--- title: "Palazzo Motor Lodge vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers: which hotel is better?" description: "Palazzo Motor Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-08 --- # Palazzo Motor Lodge vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers Both are in Nelson, 390 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Motel · ★★★★★ · Nelson ## [Palazzo Motor Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 9.6 · Exceptional - **Location score:** 5.2 - **Score by category:** 2 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1936169/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Nelson ## [YHA Nelson - Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 8.6 · Very good - **Location score:** 5.4 - **Score by category:** 2 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2358962/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 2 categories. Your priorities decide. 390 m apart. ### Choose Palazzo Motor Lodge if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.6 / 8.6) - a spa and wellness ### Choose YHA Nelson - Backpackers if you want - more restaurants on the doorstep (103 / 63) ### Why is Palazzo Motor Lodge better than YHA Nelson - Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (9.6 vs 8.6) (+1.0) 2. Has a spa ### Why is YHA Nelson - Backpackers better than Palazzo Motor Lodge? 1. 40 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+40) 2. 4 more listed amenities (18 vs 14) (+4) 3. Has an on-site restaurant ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Palazzo Motor Lodge | YHA Nelson - Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.6 (+1.0) | 8.6 | | Location | 5.2 | 5.4 | | Facilities | 4.2 | 5.8 (+1.6) | | Spa & wellness | 3.0 (+1.5) | 1.5 | | Beach access | 3.4 | 3.8 (+0.4) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.4 (+0.8) | 8.6 | | Guest rating | 9.6 (+1.0) | 8.6 | | Number of reviews | 107 | 161 (+54) | | Google rating | 4.9/5 (+1.0) | 3.9/5 | | Google reviews | 432 (+110) | 322 | | Rank in Nelson | top 2% (+71%) | bottom 27% | | Location | | Location score | 5.2 | 5.4 (+0.2) | | Distance to Nelson centre | 470 m | 270 m (−200 m) | | To the beach | 2.0 km | 1.9 km (−100 m) | | To the airport | 5.2 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 63 | 103 (+40) | | To the nearest food shop | 270 m | 80 m (−190 m) | | Shops within 500 m | 9 | 14 (+5) | | Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★★ | – | | Rooms | 16 | 26 | | Floors | 2 | 2 | | Newest building or renovation | 2021 | – | | 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 | ✓ | – | | Spa | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Air conditioning | ✓ | – | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ | | Shuttle | – | ✓ | | Restaurant | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Sauna | – | ✓ | | Smoke-free | – | ✓ | | LGBTQ+ friendly | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | ✓ | – | | 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. ## Nightly price by month Palazzo Motor LodgeYHA Nelson - Backpackers - YHA Nelson - Backpackers is cheaper in 9 of 9 months - Palazzo Motor Lodge: €98 a night on average · YHA Nelson - Backpackers: €61 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. [Palazzo Motor Lodge prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson/prices/) ## Location 390 m apart Palazzo Motor Lodge: city centre: 2.5 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 5.2 km, beach: 2.0 km, 63 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km. YHA Nelson - Backpackers: city centre: 2.6 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 5.4 km, beach: 1.9 km, 103 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) ## Palazzo Motor Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Palazzo Motor Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers? They are evenly matched. Palazzo Motor Lodge is stronger in guest rating, spa & wellness; YHA Nelson - Backpackers is stronger in facilities, beach access. ### Which is cheaper, Palazzo Motor Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers? Over the year YHA Nelson - Backpackers costs about €61 a night on average against €98 at Palazzo Motor Lodge, and it is cheaper in 9 of the 9 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? YHA Nelson - Backpackers is closer: 270 m from the centre, against 470 m for Palazzo Motor Lodge. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? YHA Nelson - Backpackers is 1.9 km from the nearest beach; Palazzo Motor Lodge is 2.0 km. ### How far apart are Palazzo Motor Lodge and YHA Nelson - Backpackers? The two hotels are 390 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/palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-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/