The Spot

2.0 star property
Motel near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Spot

BBQ/picnic area
Interior entrance
King Studio Suite | Living area | 50-inch Smart TV with cable channels, TV
Studio Suite, 1 King Bed, Kitchenette | Premium bedding, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes
Front of property

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
950 Terminal Avenue N, Nanaimo, BC, V9S 4K4
  • Place, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Place, Old City Quarter
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Nanaimo, BC (YCD)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Room options

2 Queen Room

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(36 reviews)
  • 210 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

King Studio Suite

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(40 reviews)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Studio Suite, 1 King Bed, Kitchenette

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • 213 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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About the neighborhood

Nanaimo

Heart of Nanaimo.Within 2 miles (3 km) of this Nanaimo motel, you'll find Maffeo Sutton Park and Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Beach Estates Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).

What's nearby

  • Departure Bay Ferry Terminal - 17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Old City Quarter - 3 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • Bastion - 3 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Nanaimo Regional General Hospital - 3 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • Nanaimo Museum - 3 min drive - 1.6 miles

Getting around

  • Nanaimo, BC (YCD) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Drip Coffee | Social - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬8 min walk

About this property

The Spot

Motel near Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo
As a guest of The Spot, you'll find multilingual staff, a garden, and a picnic area. Public spaces have free WiFi. The business-friendly The Spot also features express check-in and express check-out. Free self parking is available. A complete renovation of The Spot was completed in April 2022.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Nanaimo motel.

  • 10 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Garden
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Smoking in designated areas
The Spot offers 10 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Beds feature premium bedding. 50-inch Smart televisions come with cable channels. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include showers with rainfall showerheads, and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Things to do

  • Bicycle tours

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Hand-held showerhead
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 50-inch smart TV with cable channels

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; access will be through a private entrance
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Access code, private entrance

Pets

  • Pets: CAD 20 per pet, per night
  • Only dogs and cats are allowed
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

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

  • Pet fee: CAD 20 per pet, per night
  • 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, debit card, or cash deposit 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
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; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit 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 has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. 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 Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Cash is not accepted. This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
    For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Property Registration Number 5032890

Property is also known as

Colonial Motel Nanaimo
Colonial Nanaimo
The Spot Motel
Colonial Motel
The Spot Nanaimo
The Spot Motel Nanaimo

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Spot to the airport?

The Spot is 1.3 mi (4-min drive) away from the Nanaimo, BC (ZNA-Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Spot have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Spot.

How close is The Spot to the beach?

This motel is 2.1 mi (4-min drive) from Departure Bay Beach.

Does The Spot offer free breakfast?

The Spot does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at The Spot?

No, there is no casino at this motel, but Casino Nanaimo (3-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at The Spot?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight.

Is there free parking at The Spot?

This motel offers free self parking.

Does The Spot have a pool?

The Spot does not have a pool.

Does The Spot have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this motel.

How close is The Spot to downtown Nanaimo?

The Spot is 1.1 mi away from Nanaimo.

The Spot Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 354 out of 698 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 194 out of 698 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 82 out of 698 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 31 out of 698 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 37 out of 698 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Darrin

Traveled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was ok but very noisey. Lota if street noise So difficult falling asleep. Finally asleep and at 1 am some dude wanders in the room. Door was locked and no dead bolt. Dude says it was his room as i laying in ded and myndog runs out the door. Have to be up at 430 am for a 12 hour drive So i am not happy
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Charmaine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room and area were great. Quite a bit of road noise though.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Awry

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Amanda

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
While this property has some nice upgrades… Building and doors are old and sound travels right through. Location is literally on the highway… so expect traffic noise and a lot of foot traffic around the building. While it worked for our short stay, would not stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Vijay

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Pleasant stay. No front desk. All check in done online. It's great for an introvert. The coffee machine did not work and even though i placed the card outside my door for "making my room" and replacing coffee pods, there was no service done. Communication for checkin and check out was great and convenient through SMS
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Dennis

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location, good value, pet friendly. No cleaning service our entire 5 day stay. Maybe that is standard procedure but it wasn't communicated to us.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Jonathan

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ranee

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved self check in no hassle every hotel motel should have this service. Enjoyed my stay & definitely will come back as I travel for work quite a bit.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Affordable, great large television, great beds, linens, bath towels, washroom, showers, heated mirror, large minifridge, lots of plugins. Would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and fast check in
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kai

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely room, nice staff
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rob

Traveled with pets, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The price point was amazing, and the experience was perfect for what we needed - a good night's sleep before traveling on the next day. It was clean and well kept. We would come back.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aileen

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean, comfortable bed, great shower
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Business traveler, Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great space, very conveniently located. Room was quiet and clean, bathroom was very good. Could have used a desk? Otherwise very nice for the price.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maeva

Traveled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It's the perfect spot if you are arriving from the ferry and need a place to stay for the night. I arrived there at 11 p.m. Check-in was easy, and communication was great and helpful. It is not quiet, so it is probably not the best for a long stay, but it is definitely very convenient, and everything was efficient. Also, it is pet-friendly, and that was the positive part for us. We will return if we arrive late at night or leave with the early morning ferry.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Marvin

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very noisy no sound proofing
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Felix

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
the room was super nice and new, comfortable bed, super clean and in general a good price
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeannette

Traveled with pets, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, pet-friendly, enclosed yard with small outdoor table made our stay comfortable-thank you.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

nichole

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Somer

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Worst trip and staff I have ever experienced. They rely on cancellations to make money. Don’t stay here!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Angie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
Room was very nice. Bathroom was very nice. Quality towels and bed was comfortable. Our only issue was that we didn’t get the email to check in. They texted us instead and since my phone was turned off to avoid international calls that was an obstacle. Would stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

JILL

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Small but has everything you need. Noisy since it's on a main arterial, traffic and sirens into the night. Unit was clean and tidy. Tiny back yard for ground floor units, can sit outdoors. No front desk, after checking time you get a room number and code to key into your unit. Felt safe, looked like video cameras monitor building. Fine for overnight stay passing through Nanaimo. Note: there was a problem with Expedia, my prepaid stay didn’t get credited, but when informed of the double charge, The Spot immediately refunded my second card charge.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Robin

Traveled with group
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Smelled like mold. Checked out at 930pm
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025