The Buccaneer Inn appears to be a motel from the outside, and your heart may sink for a brief moment if you prefer to stay in 4 star hotels. The Buccaneer Inn obviously was a motel in a previous incarnation. However, even from the outside, you will notice that there is something very different about this hotel (it is clearly no longer a motel in any sense, except that you can drive right up to, or below your room.). It is bedecked with flowers, is painted a clean, sparkling white and enjoys and enviable location overlooking a beautiful little harbor that will have you sighing, “Oh, Canada”. We stayed in the King Bed oceanview suite and had all of the comforts of home, including a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom all of which were decorated very tastefully with a nicely nautical theme that never crossed the line to kitsch. We had a chance to peer into other units, and there was an understated sense of comfort and casual elegance to all those we saw. The view outside our kitchen window was very lovely. While having your Tim Horton coffee (note to fellow Americans: this is high quality Canadian coffee blended and imported from someplace warmer!) you can gaze out at the harbor and to an island that feels so close you can reach out and touch it. When we did, we abandoned our plan to go snorkeling with the seals, and decided to go snuggling with the sea-snakes instead! The living room was provisioned with a nice, large television, a very comfortable sleeper sofa with pillows, a large fireplace, games to play, a desk to work on, and was nicely decorated. How often have you seen crown moulding in a “motel”? The kitchen was well equipped, right down to the corkscrew. The bedroom has a dresser, ceiling fan and plenty of closet space and one of the most comfortable beds that I have ever slept in, bar none, with beautiful, crisp, high quality sheets and bedding. A word about cleanliness: this place is spic and span. This place is radically, maybe even ridiculously clean. It is quite clear that the owners, Dave & Marlene are the engine behind the excellence. In anyone else’s hands, this would soon be a motel again in no time. But in their hands, the experience is closer to that of a B & B (without the second B) or, not surprisingly, an Inn with a very kind and attentive concierge. I missed Marlene, but I met Dave. He is a world traveler and is genuinely interested in other people. He enjoys running an Inn, or makes an excellent show of it. He is an expert on his surroundings and can steer you to dive spots, cultural attractions, groceries stores, and pleasant walkways. The Inn is located slightly away from Downtown Nanaimo, but you can walk there along a nice, dedicated pathway, which is what we did. We had some concerns about finding the Inn when we realized that the GPS in our rental car did not cover Nanaimo, however, when we got off the ferry in Departure Bay, we drove for a minute or so and there it was! That brings me to the only downside of my stay. I am a fresh air freak (something I am sure Canada would cure me of!) and noise averse. I found that I could hear the sound of cars rushing by pretty plainly through the kitchen and living room windows. However, there, too, the hoteliers have foreseen the problem and have installed high quality dual pain windows that, when closed, completely block any noise. In any season other than the height of summer, I imagine these would be closed anyway. I should also note that this noise did not travel to the bedroom, which was well off the street. I should also note there is little or no traffic later at night (this is a very small town) and that the Inn was as quiet as a Canadian waterfall in January. As noted by other reviewers, you could hear a pin drop. Excellent soundproofing and a well behaved clientele. I slept the sleep of the dead. As first time travelers to Canada, we had to move on to Victoria, where we stayed at a four star hotel (the new Marriott). We both agreed that the Buccaneer Inn and Nanaimo were much more memorable. We also prefer supporting Canadians, especially lovely families such as this one, than we do large corporate hotels. I mean, for heaven's sake, the Buccaneer Inn recycles! For value, the view, proximity to the ferry, the quiet and the pleasure of meeting Dave, why stay anywhere else? Americans: Get your passports (soon to be required) and go! Ask Dave about his travel bag!