A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ayutthaya vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ayutthaya or Benxi?

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

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Benxi? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ayutthaya or Benxi?

Ayutthaya

Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Ayutthaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ayutthaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ayutthaya and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi than you might in Ayutthaya.

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

Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya and Benxi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Ayutthaya or Benxi?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ayutthaya experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Benxi in the Summer?

Both Benxi and Ayutthaya are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ayutthaya throughout the year.

In the summer, Ayutthaya is a little warmer than Benxi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ayutthaya in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Benxi averages at about 25°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. Ayutthaya usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during summer. Ayutthaya gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Benxi. It's quite rainy in Ayutthaya. In July, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Benxi. Ayutthaya gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Ayutthaya during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ayutthaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Ayutthaya is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 28°C (82°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ayutthaya. In the autumn, Ayutthaya often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi. Ayutthaya gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in October than Benxi. Ayutthaya gets 180 mm (7.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. October to April is the dry season in Ayutthaya. May to October is the rainy season in Ayutthaya.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Benxi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ayutthaya and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ayutthaya year-round.

It's quite cold in Benxi in the winter. Ayutthaya is much warmer than Benxi in the winter. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 25°C (78°F) in January, and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In Ayutthaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ayutthaya usually receives more sunshine than Benxi during winter. Ayutthaya gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Benxi. Ayutthaya gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Ayutthaya as well as Benxi. Ayutthaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The heat can be very extreme in Ayutthaya. In the spring, Ayutthaya is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ayutthaya in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ayutthaya this time of the year. In the spring, Ayutthaya often gets more sunshine than Benxi. Ayutthaya gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Ayutthaya gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to April in Ayutthaya is the dry season. May to October in Ayutthaya is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Ayutthaya