--- title: "Palms Motel vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers | StayVersus" description: "Pick Palms Motel. It leads in 4 of 6 categories. Palms Motel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-15 --- # Palms Motel vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers 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:** 4 of 6 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1937742/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:** 1 of 6 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2358962/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Palms Motel It leads in 4 of 6 categories. 310 m apart. ### Choose Palms Motel if you want - the more consistently praised stay - a spa and wellness ### Choose YHA Nelson - Backpackers if you want - more restaurants on the doorstep ### Why is Palms Motel better than YHA Nelson - Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 8.6) (+0.6) 2. Has a spa 3. Has a swimming pool ### Why is YHA Nelson - Backpackers better than Palms Motel? 1. 44 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+44) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Palms Motel | YHA Nelson - Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.2 (+0.6) | 8.6 | | Location | 5.1 | 5.4 (+0.3) | | Facilities | 5.0 (+0.8) | 4.2 | | Families | 1.0 (+1.0) | 0.0 | | Spa & wellness | 4.5 (+3.0) | 1.5 | | Beach access | 4.1 | 3.8 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.1 (+0.5) | 8.6 | | Guest rating | 9.2 (+0.6) | 8.6 | | Number of reviews | 128 | 161 (+33) | | Google rating | 4.6/5 (+0.7) | 3.9/5 | | Google reviews | 253 | 322 (+69) | | Rank in Nelson | top 8% (+66%) | top 74% | | Location | | Location score | 5.1 | 5.4 (+0.3) | | Distance to Nelson centre | 460 m | 270 m (−190 m) | | To the beach | 1.8 km (−110 m) | 1.9 km | | To the airport | 5.5 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 59 | 103 (+44) | | Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 28 | 26 | | Floors | – | 2 | | Listed amenities | 15 | 15 | | 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 | ✓ | ✓ | | Shuttle | – | ✓ | | Breakfast | – | ✓ | | Sauna | – | ✓ | | 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/yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson-vs-palms-motel-nelson/) ## Location 310 m apart ## Palms Motel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Palms Motel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers? Palms Motel leads in 4 of 6 categories, including guest rating, facilities, families. YHA Nelson - Backpackers is stronger in location. ### Which is cheaper, Palms Motel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? YHA Nelson - Backpackers is closer: 270 m from the centre, against 460 m for Palms Motel. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Palms Motel is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; YHA Nelson - Backpackers is 1.9 km. ### How far apart are Palms Motel and YHA Nelson - Backpackers? The two hotels are 310 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 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/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs Palazzo Motor Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs Innbetween Lodge And Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/innbetween-lodge-and-backpackers-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-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-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/