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

Should you visit Eilat or Sado?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Sado? 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 Sado?

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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 Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Sado?

Sado has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Eilat experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Sado in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Sado. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Sado. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Sado averages at about 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Sado. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Sado. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, Eilat is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Sado during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Sado. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Eilat or Sado in the Winter?

Both Sado 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. Also, many visitors come to Sado in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Sado can get quite cold in the winter. Eilat is much warmer than Sado in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Sado fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Sado. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Sado in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round.

In the spring, Eilat is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Sado averages at about 10°C (51°F).

In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Sado during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Sado. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Eilat