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

Should you visit Eilat or Pai?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Pai? 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 Pai?

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.

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Pai?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Eilat or Pai in the Summer?

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. In July, Eilat usually receives less rain than Pai. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pai receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Pai during summer. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Pai receives 146 hours of full sun in the summer.

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Pai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Pai averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Pai in the Autumn?

Both Pai and Eilat during the autumn 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 Pai year-round.

Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in October than Pai. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pai receives 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the autumn, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Pai. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pai receives 226 hours of full sun.

In October, Eilat is generally cooler than Pai. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Pai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Pai in the Winter?

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

In January, Eilat usually receives less rain than Pai. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Pai receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives less sunshine than Pai during winter. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Pai receives 283 hours of full sun in the winter.

Eilat is much colder than Pai in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Pai fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Pai in the Spring?

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

Eilat usually gets less rain in April than Pai. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pai receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the spring, Eilat often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pai. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pai receives 275 hours of full sun.

Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Pai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Pai averages at about 32°C (89°F).

Typical Weather for Pai and Eilat