Wellness Hotels with Saunas and Pools in Nanaimo
None of the Nanaimo hotels on this page lists a full-service spa with treatments. What they do offer is a set of wellness facilities that matter after a ferry crossing or a day on the trails: a hot tub and a dry cedar sauna at the Inn on Long Lake, indoor pools and hot tubs at the Courtyard by Marriott and the Days Inn, and fitness rooms at the Coast Bastion, The Grand Hotel, the Quality Inn and the Ramada. Add the Harbourfront Walkway and the trails of Newcastle Island, and a restorative stay is still possible here.
Nanaimo is a working harbour city on Vancouver Island, more outdoors than pampering. Its restorative side is found along the Harbourfront Walkway, on the trails of Newcastle Island across the water, and around the lakes such as Long Lake, a few minutes from the centre by car.
Saunas, Pools and Waterfront Walks in Nanaimo
Choosing a wellness hotel in Nanaimo means choosing the right facility rather than a spa menu: a sauna and a hot tub by the lake, a pool for a morning swim, or a gym close to the Harbourfront Walkway for a run along the water. I sort the hotels below by what each one actually provides.
Among these hotels, the Inn on Long Lake comes closest to a wellness retreat. Ten minutes from downtown Nanaimo, it pairs a hot tub with a dry cedar sauna and gym equipment, and every room opens onto Long Lake through a balcony or a patio. A continental breakfast is served daily, and a shuttle runs to Nanaimo Airport. With a rating of 8.5 over more than a thousand reviews, it is the address I would pick for a few quiet days built around the sauna, the lake view and early nights rather than city evenings.
For swimmers, two hotels have indoor pools. The Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo offers an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub and a fitness centre near Nanaimo Harbour, with air-conditioned rooms and a restaurant serving all meals; its rating is 8.5, though the on-site casino makes the building less calm than its facilities suggest. The Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo has a heated indoor pool and a hot tub with harbour views, about 5.5 km from the Departure Bay ferry terminal, for a rating of 7.5 and a simpler stay. Both pools are indoors, so they work in any season.
Downtown, the Coast Bastion Hotel suits travellers whose idea of wellness is exercise and fresh air. It has a fitness room, bathrobes in select rooms and rooms facing the ocean or the city, and the Harbourfront Walkway is two minutes away, a flat route along the water for a morning run or a long walk to Maffeo Sutton Park. Its rating of 8.7 is the highest on this page. From the park, the seasonal foot-passenger ferry reaches Newcastle Island, whose trails around the shore make a good half-day outing on foot before returning to the hotel.
The remaining hotels offer fitness rooms rather than true wellness facilities. The Grand Hotel Nanaimo, a ten-minute drive from Departure Bay, has a fitness centre alongside its restaurant and whisky and wine bar. The Quality Inn adds a sun terrace and kitchenettes for preparing your own meals, eight minutes from the Nanaimo Museum, and the Ramada includes breakfast with its fitness centre, six minutes from the Harbourfront Walkway. The Best Western Dorchester Hotel is tagged for wellness, but its listing mentions no pool, sauna or gym. I would not choose it for a stay focused on wellness.
A traveler's takeFor a wellness break, I would book the Inn on Long Lake: a hot tub, a dry cedar sauna and a balcony over the lake, ten minutes from downtown Nanaimo. If you prefer swimming, my recommendation is the Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo, with an indoor pool and a hot tub near the harbour.
4.4Coast Bastion Hotel
Spa & Wellness · 900 reviewsHarbourfront hotel with ocean views and a short walk to downtown Nanaimo
Why guests love itCoast Bastion puts families in the centre of Nanaimo, a two-minute walk from the shops and restaurants of the Harbourfront Walkway, where children can watch floatplanes and ferries. Rooms have ocean or city views, so ask for the ocean side. An on-site restaurant and a fitness room are available, and select rooms include a refrigerator and bathrobes. There is no pool listed. Pets are welcome. The 8.7 rating from about 900 reviews is strong.
4.3Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
Spa & Wellness · 653 reviewsWaterfront hotel with indoor pool, hot tub, and on-site casino
Why guests love itCourtyard by Marriott Nanaimo is a comfortable family base near Nanaimo Harbour, with waterfront access for walks along the water. The indoor pool and hot tub are ready in any weather, and rooms include a sofa bed, which gives extra sleeping space for a child. The on-site restaurant serves American food at every meal. A casino and fitness centre are on site too, though they are more for adults. Guests rate it 8.5/10 from over 650 reviews.
4.3Inn on Long Lake
Spa & Wellness · 1019 reviewsLakefront rooms with balconies, a hot tub, and a cedar sauna
Why guests love itFamilies love a lake view, and every room at the Inn on Long Lake has one, with a balcony or patio looking over the water. A daily continental breakfast keeps mornings easy, and the hot tub and dry cedar sauna give parents a quiet hour once children are in bed. Downtown Nanaimo is about 10 minutes away for the harbour and ferries, and a shuttle to Nanaimo Airport is available. There is no pool listed, so lakeside play replaces swimming indoors.
4.1The Grand Hotel Nanaimo
Spa & Wellness · 577 reviewsConvenient Nanaimo hotel with a whisky bar and fitness centre
Why guests love itThe Grand Hotel Nanaimo is a handy base for families arriving on Vancouver Island by ferry, as Departure Bay terminal is a 10-minute drive away. Rooms include a refrigerator and coffee machine, useful for snacks and early starts, and some have a balcony. The restaurant serves West Coast cuisine, so dinner can stay on site after a day out. The whisky and wine bar and the fitness centre are more for adults. Guests rate it 8.2/10.
4.1Quality Inn
Spa & Wellness · 424 reviewsComfortable rooms with kitchenettes near Nanaimo Harbour
4.1Best Western Dorchester Hotel
Spa & Wellness · 948 reviewsHarbour views, downtown convenience, and pet-friendly stays in Nanaimo
Why guests love itI would recommend the Best Western Dorchester to families who want downtown Nanaimo with water in view. The hotel overlooks the harbour, directly across from the Seaplane Terminal, so watching the floatplanes take off is free entertainment for children. Parking and WiFi are free, which keeps a road trip simple, and rooms have coffee makers. The View restaurant has water vistas, and Top Notch Burgers in the lobby suits a casual meal. Pets are accepted.
3.8Ramada by Wyndham Nanaimo
Spa & Wellness · 391 reviewsWaterfront access, complimentary breakfast, and select rooms with balconies
Why guests love itThe Harbourfront Walkway is about a six-minute walk away, so families can reach the Nanaimo waterfront on foot for an easy outing. Breakfast is complimentary each morning, which keeps the start of the day simple, and some rooms have balconies if you want a little extra space. A fitness centre and free WiFi complete a practical package. I would choose it for families who want the harbour within walking distance without paying for a waterfront hotel.
3.8Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
Spa & Wellness · 1207 reviewsHarbour views, an indoor pool, and pet-friendly rooms on Vancouver Island
Why guests love itDays Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo is a useful family stop on Vancouver Island, about 5.5 km from the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal, so it works well the night before or after a crossing. The heated indoor pool and hot tub give children something to look forward to, the on-site restaurant covers dinner, and the harbour views make the room more pleasant. Four rooms are designated pet-friendly. With a 7.5 rating across 1,207 reviews, I see it as a practical ferry-night base.
Local tips
- 1Book the Inn on Long Lake if a sauna matters to you, since it is the only hotel here with a dry cedar sauna.
- 2Pick the Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo for a morning swim in its indoor pool, then use the hot tub in the evening.
- 3Run or walk the Harbourfront Walkway from the Coast Bastion Hotel, two minutes from the hotel entrance.
- 4Cross to Newcastle Island on the seasonal ferry from Maffeo Sutton Park for a half-day walk on its shoreline trails.
- 5Stay at the Quality Inn to cook light meals in its kitchenettes and relax on the sun terrace.
- 6Do not book the Best Western Dorchester Hotel for wellness facilities: its listing does not mention a pool, sauna or gym.