--- title: "Tasman Bay Backpackers vs Trafalgar Lodge: which hotel is better?" description: "Tasman Bay Backpackers or Trafalgar Lodge in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-27 --- # Tasman Bay Backpackers vs Trafalgar Lodge Both are in Nelson, 450 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · The Wood ## [Tasman Bay Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 9.0 · Excellent - **Location score:** 3.3 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2180413/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:** 2 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2240808/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Trafalgar Lodge It leads in 2 of 3 categories. 450 m apart. ### Choose Tasman Bay Backpackers if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 8.4) - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 20 / 5) ### Choose Trafalgar Lodge if you want - to walk to the sights (3.0 km / 3.4 km) - more restaurants on the doorstep (28 / 2) - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 5 / 20) ### Why is Tasman Bay Backpackers better than Trafalgar Lodge? 1. Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 8.4) (+0.6) 2. More guest reviews (310 vs 17), so the rating is more reliable (×18) 3. Earlier check-in (12:00 vs 14:00) (−2h) ### Why is Trafalgar Lodge better than Tasman Bay Backpackers? 1. 26 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+26) 2. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 56 vs 27) (+29) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Tasman Bay Backpackers | Trafalgar Lodge | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.0 (+0.6) | 8.4 | | Location | 3.3 | 4.5 (+1.2) | | Beach access | 1.7 | 3.2 (+1.5) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.0 (+0.4) | 8.6 | | Guest rating | 9.0 (+0.6) | 8.4 | | Number of reviews | 310 (+293) | 17 | | Google rating | 4.6/5 | – | | Google reviews | 394 | – | | Rank in Nelson | top 19% (+60%) | bottom 21% | | Location | | Location score | 3.3 | 4.5 (+1.2) | | Distance to the centre | 3.4 km | 3.0 km (−450 m) | | To the beach | 2.5 km | 2.1 km (−420 m) | | To the airport | 6.4 km | 5.9 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 2 | 28 (+26) | | To the nearest food shop | 630 m | 300 m (−330 m) | | Shops within 500 m | 0 | 3 (+3) | | Sights within 1 km | 3 | 2 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | – | ★★★ | | Rooms | 20 | 5 | | Floors | 2 | – | | Newest building or renovation | 2013 | – | | Listed amenities | 11 (+7) | 4 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 12:00 (−2h) | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Concierge | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | – | | Breakfast | ✓ | – | | Sauna | ✓ | – | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | In-room safe | ✓ | – | | Coffee or tea maker | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | 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. [Tasman Bay Backpackers prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/prices/) ## Location 450 m apart Tasman Bay Backpackers: city centre: 3.4 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 6.4 km, beach: 2.5 km, 2 places to eat within 500 m, 3 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) ## Tasman Bay Backpackers or Trafalgar Lodge: common questions ### Which is better, Tasman Bay Backpackers or Trafalgar Lodge? Trafalgar Lodge leads in 2 of 3 categories, including location, beach access. Tasman Bay Backpackers is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Tasman Bay Backpackers 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? Trafalgar Lodge is closer: 3.0 km from the centre, against 3.4 km for Tasman Bay Backpackers. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Trafalgar Lodge is 2.1 km from the nearest beach; Tasman Bay Backpackers is 2.5 km. ### How far apart are Tasman Bay Backpackers and Trafalgar Lodge? The two hotels are 450 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Tasman Bay Backpackers vs Paradiso Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/paradiso-backpackers-nelson-vs-tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/) - [Tasman Bay Backpackers vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [Trafalgar Lodge vs Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-trafalgar-lodge-nelson/) - [Trafalgar Lodge vs Palms Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-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/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/tasman-bay-backpackers-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/