--- title: "Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel vs The Bug Backpackers" description: "Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel or The Bug Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-07 --- # Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel vs The Bug Backpackers Both are in Nelson, 1.5 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hotel · ★★★★ · Nelson ## [Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 9.0 · Excellent - **Location score:** 5.3 - **Score by category:** 2 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2048151/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Toi Toi ## [The Bug Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-bug-backpackers-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 8.2 · Very good - **Location score:** 2.7 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2191987/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel It leads in 2 of 3 categories. 1.5 km apart. ### Choose Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 8.2) - more restaurants on the doorstep (92 / 2) - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 99 / 14) ### Choose The Bug Backpackers if you want - to walk to the sights (1.7 km / 2.7 km) - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 14 / 99) ### Why is Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel better than The Bug Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 8.2) (+0.8) 2. 90 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+90) 3. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 72 vs 15) (+57) 4. Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h) 5. A larger hotel with more facilities (99 vs 14 rooms) (×7.1) ### Why is The Bug Backpackers better than Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel? 1. 970 m closer to the city centre (−970 m) 2. More guest reviews (188 vs 19), so the rating is more reliable (×9.9) 3. A smaller, more intimate hotel (14 vs 99 rooms) (−85) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel | The Bug Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.0 (+0.8) | 8.2 | | Location | 5.3 (+2.6) | 2.7 | | Facilities | – | 3.3 | | Spa & wellness | – | 0.0 | | Beach access | 3.1 | 4.9 (+1.8) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.8 (+0.6) | 8.3 | | Guest rating | 9.0 (+0.8) | 8.2 | | Number of reviews | 19 | 188 (+169) | | Google rating | – | 4.0/5 | | Google reviews | – | 212 | | Rank in Nelson | top 42% (+45%) | bottom 13% | | Location | | Location score | 5.3 (+2.6) | 2.7 | | Distance to the centre | 2.7 km | 1.7 km (−970 m) | | To the beach | 2.1 km | 1.6 km (−530 m) | | To the airport | 5.4 km | 4.0 km (−1.4 km) | | Restaurants within 500 m | 92 (+90) | 2 | | To the nearest food shop | 240 m (−1.0 km) | 1.3 km | | Shops within 500 m | 10 (+9) | 1 | | Sights within 1 km | 2 (+2) | 0 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | – | | Rooms | 99 | 14 | | Floors | 9 | 1 | | Newest building or renovation | 2021 | – | | Listed amenities | – | 12 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 (−1h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Laundry | – | ✓ | | Breakfast | – | ✓ | | Terrace | – | ✓ | | Air conditioning | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | Balcony | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | ✓ | – | | Beach holidays | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – | | Business trips | – | ✓ | ## 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 Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage HotelThe Bug Backpackers - The Bug Backpackers is cheaper in 12 of 12 months - Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel: €127 a night on average · The Bug Backpackers: €34 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 22 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book. [The Bug Backpackers prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-bug-backpackers-nelson/prices/) ## Location 1.5 km apart Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel: city centre: 2.7 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 5.4 km, beach: 2.1 km, 92 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km. The Bug Backpackers: city centre: 1.7 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 4.0 km, beach: 1.6 km, 2 places to eat within 500 m. ## Weather in Nelson [Nelson weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/new-zealand/nelson-region/nelson/weather) ## Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel or The Bug Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel or The Bug Backpackers? Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel leads in 2 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location. The Bug Backpackers is stronger in beach access. ### Which is cheaper, Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel or The Bug Backpackers? Over the year The Bug Backpackers costs about €34 a night on average against €127 at Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel, and it is cheaper in 12 of the 12 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? The Bug Backpackers is closer: 1.7 km from the centre, against 2.7 km for Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? The Bug Backpackers is 1.6 km from the nearest beach; Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel is 2.1 km. ### How far apart are Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel and The Bug Backpackers? The two hotels are 1.5 km 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/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-the-bug-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/