--- title: "Palms Motel vs The Sails Nelson: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick Palms Motel. It leads in 4 of 6 categories. Palms Motel or The Sails Nelson in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-the-sails-nelson-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-14 --- # Palms Motel vs The Sails Nelson Both are in Nelson, 550 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Motel · ★★★★ · Nelson ## [Palms Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/palms-motel-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 9.2 · Excellent - **Location score:** 5.1 - **Score by category:** 4 of 6 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1937742/agoda/?lang=en) Motel · ★★★★★ · The Wood ## [The Sails Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-sails-nelson-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 9.3 · Exceptional - **Location score:** 3.4 - **Score by category:** 0 of 6 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2215911/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Palms Motel It leads in 4 of 6 categories. 550 m apart. ### Choose Palms Motel if you want - to walk to the sights - more restaurants on the doorstep - a big hotel with more facilities ### Choose The Sails Nelson if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel ### Why is Palms Motel better than The Sails Nelson? 1. 220 m closer to the beach (1.8 km vs 2.0 km) (−220 m) 2. Has a swimming pool 3. 450 m closer to the city centre (−450 m) 4. 51 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+51) 5. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 66 vs 36) (+30) ### Why is The Sails Nelson better than Palms Motel? 1. Higher star rating (5★ vs 4★) (+1★) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Palms Motel | The Sails Nelson | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.2 | 9.3 | | Location | 5.1 (+1.7) | 3.4 | | Facilities | 5.0 | 5.0 | | Families | 1.0 (+1.0) | 0.0 | | Spa & wellness | 4.5 (+1.5) | 3.0 | | Beach access | 4.1 (+0.7) | 3.4 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.1 | 9.2 (+0.1) | | Guest rating | 9.2 | 9.3 (+0.1) | | Number of reviews | 128 (+27) | 101 | | Google rating | 4.6/5 | 4.8/5 (+0.2) | | Google reviews | 253 | 261 (+8) | | Rank in Nelson | top 8% | top 6% | | Location | | Location score | 5.1 (+1.7) | 3.4 | | Distance to the centre | 2.6 km (−450 m) | 3.1 km | | To the beach | 1.8 km (−220 m) | 2.0 km | | To the airport | 5.5 km | 6.0 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 59 (+51) | 8 | | Sights within 1 km | 2 | 1 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ (+1★) | | Rooms | 28 | 15 | | Floors | – | 2 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2012 | | Listed amenities | 15 | 17 (+2) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Room service | ✓ | ✓ | | Swimming pool | ✓ | – | | Spa | ✓ | ✓ | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Minibar | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | ✓ | – | | Couples | ✓ | – | | Beach holidays | ✓ | – | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – | | Business trips | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-sails-nelson-nelson-vs-palms-motel-nelson/) ## Location 550 m apart ## Palms Motel or The Sails Nelson: common questions ### Which is better, Palms Motel or The Sails Nelson? Palms Motel leads in 4 of 6 categories, including location, families, spa & wellness. ### Which is cheaper, Palms Motel or The Sails Nelson? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Palms Motel is closer: 2.6 km from the centre, against 3.1 km for The Sails Nelson. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Palms Motel is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; The Sails Nelson is 2.0 km. ### How far apart are Palms Motel and The Sails Nelson? The two hotels are 550 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Palms Motel vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [Palms Motel vs Tides Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/) - [Palms Motel vs Trafalgar Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-nelson/) - [Palms Motel vs DeLorenzo's Studio Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/delorenzo-s-studio-apartments-nelson-vs-palms-motel-nelson/) - [The Sails Nelson vs DeLorenzo's Studio Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/delorenzo-s-studio-apartments-nelson-vs-the-sails-nelson-nelson/) - [The Sails Nelson vs Tides Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-sails-nelson-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/) - [The Sails Nelson vs Cambria House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cambria-house-nelson-vs-the-sails-nelson-nelson/) - [The Sails Nelson vs Collingwood Manor Bed & Breakfast](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/collingwood-manor-bed-breakfast-nelson-vs-the-sails-nelson-nelson/) ## 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/palms-motel-nelson-vs-the-sails-nelson-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/