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

Should you visit Eilat or Koh Samet?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Samet? 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 Koh Samet?

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.

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

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 in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Koh Samet?

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 Koh Samet in the Summer?

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

It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Koh Samet. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Koh Samet. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Samet receives 195 hours of full sun.

Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Samet in the Autumn?

Both Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Samet. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 276 mm (10.9 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 Koh Samet during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Samet receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Eilat is around the same temperature as Koh Samet in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Koh Samet fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Samet in the Winter?

Both Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet year-round.

Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Koh Samet. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets less sunshine than Koh Samet. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Samet receives 255 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Eilat is much colder than Koh Samet. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Koh Samet averages at about 25°C (77°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Samet in the Spring?

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

In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Samet. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Koh Samet during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Samet receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Eilat is generally cooler than Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Koh Samet and Eilat