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
- Guest rating
- 9.0 Excellent
- Location score
- 5.3
- Score by category
- 2 of 3
HostelToi Toi
The Bug Backpackers
- Guest rating
- 8.2 Very good
- Location score
- 2.7
- Score by category
- 1 of 3
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?
- 1Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 8.2)+0.8
- 290 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m+90
- 3More walkable surroundings (walk grade 72 vs 15)+57
- 4Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00)−1h
- 5A larger hotel with more facilities (99 vs 14 rooms)×7.1
Why is The Bug Backpackers better than Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel?
- 1970 m closer to the city centre−970 m
- 2More guest reviews (188 vs 19), so the rating is more reliable×9.9
- 3A 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 vs The Bug Backpackers: which hotel is better? | 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 | – | ✓ |
Price for your dates
Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel
Prices come from booking partners and can change. The final price is shown before you book.
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
All months
| Month | Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel | The Bug Backpackers |
|---|---|---|
| November | €141 | €33 |
| December | €110 | €33 |
| January | €133 | €33 |
| February | €143 | €35 |
| March | €143 | €35 |
| April | €113 | €35 |
| May | €123 | €33 |
| June | €120 | €33 |
| July | €117 | €33 |
| August | €117 | €33 |
| September | €120 | €33 |
| October | €144 | €33 |
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.
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
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