The Cambie Heritage Hostel

Nanaimo’s party hostel for young budget travelers is The Cambie Heritage Hostel, 63 Victoria Cres. downtown. The pub at The Cambie has daily events and it really pumps up on Friday and Saturday nights with loud punk, rock, and hip hop, and the cover charge is waived for hostel guests. Party animals will be pleased to hear that there’s live music every night of the week at the Queen’s Hotel, 34 Victoria Cres. nearby. The area around The Cambie is rather seedy but the staff inside are friendly.

The Cambie Nanaimo is a three-story brick building erected in 1916. Each of the 11 basic rooms upstairs has a toilet and shower. There are three private rooms at $45 single or double including tax, and eight dormitories with four to six bunk beds each at $18.50 per person from October to April and $21 from May to September. A females-only dorm can be arranged. Weekly rates are available yearround, and from October to May there’s a low monthly rate. Check-in is at the bar and a $10 refundable key deposit is collected.

The Cambie offers a communal kitchen and eating area with a small TV in the lounge. A pay telephone and coin laundry are provided, but there’s no internet connection here. Smoking and pets are not allowed in the hostel. Off liquor sales are available downstairs and there’s ample free parking behind the building. The Cambie has two sister hostels in Vancouver at 300 Cambie Street and 515 Seymour Street.