---
title: "Balmoral Motel vs Castles Motel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Balmoral Motel or Castles Motel in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/balmoral-motel-nelson-vs-castles-motel-nelson/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

# Balmoral Motel vs Castles Motel

Both are in Nelson, 330 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

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:** 3 of 5

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

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

- **Guest rating:** 8.2 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 6.8

- **Score by category:** 2 of 5

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1257621/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Balmoral Motel

It leads in 3 of 5 categories. 330 m apart.

### Choose Balmoral Motel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 8.2)

### Choose Castles Motel if you want

-   to be closer to the beach (480 m / 700 m)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (12 / 5)

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

1.  Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 8.2) (+0.8)
2.  Has a swimming pool
3.  330 m closer to the area centre (−330 m)

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

1.  210 m closer to the beach (480 m vs 700 m) (−210 m)
2.  Higher star rating (4★ vs 3.5★) (+0.5★)
3.  More guest reviews (55 vs 18), so the rating is more reliable (×3.1)
4.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 45 vs 34) (+11)

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | Balmoral Motel | Castles Motel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.0  (+0.8) | 8.2 |
| Location | 5.9 | 6.8  (+0.9) |
| Facilities | 5.0  (+0.8) | 4.2 |
| Spa & wellness | 1.5  (+0.5) | 1.0 |
| Beach access | 7.9 | 8.7  (+0.8) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.8  (+0.4) | 8.4 |
| Guest rating | 9.0  (+0.8) | 8.2 |
| Number of reviews | 18 | 55  (+37) |
| Google rating | 4.3/5  (+0.4) | 3.9/5 |
| Google reviews | 109  (+40) | 69 |
| Rank in Nelson | top 44%  (+41%) | bottom 15% |
| Location |
| Location score | 5.9 | 6.8  (+0.9) |
| Distance to Tāhunanui centre | 250 m  (−330 m) | 570 m |
| To the beach | 700 m | 480 m  (−210 m) |
| To the airport | 2.2 km | 2.5 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 5 | 12  (+7) |
| To the nearest food shop | 1.4 km  (−260 m) | 1.7 km |
| Shops within 500 m | 1 | 0 |
| Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★½ | ★★★★  (+0.5★) |
| Rooms | 13 | 11 |
| Listed amenities | 15  (+3) | 12 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airport transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor pool | ✓ | – |
| Beachfront | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | – |
| LGBTQ+ friendly | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Room service | – | ✓ |
| Hot tub | – | ✓ |
| Meeting rooms | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Beach holidays | – | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ |
| Business trips | – | ✓ |
| 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

330 m apart

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.

Castles Motel: city centre: 640 m, Nelson Airport (NSN): 2.5 km, beach: 480 m, 12 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)

## Balmoral Motel or Castles Motel: common questions

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

Balmoral Motel leads in 3 of 5 categories, including guest rating, facilities, spa & wellness. Castles Motel is stronger in location, beach access.

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

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

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Balmoral Motel is closer: 250 m from the centre, against 570 m for Castles Motel.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Castles Motel is 480 m from the nearest beach; Balmoral Motel is 700 m.

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

The two hotels are 330 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/balmoral-motel-nelson-vs-castles-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/