Overview
The Travelodge Nanaimo is located on Highway 1 and is a 5-minute drive from BC Ferries’ Departure Bay Terminal. Its easy-to-access location and budget-friendly rates compared to other nearby hotels make it a popular choice with those looking for a no-frills, one-night stay when travelling to or from Vancouver via Nanaimo.

This 100% non-smoking hotel offers 76 rooms and suites over 3 floors. Standard room features include a coffeemaker, a hairdryer, an iron and ironing board, a TV, and either 2 double beds, 1 or 2 queen beds or 1 king bed. One-bedroom suites can sleep up to 6 people and include one or two queen beds, a sofabed in a separate living room. Some rooms include a fridge and a microwave or a kitchenette, a desk, and/or a balcony.

Free Wi-Fi and local calls are available in all rooms. Pets are allowed for an additional $15 per pet for the first night, and $10 for every additional night.

Amenities include a sauna, a business centre, coin-operated laundry, and meeting and conference facilities. Free parking and a complimentary continental breakfast are available to all guests.

The hotel is a 4-minute drive from the old quarter downtown area featuring The Port Theatre, Vancouver Island Conference Centre, boutique shops, and restaurants. Swy-a-lana Lagoon, Maffeo Sutton Park, and the foot-passenger ferry to Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park are all about a 10-minute walk away. Access to the harbourfront seawall walkway, a 4.4-km oceanfront paved path, is about a 5-minute walk from the hotel. The Nanaimo Harbour Water Airport is a 5-minute drive away while the Nanaimo Airport can be reached in about 17 minutes by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)

Verified by hotel staff on October 11, 2012: 76 rooms, pets are $15/$10 per night, balcony/patio off most rooms.

The Good
Although some of the reviews used for this analysis were mixed, many were positive and focused on the hotel's location, staff, and price point.

Many guests appreciated the hotel's proximity to the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Newcastle Island foot-passenger ferry. Several guests liked that they were able to walk to Maffeo-Sutton Park, the seawall walkway, and downtown. Having a gas station and restaurants on the same block was also considered a perk by some.

Many guests felt the staff were friendly and accommodating. A few guests appreciated that staff went out of their way to ensure they had a good stay.

Some guests felt the price they paid adequately reflected the quality of the hotel and that they would stay there again for the same price. Many thought the rooms were comfortable and quiet and that certain features included in some rooms, such as a kitchenette and/or a balcony, added to the value of their stay. Most guests who commented on the price felt this hotel offered good value compared to other hotels in the area.

The Bad
Some reviews used for this analysis focused negatively on the age and physical state of the building as well as the effectiveness of housekeeping.

Although some guests felt their rooms were up-to-date, many agreed that the building was showing its age. Many felt that the exterior of the building, lobby, and common areas needed to be updated. A few guests felt some room features were old or in need of repair, including the bathrooms, air conditioning units, bathroom fans, linens, and heating controls.

There is an elevator that accesses the 3rd floor, however the 2nd floor can only be accessed by stairs; this was considered a nuisance by a few guests who stayed on that floor.

Although a large number of guests reported that their room was clean, there were several guest complaints that certain parts of their room (i.e. under the bed, the bathroom) were not well cleaned. A few also mentioned that daily housekeeping was inefficient and that they felt their rooms were not well attended to during multi-night stays.