---
title: "Arcadia Motel vs Balmoral Motel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Arcadia Motel or Balmoral Motel in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/arcadia-motel-nelson-vs-balmoral-motel-nelson/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-04
---

# Arcadia Motel vs Balmoral Motel

Both are in Nelson, 490 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Motel · ★★★★ · Tāhunanui
## [Arcadia Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/arcadia-motel-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.1 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 5.7

- **Score by category:** 3 of 5

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1152093/agoda/?lang=en)

Motel · ★★★½ · Tāhunanui
## [Balmoral Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/balmoral-motel-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.0 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 5.9

- **Score by category:** 0 of 5

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1183254/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Arcadia Motel

It leads in 3 of 5 categories. 490 m apart.

### Choose Arcadia Motel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.1 / 9.0)
-   a spa and wellness

### Why is Arcadia Motel better than Balmoral Motel?

1.  Has a spa
2.  Higher star rating (4★ vs 3.5★) (+0.5★)
3.  More guest reviews (102 vs 18), so the rating is more reliable (×5.7)
4.  Has an on-site restaurant

### Why is Balmoral Motel better than Arcadia Motel?

1.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 34 vs 19) (+15)
2.  Offers an airport transfer

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Arcadia Motel | Balmoral Motel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Location | 5.7 | 5.9 |
| Facilities | 6.7  (+1.7) | 5.0 |
| Spa & wellness | 4.5  (+3.0) | 1.5 |
| Beach access | 8.4  (+0.5) | 7.9 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 9.0  (+0.2) | 8.8 |
| Guest rating | 9.1  (+0.1) | 9.0 |
| Number of reviews | 102  (+84) | 18 |
| Google rating | 4.7/5  (+0.4) | 4.3/5 |
| Google reviews | 196  (+87) | 109 |
| Rank in Nelson | top 15%  (+29%) | top 44% |
| Location |
| Location score | 5.7 | 5.9  (+0.2) |
| Distance to Tāhunanui centre | 330 m | 250 m |
| To the beach | 560 m  (−130 m) | 700 m |
| To the airport | 1.7 km | 2.2 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 1 | 5  (+4) |
| To the nearest food shop | 1.3 km  (−110 m) | 1.4 km |
| Shops within 500 m | 1 | 1 |
| Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★  (+0.5★) | ★★★½ |
| Rooms | 12 | 13 |
| Floors | 2 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 2022 | – |
| Listed amenities | 18  (+3) | 15 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laundry | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Restaurant | ✓ | – |
| Bar | ✓ | – |
| Room service | ✓ | – |
| Spa | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| LGBTQ+ friendly | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| Airport transfer | – | ✓ |
| Outdoor pool | – | ✓ |
| Beachfront | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Beach holidays | ✓ | – |
| Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ |
| Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

490 m apart

Arcadia Motel: city centre: 1.3 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 1.7 km, beach: 560 m, 1 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km.

Balmoral Motel: city centre: 930 m, Nelson Airport (NSN): 2.2 km, beach: 700 m, 5 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Nelson

[Nelson weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/new-zealand/nelson-region/nelson/weather)

## Arcadia Motel or Balmoral Motel: common questions

### Which is better, Arcadia Motel or Balmoral Motel?

Arcadia Motel leads in 3 of 5 categories, including facilities, spa & wellness, beach access.

### Which is cheaper, Arcadia Motel or Balmoral Motel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Arcadia Motel is 560 m from the nearest beach; Balmoral Motel is 700 m.

### How far apart are Arcadia Motel and Balmoral Motel?

The two hotels are 490 m apart in a straight line.

## 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/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/arcadia-motel-nelson-vs-balmoral-motel-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/