--- title: "Trafalgar Lodge vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick YHA Nelson - Backpackers. It leads in 2 of 3 categories. Trafalgar Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/trafalgar-lodge-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-18 --- # Trafalgar Lodge vs YHA Nelson - Backpackers Both are in Nelson, 610 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. 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:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2240808/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:** 2 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2358962/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick YHA Nelson - Backpackers It leads in 2 of 3 categories. 610 m apart. ### Choose Trafalgar Lodge if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 5 / 26) ### Choose YHA Nelson - Backpackers if you want - more restaurants on the doorstep (103 / 28) - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 26 / 5) ### Why is Trafalgar Lodge better than YHA Nelson - Backpackers? No clear advantages in our data. ### Why is YHA Nelson - Backpackers better than Trafalgar Lodge? 1. 170 m closer to the beach (1.9 km vs 2.1 km) (−170 m) 2. 320 m closer to the area centre (−320 m) 3. More guest reviews (161 vs 17), so the rating is more reliable (×9.5) 4. 75 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+75) 5. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 74 vs 56) (+18) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Trafalgar Lodge | YHA Nelson - Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.4 | 8.6 | | Location | 4.5 | 5.4 (+0.9) | | Facilities | – | 4.2 | | Families | – | 0.0 | | Spa & wellness | – | 1.5 | | Beach access | 3.2 | 3.8 (+0.6) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.6 | 8.6 | | Guest rating | 8.4 | 8.6 (+0.2) | | Number of reviews | 17 | 161 (+144) | | Google rating | – | 3.9/5 | | Google reviews | – | 322 | | Rank in Nelson | top 79% | top 74% (+5%) | | Location | | Location score | 4.5 | 5.4 (+0.9) | | Distance to Nelson centre | 590 m | 270 m (−320 m) | | To the beach | 2.1 km | 1.9 km (−170 m) | | To the airport | 5.9 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 28 | 103 (+75) | | Sights within 1 km | 2 | 2 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★ | – | | Rooms | 5 | 26 | | Floors | – | 2 | | Listed amenities | 4 | 15 (+11) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Shuttle | – | ✓ | | Luggage storage | – | ✓ | | Breakfast | – | ✓ | | Sauna | – | ✓ | | Terrace | – | ✓ | | Smoke-free | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | Balcony | – | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Beach holidays | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | – | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ | ## Location 610 m apart 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. YHA Nelson - Backpackers: city centre: 2.6 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 5.4 km, beach: 1.9 km, 103 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km. ## Trafalgar Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Trafalgar Lodge or YHA Nelson - Backpackers? YHA Nelson - Backpackers leads in 2 of 3 categories, including location, beach access. ### Which is cheaper, Trafalgar Lodge 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 590 m for Trafalgar Lodge. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? YHA Nelson - Backpackers is 1.9 km from the nearest beach; Trafalgar Lodge is 2.1 km. ### How far apart are Trafalgar Lodge and YHA Nelson - Backpackers? The two hotels are 610 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [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/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs Tasman Bay Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs Paradiso Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/paradiso-backpackers-nelson-vs-yha-nelson-backpackers-nelson/) - [YHA Nelson - Backpackers vs The Bug Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-bug-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/trafalgar-lodge-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/