Nanaimo · Canada
BlueBird Motel
Bed bug reports
-
Guest report Booking.com
Nothing but the location The room was a suite that was run down. No lock on the bedroom window and its ground floor . Suite smelt like stale cigarette. The beds were awful and soggy . The pull out couch had a spider in it when we pulled it out . The mattress was so thin we could feel every bar . I believe the property had bed bugs . I have multiple bite marks on my one leg in clusters that are extremely itchy . Definitely not mosquitos . It was $230 for a dump .
-
Guest report Booking.com
Nothing Our bedding was dirty and uncomfortable. I took pictures of what looks to be bed bug waste, there was gross used ear plugs under the bed and moth balls galore. Our toilet flooded in the middle of the night which they blamed us for and kicked us out a night early which had already been paid for and refused to reimburse us.
Vibe Analysis
Rooms with real cooking space are the main practical win here. Some units have a full kitchen or kitchenette, seating, a fridge, and enough room to feel closer to a small apartment than a basic crash pad, which helps for ferry overnights, family stops, and cheap self-catering in Nanaimo. BlueBird Motel is best framed as an older, budget motel with useful basics: clean rooms are common, bathrooms may be updated, parking is straightforward, and the Departure Bay ferry is close. The location also works for errands, gas, fast food, groceries, and getting around by car. The tradeoff is grit. Cigarette smoke around doors, stairs, hallways, and occasionally inside rooms is a recurring problem, even where non-smoking rules exist. Noise can also hit from the main road, loud neighbors, rattly air conditioning, loud fridges, and late activity outside. Comfort and upkeep are uneven. Beds range from comfortable to lumpy or worn out, and there are scattered problems with broken fixtures, weak amenities, missing towels or soap, difficult doors, TV issues, and cooling that may not keep up. Staff experiences swing from warm and helpful to blunt or unfriendly.
Signals to check
- Strong cigarette smoke risk around rooms and outdoor walkways.
- Noise can come from traffic, neighboring rooms, outside activity, AC units, and fridges.
- Beds, furniture, fixtures, and basic amenities are inconsistent.
- Not a social hostel vibe; better for a cheap, practical motel stop near the ferry.