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

Should you visit Chartres or Playa de las Americas?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Playa de las Americas? 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: Chartres or Playa de las Americas?

Chartres

Chartres is a city in north-central France southwest of Paris. It is famed for its massive Cathedrale Notre-Dame. The well-preserved Gothic cathedral, completed in 1220, features 2 towering spires, Romanesque sculptures and elaborate rose windows. The cathedral is unique in that it has two very different steeples – one Gothic, the other Romanesque. Follow them to check out the cathedral's dazzling blue stained-glass windows and its collection of relics, including the Sainte Voile (Holy Veil) said to have been worn by the Virgin Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, which have lured pilgrims since the Middle Ages. The nearby Centre International du Vitrail has workshops and exhibits on stained-glass art. Chartres also had a carefully preserved old city, which is adjacent to the cathedral with staircases and steep streets lined with half-timbered medieval houses leading downhill to the narrow western channel of the Eure River, romantically spanned by footbridges.

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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary 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 Chartres and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Chartres much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chartres would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chartres 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 Chartres.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Playa de las Americas?

Chartres has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Chartres 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 Chartres 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 Chartres or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

Both Playa de las Americas and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

Chartres is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Playa de las Americas and Chartres during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Chartres is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chartres in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Chartres is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 5°C (40°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Playa de las Americas. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

Chartres is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the spring, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 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 Chartres