---
title: "Palms Motel vs Trafalgar Lodge: which hotel is better?"
description: "Pick Palms Motel. It leads in 3 of 3 categories. Palms Motel or Trafalgar Lodge in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-nelson/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-21
---

# Palms Motel vs Trafalgar Lodge

Both are in Nelson, 380 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:** 3 of 3

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

Inn · ★★★ · Nelson
## [Trafalgar Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/trafalgar-lodge-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.4 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 4.5

- **Score by category:** 0 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2240808/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Palms Motel

It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 380 m apart.

### Choose Palms Motel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.2 / 8.4)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (59 / 28)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 28 / 5)

### Choose Trafalgar Lodge if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 5 / 28)

### Why is Palms Motel better than Trafalgar Lodge?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 8.4) (+0.8)
2.  Higher star rating (4★ vs 3★) (+1★)
3.  More guest reviews (128 vs 17), so the rating is more reliable (×7.5)
4.  31 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+31)
5.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 66 vs 56) (+10)

### Why is Trafalgar Lodge better than Palms Motel?

No clear advantages in our data.

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | Palms Motel | Trafalgar Lodge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.2  (+0.8) | 8.4 |
| Location | 5.1  (+0.6) | 4.5 |
| Facilities | 5.8 | – |
| Spa & wellness | 6.0 | – |
| Beach access | 4.1  (+0.9) | 3.2 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 9.1  (+0.5) | 8.6 |
| Guest rating | 9.2  (+0.8) | 8.4 |
| Number of reviews | 128  (+111) | 17 |
| Google rating | 4.6/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 253 | – |
| Rank in Nelson | top 10%  (+69%) | top 79% |
| Location |
| Location score | 5.1  (+0.6) | 4.5 |
| Distance to Nelson centre | 460 m  (−130 m) | 590 m |
| To the beach | 1.8 km  (−270 m) | 2.1 km |
| To the airport | 5.5 km | 5.9 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 59  (+31) | 28 |
| To the nearest food shop | 90 m  (−210 m) | 300 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 10  (+7) | 3 |
| Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★  (+1★) | ★★★ |
| Rooms | 28 | 5 |
| Listed amenities | 18  (+14) | 4 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Free parking | ✓ | – |
| EV charging | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | – |
| Breakfast | ✓ | – |
| Room service | ✓ | – |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | – |
| Spa | ✓ | – |
| Gym | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | – |
| Kitchen | ✓ | – |
| Balcony | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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.

## Location

380 m apart

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.

Trafalgar Lodge: city centre: 3.0 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 5.9 km, beach: 2.1 km, 28 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)

## Palms Motel or Trafalgar Lodge: common questions

### Which is better, Palms Motel or Trafalgar Lodge?

Palms Motel leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, beach access.

### Which is cheaper, Palms Motel or Trafalgar Lodge?

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: 460 m from the centre, against 590 m for Trafalgar Lodge.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Palms Motel is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; Trafalgar Lodge is 2.1 km.

### How far apart are Palms Motel and Trafalgar Lodge?

The two hotels are 380 m apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Palms Motel vs Tides Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/)
-   [Palms Motel vs Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-palms-motel-nelson/)
-   [Palms Motel vs The Sails Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-the-sails-nelson-nelson/)
-   [Trafalgar Lodge vs Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-nelson/)
-   [Trafalgar Lodge vs Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-nelson/)
-   [Trafalgar Lodge vs Admirals Motor Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-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-trafalgar-lodge-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/
