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

Should you visit Eilat or Railay Beach?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Railay Beach? 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 Railay Beach?

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.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

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 Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Railay Beach?

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 Railay Beach in the Summer?

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

August to October in Railay Beach is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

Both Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Railay Beach is December to March. The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 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 Railay Beach during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Railay Beach in the Winter?

Both Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach year-round.

December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Railay Beach. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.

Eilat is much colder than Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Railay Beach in the Spring?

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

Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Railay Beach during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Eilat