---
title: "Kings Gate Motel vs Palms Motel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Kings Gate Motel or Palms Motel in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-palms-motel-nelson/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-06
---

# Kings Gate Motel vs Palms Motel

Both are in Nelson, 500 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Motel · ★★★½ · The Wood
## [Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/kings-gate-motel-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.8 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 3.4

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

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1728094/agoda/?lang=en)

Motel · ★★★★ · Nelson
## [Palms Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/palms-motel-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.2 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 5.1

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

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1937742/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Palms Motel

It leads in 5 of 5 categories. 500 m apart.

### Choose Kings Gate Motel if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 11 / 28)

### Choose Palms Motel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.2 / 7.8)
-   to walk to the sights (2.6 km / 3.1 km)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (59 / 8)
-   a spa and wellness

### Why is Kings Gate Motel better than Palms Motel?

No clear advantages in our data.

### Why is Palms Motel better than Kings Gate Motel?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 7.8) (+1.4)
2.  Has a spa
3.  Higher star rating (4★ vs 3.5★) (+0.5★)
4.  More guest reviews (128 vs 41), so the rating is more reliable (×3.1)
5.  51 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+51)
6.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 66 vs 36) (+30)
7.  4 more listed amenities (18 vs 14) (+4)

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | Kings Gate Motel | Palms Motel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 7.8 | 9.2  (+1.4) |
| Location | 3.4 | 5.1  (+1.7) |
| Facilities | 4.2 | 5.8  (+1.6) |
| Spa & wellness | 1.5 | 6.0  (+4.5) |
| Beach access | 3.0 | 4.1  (+1.1) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.2 | 9.1  (+0.9) |
| Guest rating | 7.8 | 9.2  (+1.4) |
| Number of reviews | 41 | 128  (+87) |
| Google rating | 3.8/5 | 4.6/5  (+0.8) |
| Google reviews | 133 | 253  (+120) |
| Rank in Nelson | bottom 4% | top 10%  (+86%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 3.4 | 5.1  (+1.7) |
| Distance to the centre | 3.1 km | 2.6 km  (−430 m) |
| To the beach | 2.1 km | 1.8 km  (−310 m) |
| To the airport | 6.0 km | 5.5 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 8 | 59  (+51) |
| To the nearest food shop | 420 m | 90 m  (−340 m) |
| Shops within 500 m | 3 | 10  (+7) |
| Sights within 1 km | 1 | 2 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★½ | ★★★★  (+0.5★) |
| Rooms | 11 | 28 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2017 | – |
| Listed amenities | 14 | 18  (+4) |
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Room service | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| LGBTQ+ friendly | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| EV charging | – | ✓ |
| Spa | – | ✓ |
| Gym | – | ✓ |
| Kitchen | – | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | – | ✓ |
| 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.

## Nightly price by month

Kings Gate MotelPalms Motel

           

-   Kings Gate Motel is cheaper in 11 of 12 months
-   Kings Gate Motel: €75 a night on average · Palms Motel: €113 a night on average

Pick a month to check today's price for its cheapest date.

[Hotel prices in Nelson by month](https://stayversus.com/en/new-zealand/nelson/prices/)

Averages of real one-night prices for two adults on Agoda, a Tuesday and a Saturday in each month, last checked 21 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book.

[Kings Gate Motel prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/kings-gate-motel-nelson/prices/)[Palms Motel prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/palms-motel-nelson/prices/)

## Location

500 m apart

Kings Gate Motel: city centre: 3.1 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 6.0 km, beach: 2.1 km, 8 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

Palms Motel: city centre: 2.6 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 5.5 km, beach: 1.8 km, 59 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)

## Kings Gate Motel or Palms Motel: common questions

### Which is better, Kings Gate Motel or Palms Motel?

Palms Motel leads in 5 of 5 categories, including guest rating, location, facilities.

### Which is cheaper, Kings Gate Motel or Palms Motel?

Over the year Kings Gate Motel costs about €75 a night on average against €113 at Palms Motel, and it is cheaper in 11 of the 12 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Palms Motel is closer: 2.6 km from the centre, against 3.1 km for Kings Gate Motel.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Palms Motel is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; Kings Gate Motel is 2.1 km.

### How far apart are Kings Gate Motel and Palms Motel?

The two hotels are 500 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/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-palms-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/
