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

Should you visit Eilat or Yaeyama Islands?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Yaeyama Islands? 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 Yaeyama Islands?

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.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

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 from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Yaeyama Islands. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Yaeyama Islands. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Eilat or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

Eilat is cooler than Yaeyama Islands in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Yaeyama Islands. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Eilat is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 23°C (74°F).

In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun in the spring.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, May to June is the rainy season in Yaeyama Islands.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Eilat