A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Lake Tekapo for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

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 Lake Tekapo 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 lively, festive, and colorful city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Hat Yai travel costs.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a remote, basic, and small town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, Lake Tekapo attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include hiking. See Lake Tekapo travel costs.

Hat Yai and Lake Tekapo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hat Yai. Although Hat Yai and Lake Tekapo are popular destinations, Hat Yai has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hat Yai is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Lake Tekapo attracts visitors for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Lake Tekapo is more touristy than Hat Yai and is known for its hot springs, remote location, and beautiful night sky. Hat Yai is famous for its local markets, its traditional restaurants, and its colorful temples. It is also well known for Wat Hat Yai Nai.

How is Hat Yai different from Lake Tekapo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Hat Yai is a good destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Hat Yai is terrific for its restaurant scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through Hat Yai, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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.

Lake Tekapo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The town is very small with just a couple of restaurants and fast food joints.

Is Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo Better for Nightlife?

Hat Yai is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

Hat Yai has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It's a big city, so there are plenty of clubs and bars where you can party late into the night.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Lake Tekapo This is a very small town and there isn't a real nightlife scene. The night sky is incredible though, and you should absolutely do some stargazing.

Is Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo Better for Hiking?

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

Lake Tekapo is a popular spot for hiking. There are many beautiful hikes in the area with some of the most popular being the Mount John Summit Track, the Richmond Trail, and Cowan's Hill Walkway.

Hat Yai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

Hat Yai is a great destination for its shopping areas. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Hat Yai. 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.

Shopping in Lake Tekapo can be found for those interested. There are a couple of shops where you can pick up basic necessities.

Is Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo More Beautiful?

Lake Tekapo is notable for its scenery and beauty. However, Hat Yai is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Lake Tekapo attracts visitors from all around. You really want to get out of town and explore the area's stunning natural beauty.

Hat Yai is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo Better for Families?

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

Lake Tekapo is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to Tekapo Springs, which is particularly fun in the winter months. There's snow tubing, ice skating, and, of course, the hot pools. There are also short hikes in the area like the Mount John Summit Walk. Biking, paddleboarding, and kayaking 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 Lake Tekapo Better for Couples?

Lake Tekapo is a town with good options for couples. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for romance.

Lake Tekapo is a good town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy the stunning scenery, beautiful hikes, and the romantic hot springs. Stargazing is another popular activity in the area.

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 Lake Tekapo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Lake Tekapo is a good town to visit for backpackers. It's a small town with a couple of cheap places to stay that backpackers will appreciate.

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 Lake Tekapo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Hat Yai is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

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 quite limited in Lake Tekapo. Public transportation in the area is very limited. If you don't have a car, you'll want to arrange tours to get out and about.

Is Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo a more walkable city?

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

Lake Tekapo is a somewhat walkable town. The town is small enough to get around on foot, and you can hire a tour to get out into the region.

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 Lake Tekapo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lake Tekapo or Hat Yai?

How long in Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hat Yai than Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.

One day in Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the lively city of Hat Yai. Most people visit for the food. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Lake Tekapo, you'll find . 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 Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the festive destination of Hat Yai. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Lake Tekapo, you'll find . 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 Lake Tekapo has to offer.

Five days in Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

The cultural city of Hat Yai offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Hat Yai. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the food. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lake Tekapo. Many people enjoy the when visiting Lake Tekapo. 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, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Lake Tekapo?

Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 580 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai and Lake Tekapo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.