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

Should you visit Beirut or Similan Islands?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Similan Islands. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Beirut or Similan Islands?

Beirut

Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Similan Islands, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Similan Islands is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Beirut.

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

When is the best time to visit Beirut or Similan Islands?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Beirut or Similan Islands in the Summer?

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

The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. In July, Beirut usually receives less rain than Similan Islands. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Similan Islands during summer. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies, while Similan Islands receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

Beirut is around the same temperature as Similan Islands in the summer. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Similan Islands fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Beirut or Similan Islands in the Autumn?

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

October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Beirut usually gets less rain in October than Similan Islands. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Beirut. In the autumn, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Similan Islands. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Similan Islands receives 181 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Beirut is around the same temperature as Similan Islands. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beirut in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Similan Islands averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Beirut or Similan Islands in the Winter?

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

Beirut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Beirut usually receives more rain than Similan Islands. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. Beirut usually receives less sunshine than Similan Islands during winter. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Similan Islands receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Beirut is generally much colder than Similan Islands. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 13°C (55°F), and Similan Islands fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Beirut or Similan Islands in the Spring?

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

Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. Beirut usually gets less rain in April than Similan Islands. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 157 mm (6.2 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 Beirut this time of the year. In the spring, Beirut often gets less sunshine than Similan Islands. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Similan Islands receives 249 hours of full sun.

Beirut is much colder than Similan Islands in the spring. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Similan Islands fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Similan Islands and Beirut