--- title: "Admirals Motor Inn vs The Bug Backpackers | StayVersus" description: "Pick Admirals Motor Inn. It leads in 2 of 3 categories. Admirals Motor Inn or The Bug Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-15 --- # Admirals Motor Inn vs The Bug Backpackers Both are in Nelson, 930 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Motel · ★★★★ · Nelson South ## [Admirals Motor Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/admirals-motor-inn-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 8.9 · Excellent - **Location score:** 3.1 - **Score by category:** 2 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1099494/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · ★★★ · Toi Toi ## [The Bug Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-bug-backpackers-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 8.2 · Very good - **Location score:** 2.7 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2191987/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Admirals Motor Inn It leads in 2 of 3 categories. 930 m apart. ### Choose Admirals Motor Inn if you want - the more consistently praised stay ### Choose The Bug Backpackers if you want - to walk to the sights ### Why is Admirals Motor Inn better than The Bug Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (8.9 vs 8.2) (+0.7) 2. Higher star rating (4★ vs 3★) (+1★) 3. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 25 vs 15) (+10) 4. Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h) ### Why is The Bug Backpackers better than Admirals Motor Inn? 1. 570 m closer to the beach (1.6 km vs 2.1 km) (−570 m) 2. 700 m closer to the city centre (−700 m) 3. More guest reviews (188 vs 69), so the rating is more reliable (×2.7) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Admirals Motor Inn | The Bug Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.9 (+0.7) | 8.2 | | Location | 3.1 (+0.4) | 2.7 | | Facilities | 5.8 | – | | Families | 0.0 | – | | Spa & wellness | 0.0 | – | | Beach access | 2.9 | 4.9 (+2.0) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.8 (+0.6) | 8.3 | | Guest rating | 8.9 (+0.7) | 8.2 | | Number of reviews | 69 | 188 (+119) | | Google rating | 4.7/5 (+0.7) | 4.0/5 | | Google reviews | 375 (+163) | 212 | | Rank in Nelson | top 38% (+50%) | top 88% | | Location | | Location score | 3.1 (+0.4) | 2.7 | | Distance to the centre | 2.4 km | 1.7 km (−700 m) | | To the beach | 2.1 km | 1.6 km (−570 m) | | To the airport | 4.9 km | 4.0 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 3 | 2 | | Sights within 1 km | 1 | 0 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ (+1★) | ★★★ | | Rooms | 22 | 14 | | Floors | 2 | 1 | | Listed amenities | 19 (+8) | 11 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 (−1h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Shuttle | ✓ | – | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Concierge | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | – | | Free breakfast | ✓ | – | | Bar | ✓ | – | | 24-hour room service | ✓ | – | | Nightclub | ✓ | – | | Casino | ✓ | – | | Smoke-free | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ | | Terrace | – | ✓ | | Balcony | – | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | ✓ | ✓ | | Couples | ✓ | – | | Beach holidays | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – | | Business trips | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | ✓ | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-bug-backpackers-nelson-vs-admirals-motor-inn-nelson/) ## Location 930 m apart ## Admirals Motor Inn or The Bug Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Admirals Motor Inn or The Bug Backpackers? Admirals Motor Inn leads in 2 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location. The Bug Backpackers is stronger in beach access. ### Which is cheaper, Admirals Motor Inn or The Bug Backpackers? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? The Bug Backpackers is closer: 1.7 km from the centre, against 2.4 km for Admirals Motor Inn. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? The Bug Backpackers is 1.6 km from the nearest beach; Admirals Motor Inn is 2.1 km. ### How far apart are Admirals Motor Inn and The Bug Backpackers? The two hotels are 930 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Admirals Motor Inn vs The Hotel Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-nelson/) - [Admirals Motor Inn vs Century Park](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-century-park-nelson/) - [Admirals Motor Inn vs Palazzo Motor Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson/) - [Admirals Motor Inn vs Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson/) - [The Bug Backpackers vs The Hotel Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-bug-backpackers-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-nelson/) - [The Bug Backpackers vs Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/) - [The Bug Backpackers vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-bug-backpackers-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/