A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Caen vs. Playa de las Americas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Caen or Playa de las Americas?

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 Caen and Playa de las Americas. 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: Caen or Playa de las Americas?

Caen

Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.

Playa de las Americas

If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Caen and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Caen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Caen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Caen 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in Caen.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Caen Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Caen or Playa de las Americas?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Playa de las Americas, 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 Caen or Playa de las Americas?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Caen or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Caen is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Caen in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. In Caen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Caen usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Caen usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Caen or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Caen as well as Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to Caen in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions.

In October, Caen is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 12°C (54°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the autumn, Caen often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?

Both Playa de las Americas and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Caen can be very cold during winter. Caen is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the winter. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Caen usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Caen usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Caen or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?

Both Playa de las Americas and Caen during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Caen because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Caen is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Caen in April average around 9°C (49°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 20°C (68°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Caen often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Caen