A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Abu Dhabi vs. Similan Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Similan Islands can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands?

Abu Dhabi

It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.

Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.

Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket.

When comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Similan Islands, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Similan Islands is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Similan Islands Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands in the Summer?

Both Similan Islands and Abu Dhabi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round.

June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Similan Islands receives 206 hours of full sun.

The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Similan Islands. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Similan Islands averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Similan Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Similan Islands during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Similan Islands receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Abu Dhabi is generally around the same temperature as Similan Islands. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Similan Islands fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year.

Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the winter, Abu Dhabi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Similan Islands receives 287 hours of full sun.

Abu Dhabi is cooler than Similan Islands in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Similan Islands fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Similan Islands in the Spring?

Both Similan Islands and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May. The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Similan Islands. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Similan Islands during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Similan Islands receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Abu Dhabi is around the same temperature as Similan Islands. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Similan Islands averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Similan Islands and Abu Dhabi