--- title: "Tides Hotel vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers | StayVersus" description: "Pick Tides Hotel. It leads in 3 of 6 categories. Tides Hotel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/tides-hotel-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-14 --- # Tides Hotel vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers Both are in Nelson, 490 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hotel · ★★★★★ · Nelson ## [Tides Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/tides-hotel-nelson/) - **Guest rating:** 8.8 · Excellent - **Location score:** 4.8 - **Score by category:** 3 of 6 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2229753/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 Tides Hotel It leads in 3 of 6 categories. 490 m apart. ### Choose Tides Hotel if you want - the more consistently praised stay - a spa and wellness - a big hotel with more facilities ### Choose YHA Nelson - Backpackers if you want - more restaurants on the doorstep - free parking - a smaller, quieter hotel ### Why is Tides Hotel better than YHA Nelson - Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (8.8 vs 8.6) (+0.2) 2. Has a spa 3. Has a swimming pool 4. Higher star rating (4.5★ vs 4★) (+0.5★) 5. Has an on-site restaurant 6. Earlier check-in (13:00 vs 14:00) (−1h) ### Why is YHA Nelson - Backpackers better than Tides Hotel? 1. 58 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+58) 2. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 74 vs 62) (+12) 3. Has free parking ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Tides Hotel | YHA Nelson - Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.8 | 8.6 | | Location | 4.8 | 5.4 (+0.6) | | Facilities | 6.7 (+2.5) | 4.2 | | Families | 1.0 (+1.0) | 0.0 | | Spa & wellness | 4.5 (+3.0) | 1.5 | | Beach access | 3.5 | 3.8 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.8 (+0.2) | 8.6 | | Guest rating | 8.8 (+0.2) | 8.6 | | Number of reviews | 262 (+101) | 161 | | Google rating | – | 3.9/5 | | Google reviews | – | 322 | | Rank in Nelson | top 50% (+24%) | top 74% | | Location | | Location score | 4.8 | 5.4 (+0.6) | | Distance to Nelson centre | 470 m | 270 m (−190 m) | | To the beach | 2.0 km | 1.9 km (−80 m) | | To the airport | 5.8 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 45 | 103 (+58) | | Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★★ (+0.5★) | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 47 | 26 | | Floors | 2 | 2 | | Newest building or renovation | 2011 | – | | Listed amenities | 18 (+3) | 15 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 13:00 (−1h) | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Restaurant | ✓ | – | | Bar | ✓ | – | | Room service | ✓ | – | | Outdoor pool | ✓ | – | | Spa | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Meeting rooms | ✓ | – | | Smoke-free | ✓ | ✓ | | Air conditioning | ✓ | – | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Shuttle | – | ✓ | | Breakfast | – | ✓ | | Sauna | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | 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-tides-hotel-nelson/) ## Location 490 m apart ## Tides Hotel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Tides Hotel or YHA Nelson - Backpackers? Tides Hotel leads in 3 of 6 categories, including facilities, families, spa & wellness. YHA Nelson - Backpackers is stronger in location. ### Which is cheaper, Tides Hotel 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 470 m for Tides Hotel. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? YHA Nelson - Backpackers is 1.9 km from the nearest beach; Tides Hotel is 2.0 km. ### How far apart are Tides Hotel and YHA Nelson - Backpackers? The two hotels are 490 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Tides Hotel vs DeLorenzo's Studio Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/delorenzo-s-studio-apartments-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/) - [Tides Hotel vs Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/) - [Tides Hotel vs Palms Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/) - [Tides Hotel vs The Sails Nelson](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-sails-nelson-nelson-vs-tides-hotel-nelson/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs Palms Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/palms-motel-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-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/tides-hotel-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/