure Bay Motel, you'll find a vending machine, a picnic area, and laundry facilities. WiFi is free in public spaces. Free self parking is available.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Nanaimo motel.

  • 22 guestrooms or units
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Smoking in designated areas
Departure Bay Motel offers 22 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and free toiletries. This accommodation offers separate sitting areas. LCD televisions come with premium cable channels.

Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 25+ Mbps).

Similar properties

Balcony
The Port-O-Call Inn & Suites
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Microwave
3.6 out of 5, Good, 824 reviews
The price is AU$98
includes taxes & fees
10 Jan - 11 Jan 2026
The Port-O-Call Inn & Suites

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Vending machine

Outdoors

  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Front entrance ramp
  • No lift
  • Tile flooring in room
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • LED TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Laptop workspace
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 19

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - midnight
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets: CAD 21.00 per pet, per day
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A damage deposit of CAD 200 will be collected before check-in.

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Pet fee: CAD 21.00 per pet, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A credit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in all accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Property Registration Number 5031994

Property is also known as

Departure Bay Motel Motel
Departure Bay Motel Nanaimo
Departure Bay Motel Motel Nanaimo

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at Departure Bay Motel?

Departure Bay Motel offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

Is parking available at Departure Bay Motel?

Yep, Departure Bay Motel has a free self car park.

Are there any beaches close to Departure Bay Motel?

The closest beach to Departure Bay Motel is Departure Bay Beach (1.9 km).

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Departure Bay Motel?

No, Departure Bay Motel does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at Departure Bay Motel?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.

Reviews

Departure Bay Motel Reviews

7.8

Good

8.0/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

7.2/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 200 out of 516 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 172 out of 516 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 67 out of 516 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 38 out of 516 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 39 out of 516 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

GERARD

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Constance

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Marion

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
Nothing unique about this place. No housekeeping provided unless you call & request it. Okay for a one night stay but not for 4
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

LINDA

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Has an outdoor spin ice-seating area and barbecue
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Colin

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Fine for a quick overnight. Good bed, big room. Kinda noisy and not in the best shape (water stains on roof, some grime in shower). Appreciated that they accept pets for a fee.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great spot, great staff, and very clean!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Marlene, Kamloops

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very clean!! Room was on the smaller side with 2 queen beds that were very comfortable. We didn’t spend much time in the room. Only there to sleep. Was very quiet. Property was very clean and well kept. My only suggestion would be to shorten the curtains so they don’t block the AC.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Our stay was very convenient to the ferries at departure Bay, which is why we pick this hotel. Unfortunately, the people above us were very loud, moving furniture,heard them walking thumping on the floor etc., which was annoying for us underneath them. The road noise was also a bit noisy. I had a difficult time sleeping.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Ann

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Poor Cleanliness

Nice staff with hospitality Room has strong odour of cigarette and sweat odour everywhere. Found Bubble gum under the bed. I don’t recommend this place as they don’t know how to clean properly.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Ann

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Poor cleaning

Nice staff with hospitality Room has strong odour of cigarette and sweat odour everywhere. Found Bubble gum under the bed. I don’t recommend this place as they don’t know how to clean properly.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dianne, High River

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The motel is older but very clean and comfortable. It would be nice to have air conditioning though. Parking is also a challenge for the larger vehicles.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

ROSELIA, KENT

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Check-in was easy and the guy was super nice. Old school key style which was fun. Rooms are clean. The living area a little outdated but the bathrooms were really nice. Like really nice. Bed was comfy. Location was perfect for us. Super happy we stayed. They also have free mini golf no on-site but that was cool.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tracy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Shelley

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very friendly. Has everything you need.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Tara

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
I'll start out by saying the front desk staff at the hotel are very helpful and welcoming. I had high hopes for this place based on the relatively good review score. The common areas and outside of the facility looked clean and well kept. I was expecting the same from the guest rooms. Nope. Unfortunately the room we were assigned was starting to show its age, and the cleanliness was lacking. The laminate floor was well beyond the point of needing to be replaced. There were coffee stains on the duvet cover. Bathroom vanity showing heavy wear. Crusty food smears on the side of the microwave. Dirt and dust on the floor in the bathroom. It had to be tolerated for the one night we were there, knowing there was nothing else available and no other options. The positives of our stay were the bed was comfortable, the AC blew cold and we were on the quiet side of the building. I'd be willing to book in again since it's such a convenient location, but maybe not during the busy season. I wonder if staff have a such tight turnaround time on rooms during the summer and they just don't have the time to dedicate to a proper clean.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice and clean. We needed a place to stay at short notice due to an airline strike and thankfully they had space to accommodate. . I hace atayed here in yesrs oast and it has akeays been a pleasant stay
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Anita

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Bed was not comfortable - the pots/ pans in the kitchenette were not really usable and had no luck getting a different one when asking at reception. Had to ask for toaster.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne, Ucluelet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly, very clean , bed was really comfortable
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Heather

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
We used this as a one night stop over before catching an early morning ferry. The room was rather outdated but clean and comfortable which is all we needed. 3 mins to the ferry terminal so no need to add extra travel time for city traffic. Easy to get into the city from. As others have said friendly welcome and helpful staff at reception . Not sure I’d stay more than 2 nights here but if you are just passing through a good place to lay your head at night
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

navin

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Lisa

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
TV didnt work, I was told I would get a discount and that didn't happen. A discount on a future stay doesn't work for someone who lives a 16 hour drive away
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Franz

Business traveller, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was amazing. Helpful, polite and accommodating. I would highly recommend for an affordable motel.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dianne, High River

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Although the motel is older, it was clean and comfortable. Parking is difficult for a bigger unit.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025