A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Cromwell for Food, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Hat Yai or Cromwell?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hat Yai and Cromwell can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Hat Yai

Hat Yai is a festive, colorful, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Cromwell

Cromwell is a outdoorsy, historical, and cultural town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping.

Hat Yai and Cromwell: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hat Yai. Although Hat Yai and Cromwell are both popular with visitors, Hat Yai has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Hat Yai is more popular for its food, shopping, and big city activities, while Cromwell is known for its skiing, hiking, and small town charm. Cromwell is more touristy than Hat Yai and is popular for its fruit farms, orchards, and vineyards. Hat Yai is popular for its local markets, its traditional restaurants, and its colorful temples. It is also home to Wat Hat Yai Nai.

How is Hat Yai different from Cromwell?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cromwell and Hat Yai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Skiing?

Cromwell is a town with good options for snow skiing. However, Hat Yai is not a skiing destination.

Head to Cromwell for some great skiing and other winter activities. The town isn't far from several ski fields, so it attracts winter sports enthusiasts when the weather gets cold.

Hat Yai is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Hat Yai or Cromwell.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hat Yai. The city has many temples to explore such as Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol and Wat Hat Yai Nai.

Cromwell is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting historical activities around town like Goldfields Mining Centre.

Is the Food Better in Hat Yai or Cromwell? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hat Yai is very popular for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Many restaurants in Hat Yai have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Eating is really what you do in this city. There is amazing street food, impressive floating restaurants, and authentic cuisine that locals and visitors alike enjoy. The dishes include lots of seafood and some Chinese influences.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Cromwell area. There are charming cafes and bakeries where you can grab a light meal or snack. There are also quaint restaurants and wineries with nice meals available.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Hat Yai and Cromwell.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hat Yai. It's a big city, so there are plenty of clubs and bars where you can party late into the night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Cromwell. There are a few breweries and a number of wineries around town where you can have a relaxing night out.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Hiking?

Cromwell is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Hat Yai is not a hiking destination.

Cromwell is a popular spot for hiking. There are many beautiful walks in the area that take you through diverse landscapes and to impressive views.

Hat Yai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

Hat Yai is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its shopping areas.

Hat Yai is well-known for its shopping. It's a large commercial hub in southern Thailand and many visitors come specifically for the shopping. There are many markets in town and places to buy everything from local products to trendy clothes.

Many visitors go to Cromwell to go shopping. There's a farmers market in town as well as several local vendors and cute shops.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Families?

Cromwell is notable for its family-friendly activities. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Cromwell is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The lakefront setting means that there are water activities during the warmer months. There are also ski fields nearby for the winter months. Biking and walking are also popular in the area.

Hat Yai is not always a place people visit with their families. There are some play places for the kids and kid-friendly meals are available in many places. There are also some animal farms and parks near town where kids and adults can enjoy a natural setting.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Couples?

Cromwell is notable for couples. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for romance.

Cromwell is a very popular place to visit for couples. Cycling, walking, kayaking, and skiing all make this a romantic a charming town to visit as a couple. There are also wineries in the area with beautiful vineyards.

Hat Yai is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Most people pass through the city on their way to other places, but if you chose to linger you'll enjoy amazing food and some interesting activities around town.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cromwell is a town with good options for backpackers. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Cromwell is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of great hostels in the area and plenty of things to keep backpackers entertained.

Hat Yai is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are hostels in the city, as well as cheap hotels, but the backpacker vibe isn't the same as what you get in other Thai cities. If you want more authenticity, then this is your place.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Hat Yai and Cromwell offer decent public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Hat Yai. The easiest and cheapest way to get around is by tuk tuk or motorbike taxi.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cromwell. Public transit around town is limited to a couple of buses.

Is Hat Yai or Cromwell a more walkable city?

Cromwell is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for its walkability.

Cromwell is a somewhat walkable town. Parts of the town are walkable.

Hat Yai is generally not a very walkable city. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Hat Yai Worth Visiting? and Is Cromwell Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cromwell or Hat Yai?

How long in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hat Yai or Cromwell to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hat Yai than Cromwell because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Hat Yai, and 1-2 days is enough time in Cromwell.

Families should spend more time in Cromwell than Hat Yai. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cromwell, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cromwell than Hat Yai. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cromwell that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cromwell than Hat Yai if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cromwell.

One day in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

The city of Hat Yai offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Cromwell, you'll find shopping and museums. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

Hat Yai is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Hat Yai, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Cromwell, you'll find museums and skiing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cromwell has to offer.

Five days in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

Hat Yai is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Cromwell is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Hat Yai or Cromwell?

Hat Yai is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cromwell. Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Cromwell. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Cromwell, we can see that Cromwell is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hat Yai is in Asia and Cromwell is in Pacific, 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 Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Cromwell would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cromwell than you might in Hat Yai.

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