Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Halong Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Halong Bay? 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: Eilat or Halong Bay?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Halong Bay $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Halong Bay is $58. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Eilat and Halong Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Halong Bay $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Halong Bay $56
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Halong Bay
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Halong Bay? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Eilat Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Halong Bay $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Sunworld Halong theme park ticket with roundtrip transfer: $32
- Small Group Halong Day Tour: Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. Expressway Transfers: $45
- Rosa Eco Bus Luxury Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi: $27
- Private Transfer from Tuan Chau to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $51
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $46
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $51
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $46
- Private Departure Transfer - Ha Long Bay to Hanoi Airport: $64
- PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFER +Join Premium Day Cruise in Halong Bay: $55
- Halong Wonder Bay Cruise 1 Day Tour from Hanoi with Limo Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Halong Bay?
Prices for flights to both Halong Bay and Eilat change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayEilat $35Halong Bay $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Ambassador Luxury Dinner Cruise in Halong Bay: $46
- 1-day private Hanoi city tour with fun and night street walking food tour: $101
- Luxury Aspira Cruise from Halong with kayaking,cave,cooking class: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Halong Bay $16
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $63
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day Halong Experience with Seaplane and Overnight Cruise: $295
- 2-Day Halong Orchid Cruise: $235
- Alisa Premier Luxury 5-Star Cruise in Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night: $175
- La Regina Overnight Cruise - Queen of Lan Ha Bay - 2 day/1 night: $230
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Cruise 2 Days 1 Night - Ha Long Bay: $189
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Luxury Cruise 2D1N Trip - LanHa Bay: $168
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Premium Cruise 2D1N Trip-HaLong Bay: $199
- (Official) Signature Halong Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $160
- (Official) Signature Royal Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $164
- 1 Day Cruise in Halong Bay - Top Luxury & Small Cruise Tour 2024: $50
- 1 Day Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise with Wego Halong: $40
- 1 Day Small Group Luxury Cruise in Halong with Better Care : $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Halong Bay $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Halong Bay, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Halong Bay 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 Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Halong Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Halong Bay Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.