Vancouver Island is by far one of the most beautiful places to spend a day trip or weekend trip during the summertime, where there is so much natural beauty to discover. As first timers in Nanaimo, we couldn’t think of a better place to unwind and relax on a perfect coastal getaway at none other than the brand new Coast Bastion Hotel.

You’ll definitely want to check this spot out for your next date night, here’s how it went:

How to get there

The city of Nanaimo in Vancouver Island is easily accessible with BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay and it takes about an hour and 40 minutes to get there.

You’ll be dropped off at Departure Bay and the hotel is just a 10 minute drive from there.

We later discovered there’s also an even faster way to get there, with an express ferry service called Hullo, that takes about 70 minutes instead.

What to expect during your stay

With its newly renovated and modernized spaces, Coast Hotels offers unbeatable oceanside views and has top notch amenities. You can feel the hospitality the second you enter the space with the warm and welcoming staff all the way from check-in to check-out.

Each guest receives a Nanaimo bar and charcuterie board upon arrival to their room which is such a unique introduction to the city for first timers.

There’s no place like coast

During our stay, we had the chance to attend the grand unveiling of their reimagined spaces where they showcased the beautifully renovated rooms like the Coast King two bedroom suite and Coast Premium King suites.

A personal favourite of ours was the Coast Premium King Suite with the soaker tub. In this room, you get to admire the sweeping panorama ocean views and makes for a very fitting romantic staycation. 

The morning of

Complete your experience by having a delightful breakfast at the Minnoz restaurant that’s located conveniently at the ground floor of the hotel where you’ll get a view of the harbour-front, or stay in the comfort of your room and have it delivered with room service. With classics like a Canadian breakfast, avocado toasts and salmon benedict, there’s a dish for any kind of taste bud.

The coastal activities

Nanaimo is a small but charming town that has lots of nature activities to offer. For sunset, we headed to Sugarloaf Mountain, a very short hike to see a stunning panoramic viewpoint of Nanaimo. The next day, we explored the Little Mountain trail which is about a 2 hour hike that leads to a great view of the city.

To end our trip, we wandered around the old city quarter and went to White Rabbit coffee shop and Red’s bakery (for the best Nanaimo bars in town!)

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