Coast Bastion Inn Nanaimo

It has been announced that a $50-million Marriott Hotel will be built next to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in downtown Nanaimo. Construction of the 170-room Marriott has yet to begin, and until it opens in June 2010, the Coast Bastion Inn Nanaimo will remain the city’s top city centre hotel.

The 15-story Coast Bastion Inn Nanaimo, 11 Bastion St., was built in 1985 and has 177 rooms, 68 of them suites. Prices range from around $150 plus 13 percent tax for a standard room to $275 plus tax for a premium suite with Jacuzzi. The rates do vary and one should always ask about “specials” when calling. Extra charges are levied for underground parking, pets, and pay-per-view movies.

All of the premium and superior rooms are on the top floors--avoid the third floor where the smoking rooms are found. All rooms have a small stand-up balcony and one should request one facing the harbour. A bath tub, desk, TV, and coffee maker are provided in all, but only the premium rooms have a minibar.

The Coast Bastion has a tiny fitness room and sauna for guests. Public facilities include meeting rooms able to accommodate up to 400 people just upstairs from the small carpeted lobby. Until the Conference Centre opened in 2008, most downtown conferences and presentations occurred here.

The Coast Bastion’s Minnoz Restaurant and Lounge (daily 6:30 am to 10 pm) off the lobby has a good reputation. The menu gravitates toward seafood, although the beef, chicken, and pasta choices are adequate. Tapas are served in the lounge (open until midnight). Rooms service is available around the clock. Have a look at the First Nations art for sale in the Copper Moon Gallery on the opposite side of the lobby from the restaurant.