HI Nanaimo - Painted Turtle Guesthouse

I love this hostel. My first visit, in 2012, was unplanned: it was after dark, and I was on the last BC Transit bus from Parksville, bound for the ferry terminal, when the driver informed me the last ferry sailing was cancelled. Fortunately I had my phone, my CYHA card and a credit card. I'd heard of the Painted Turtle in downtown Nanaimo, so I called and got a room for the night; half an hour later, the bus dropped me off nearby. Rescued!After that, I went back on purpose; I always had a good night's sleep, and I enjoyed eating and relaxing in their lounge. I now live in Nanaimo. When I went to this summer's first night market on Commercial Street, I got off at the same bus stop, and felt nostalgic as I passed the Painted Turtle.

Not an awful hostel.Basic stuff. Nice big living room area and kitchen. Kitchen is a bit busted. Fridges all completely full with staff food, long term residences food.Seems people are using the weekly rates and living here full time, they seemed quite comfortable in the living area. So it gives the place a bit of a strange vibe, it’s more local folks who can’t find housing over travelers/backpackers.And had a weird interaction in the kitchen with one of the people who seemed to be living there.Rooms have tiny lockers only for your phone or wallet. But all of them already had locks on.And although it doesn’t quite say this on the website, they can’t process booking with a visa debit card.My reservation was canceled the day before, and quite abruptly. I had a missed call while working and within an hour an email saying my reservation was canceled because of my card, and the employee said it was considered fraud? So thankfully I was able to step away to re-book with an actual credit card.Why allow your website to accept visa debit cards when your system isn’t actually able to process them?? Travelled the world and stayed at hostels and have never encountered this.The biggest issue was the staff I spoke to to rebook my reservation. He was extremely annoyed that he had to do this, giving me attitude, loudly sighing like this was a huge inconvenience to him personally.However to the staff who checked me in, different person, a manager, was pretty nice.

Great Little Hostel!Just needed a place to spend the Night and it fulfilled me needs.Has a Great Community Kitchen and has a nice little Buddhist Altar in the corner.

Plastic water bottle in the bedroom were already opened. Only one usable skillet was available for use. And the showers were dirty. We were not expecting a perfect place but there still is a bare minimum to do for your customers. Other HI hostels we've been to were much better.

Bait and switch con artistsI've been around the world and I've never had such an experience. Paul and Araj charged me and changed my booking without my consent or providing an invoice.During my booking, I was informed that the hostel was meant for travellers.

Not even worth a star. The rooms are stinky, the bathroom are dirty.I checked at around 6pm and my bed is not ready! I need to remind the room attendant to make the bed twice, and she keep talking to me in the language I dont understand lol

The only redeeming part of my stay here is that my private room was clean and comfortable. Staff is missing from the front desk half the time, long-term local residents have become a little too comfortable in the common areas, and the location, while central, is in a sketchy part of town. I got bad juju vibes almost my entire stay. If anyone is reading this, I recommend not staying anywhere downtown! Look closer to the University area or maybe near Bowen Park so you at least have some nature nearby.