--- title: "The Bug Backpackers vs The Hotel Nelson | StayVersus" description: "Too close to call. Each hotel leads in 1 categories. Your priorities decide. The Bug Backpackers or The Hotel Nelson in Nelson? Compare guest ratings…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-bug-backpackers-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-13 --- # The Bug Backpackers vs The Hotel Nelson Both are in Nelson, 840 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. 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) Hotel · ★★★★ · Nelson South ## [The Hotel Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-hotel-nelson-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 8.8 · Excellent - **Location score:** 3.0 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2201906/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 1 categories. Your priorities decide. 840 m apart. ### Choose The Bug Backpackers if you want - to walk to the sights - a smaller, quieter hotel ### Choose The Hotel Nelson if you want - the more consistently praised stay - a big hotel with more facilities ### Why is The Bug Backpackers better than The Hotel Nelson? 1. 510 m closer to the beach (1.6 km vs 2.1 km) (−510 m) 2. 610 m closer to the city centre (−610 m) 3. A smaller, more intimate hotel (14 vs 76 rooms) (−62) ### Why is The Hotel Nelson better than The Bug Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (8.8 vs 8.2) (+0.6) 2. Higher star rating (4★ vs 3★) (+1★) 3. More guest reviews (540 vs 188), so the rating is more reliable (×2.9) 4. A larger hotel with more facilities (76 vs 14 rooms) (×5.4) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | The Bug Backpackers | The Hotel Nelson | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.2 | 8.8 (+0.6) | | Location | 2.7 | 3.0 | | Beach access | 4.9 (+1.7) | 3.2 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.3 | 8.8 (+0.5) | | Guest rating | 8.2 | 8.8 (+0.6) | | Number of reviews | 188 | 540 (+352) | | Google rating | 4.0/5 | – | | Google reviews | 212 | – | | Rank in Nelson | top 88% | top 50% (+38%) | | Location | | Location score | 2.7 | 3.0 (+0.3) | | Distance to the centre | 1.7 km (−610 m) | 2.3 km | | To the beach | 1.6 km (−510 m) | 2.1 km | | To the airport | 4.0 km | 4.8 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 2 | 2 | | Sights within 1 km | 0 | 1 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ (+1★) | | Rooms | 14 | 76 | | Floors | 1 | 2 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2009 | | Listed amenities | 11 (+5) | 6 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 15:00 | – | | Check-out until | 10:00 | – | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | In-room safe | ✓ | – | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | – | | Shuttle | – | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | ✓ | ✓ | | Couples | ✓ | ✓ | | Beach holidays | ✓ | – | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | ✓ | | Business trips | ✓ | – | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | ✓ | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-hotel-nelson-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/) ## Location 840 m apart ## The Bug Backpackers or The Hotel Nelson: common questions ### Which is better, The Bug Backpackers or The Hotel Nelson? They are evenly matched. The Bug Backpackers is stronger in beach access; The Hotel Nelson is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, The Bug Backpackers or The Hotel Nelson? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? The Bug Backpackers is closer: 1.7 km from the centre, against 2.3 km for The Hotel Nelson. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? The Bug Backpackers is 1.6 km from the nearest beach; The Hotel Nelson is 2.1 km. ### How far apart are The Bug Backpackers and The Hotel Nelson? The two hotels are 840 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [The Bug Backpackers vs Admirals Motor Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/) - [The Bug Backpackers vs Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-the-bug-backpackers-nelson/) - [The Bug Backpackers vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-bug-backpackers-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [The Hotel Nelson vs Admirals Motor Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/admirals-motor-inn-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-nelson/) - [The Hotel Nelson vs Century Park](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/century-park-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-nelson/) - [The Hotel Nelson vs Palazzo Motor Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palazzo-motor-lodge-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-nelson/) - [The Hotel Nelson vs Rutherford Hotel Nelson - A Heritage Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/rutherford-hotel-nelson-a-heritage-hotel-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-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/the-bug-backpackers-nelson-vs-the-hotel-nelson-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/