---
title: "Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers vs Laneway Backpackers"
description: "Pick Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers. It leads in 2 of 4 categories. Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers or Laneway Backpackers in Wellington? Compare guest ratings…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington-vs-laneway-backpackers-wellington/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-15
---

# Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers vs Laneway Backpackers

Both are in Wellington, 1.3 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hostel · ★★★★ · Wellington Central
## [Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.7 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 8.6

- **Score by category:** 2 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1636981/agoda/?lang=en)

Hostel · ★★ · Te Aro
## [Laneway Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/laneway-backpackers-wellington/)

- **Guest rating:** 6.5 ·  Okay

- **Location score:** 8.5

- **Score by category:** 1 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1754373/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers

It leads in 2 of 4 categories. 1.3 km apart.

### Choose Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay
-   a big hotel with more facilities

### Choose Laneway Backpackers if you want

-   to be closer to the beach
-   a smaller, quieter hotel

### Why is Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers better than Laneway Backpackers?

1.  Higher guest rating (7.7 vs 6.5) (+1.2)
2.  Higher star rating (4★ vs 2★) (+2★)
3.  260 m closer to public transport (−260 m)
4.  More guest reviews (1,228 vs 52), so the rating is more reliable (×24)
5.  A larger hotel with more facilities (180 vs 40 rooms) (×4.5)

### Why is Laneway Backpackers better than Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers?

1.  640 m closer to the beach (510 m vs 1.2 km) (−640 m)
2.  6 more sights within 1 km (+6)
3.  Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h)
4.  A smaller, more intimate hotel (40 vs 180 rooms) (−140)

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers | Laneway Backpackers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 7.7  (+1.2) | 6.5 |
| Location | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Beach access | 6.4 | 8.6  (+2.2) |
| Public transport | 10.0  (+1.1) | 8.9 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 7.7  (+0.5) | 7.2 |
| Guest rating | 7.7  (+1.2) | 6.5 |
| Number of reviews | 1,228  (+1,176) | 52 |
| Google rating | – | 2.3/5 |
| Google reviews | – | 122 |
| Rank in Wellington | top 92%  (+3%) | top 95% |
| Location |
| Location score | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Distance to the centre | 540 m  (−360 m) | 900 m |
| To the beach | 1.2 km | 510 m  (−640 m) |
| To public transport | 90 m  (−260 m) | 350 m |
| To the airport | 5.6 km | 4.6 km  (−1.0 km) |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 127 | 150  (+23) |
| Sights within 1 km | 5 | 11  (+6) |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★  (+2★) | ★★ |
| Rooms | 180 | 40 |
| Floors | – | 1 |
| Listed amenities | 8 | 9 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 15:00 | 14:00  (−1h) |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24-hour front desk | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | – |
| Meeting rooms | ✓ | – |
| Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parking | – | ✓ |
| Bar | – | ✓ |
| Wheelchair accessible | – | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Families with children | ✓ | ✓ |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Beach holidays | – | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |
| Spa & relaxation | ✓ | ✓ |

[Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/laneway-backpackers-wellington-vs-hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington/)

## Location

1.3 km apart

## Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers or Laneway Backpackers: common questions

### Which is better, Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers or Laneway Backpackers?

Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers leads in 2 of 4 categories, including guest rating, public transport. Laneway Backpackers is stronger in beach access.

### Which is cheaper, Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers or Laneway Backpackers?

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

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers is closer: 540 m from the centre, against 900 m for Laneway Backpackers.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Laneway Backpackers is 510 m from the nearest beach; Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers is 1.2 km.

### How far apart are Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers and Laneway Backpackers?

The two hotels are 1.3 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers vs Rydges Wellington](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington-vs-rydges-wellington-wellington/)
-   [Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers vs Wellesley Boutique Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington-vs-wellesley-boutique-hotel-wellington/)
-   [Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers vs Quest on Lambton](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington-vs-quest-on-lambton-wellington/)
-   [Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers vs Quest on Johnston](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington-vs-quest-on-johnston-wellington/)
-   [Laneway Backpackers vs The Marion Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/laneway-backpackers-wellington-vs-the-marion-hostel-wellington/)
-   [Laneway Backpackers vs Lodge In The City](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/laneway-backpackers-wellington-vs-lodge-in-the-city-wellington/)
-   [Laneway Backpackers vs Naumi Studio Wellington](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/laneway-backpackers-wellington-vs-naumi-studio-wellington-wellington/)
-   [Laneway Backpackers vs Worldwide Backpackers Wellington](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/laneway-backpackers-wellington-vs-worldwide-backpackers-wellington-wellington/)

## 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/hotel-waterloo-backpackers-wellington-vs-laneway-backpackers-wellington/. 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/