A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Hat Yai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Hat Yai?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Hat Yai? 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 Hat Yai?

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.

Hat Yai

The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.

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 Contiki Tours to Thailand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Hat Yai, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai.

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

Which is Bigger, Eilat or Hat Yai?

Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Hat Yai, 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 Eilat or Hat Yai?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Eilat or Hat Yai in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Hat Yai. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Hat Yai. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Hat Yai. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hat Yai receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's very hot in Eilat this time of the year. Eilat is a little warmer than Hat Yai in the summer. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Hat Yai fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Hat Yai in the Autumn?

Both Hat Yai and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Hat Yai. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Hat Yai during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Hat Yai receives 182 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Eilat is around the same temperature as Hat Yai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Eilat in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Hat Yai averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Hat Yai in the Winter?

Both Hat Yai and Eilat during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round.

January to April is the dry season in Hat Yai. Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Hat Yai. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Hat Yai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hat Yai. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hat Yai receives 221 hours of full sun.

In January, Eilat is generally much colder than Hat Yai. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 14°C (57°F), and Hat Yai fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Hat Yai in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Hat Yai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Hat Yai. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hat Yai this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hat Yai during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Hat Yai receives 265 hours of full sun in the spring.

Eilat is cooler than Hat Yai in the spring. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Hat Yai fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Hat Yai and Eilat