---
title: "Palms Motel vs Tides Hotel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Pick Palms Motel. It leads in 2 of 6 categories. Palms Motel or Tides Hotel in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-14
---

# Palms Motel vs Tides Hotel

Both are in Nelson, 310 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:** 2 of 6

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

Hotel · ★★★★★ · Nelson
## [Tides Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/tides-hotel-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.8 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 4.8

- **Score by category:** 1 of 6

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2229753/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Palms Motel

It leads in 2 of 6 categories. 310 m apart.

### Choose Palms Motel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay
-   free parking

### Why is Palms Motel better than Tides Hotel?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 8.8) (+0.4)
2.  190 m closer to the beach (1.8 km vs 2.0 km) (−190 m)
3.  14 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+14)
4.  Has free parking

### Why is Tides Hotel better than Palms Motel?

1.  Higher star rating (4.5★ vs 4★) (+0.5★)
2.  More guest reviews (262 vs 128), so the rating is more reliable (×2.0)
3.  Has an on-site restaurant
4.  Earlier check-in (13:00 vs 14:00) (−1h)

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | Palms Motel | Tides Hotel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.2  (+0.4) | 8.8 |
| Location | 5.1 | 4.8 |
| Facilities | 5.0 | 6.7  (+1.7) |
| Families | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Spa & wellness | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Beach access | 4.1  (+0.6) | 3.5 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 9.1  (+0.3) | 8.8 |
| Guest rating | 9.2  (+0.4) | 8.8 |
| Number of reviews | 128 | 262  (+134) |
| Google rating | 4.6/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 253 | – |
| Rank in Nelson | top 8%  (+42%) | top 50% |
| Location |
| Location score | 5.1  (+0.3) | 4.8 |
| Distance to Nelson centre | 460 m | 470 m |
| To the beach | 1.8 km  (−190 m) | 2.0 km |
| To the airport | 5.5 km | 5.8 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 59  (+14) | 45 |
| Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★★  (+0.5★) |
| Rooms | 28 | 47 |
| Floors | – | 2 |
| Newest building or renovation | – | 2011 |
| Listed amenities | 15 | 18  (+3) |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 13:00  (−1h) |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Room service | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen | ✓ | – |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ |
| Restaurant | – | ✓ |
| Bar | – | ✓ |
| Outdoor pool | – | ✓ |
| Meeting rooms | – | ✓ |
| 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/tides-hotel-nelson-vs-palms-motel-nelson/)

## Location

310 m apart

## Palms Motel or Tides Hotel: common questions

### Which is better, Palms Motel or Tides Hotel?

Palms Motel leads in 2 of 6 categories, including guest rating, beach access. Tides Hotel is stronger in facilities.

### Which is cheaper, Palms Motel or Tides Hotel?

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

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Palms Motel is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; Tides Hotel is 2.0 km.

### How far apart are Palms Motel and Tides Hotel?

The two hotels are 310 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 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/)
-   [Tides Hotel vs DeLorenzo's Studio Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/delorenzo-s-studio-apartments-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/)
-   [Tides Hotel vs Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/)
-   [Tides Hotel vs The Sails Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-sails-nelson-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-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/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-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/