Which place is cheaper, Kauai or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Kauai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kauai? 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: Hot Springs or Kauai?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Kauai
Hawaii is certainly a bucket list destination, but what if you want to do it without being surrounded by tourists? You want the adventure of the land of volcanoes and less of the kids in water wings. Then Kaua'i is the island for you.
Kaua'i, or the "garden island," is full of tropical forests, little villages and even more laid back lifestyle – if you can imagine. It's a smaller island at 560 square miles with a population of only 68,000.
With more coastline miles than any other island, Kaua'i is the result of massive erosion forming awe-inspiring sights like the Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast. The island experiences more rainfall every year – keeping it lush and green all year.
You'll feel like you've walked into another world in Kaua'i. Because of height restrictions, this island's buildings are no taller than the coconut trees. So if you're looking for an escape from civilization, you'll want to head straight for Kaua'i.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Kauai $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Kauai is $190. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hot Springs and Kauai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Kauai $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Kauai $226
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Kauai
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Kauai? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Kauai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Kauai $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kauai
Also for Kauai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Departure Transfer: Kauai Hotels to Kauai International Airport: $13
- Lihue Airport: Shared Transfer to Lihue: $19
- Private Departure Transfer to Kauai Airport (LIH): $80
- Private SUV Transfer - Lihue Airport to South Shore Kauai Resorts Koloa Poipu: $179
- Private SUV Transfer - Kauai Cruise Ship terminal : $199
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Kauai?
Prices for flights to both Kauai and Hot Springs change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHot Springs $52Kauai $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kauai
For Kauai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Allerton Garden and Estate Tour with Sunset Dinner: $106
- Ahi Uila Fire Show and Dinner: $110
- Local Tastes Small Group Food Tour: $121
- Explore Waimea Town on a Walking Food Tour: $129
- Luau Kalamaku on Kauai with Buffet Dinner and Show: $171
- Luau Ka Hikina Admission Ticket with Dinner and Lei Greeting: $209
- Napali Coast Sunset Sail with Dinner: $226
- Napali Sunset Dinner Cruise: $226
- Luau Kalamaku on Kauai with Manor House Dinner & Show: $226
- VIP 4-Course Dinner and Luau Kalamaku Show: $237
- Leila Na Pali Sunset Dinner Sail: $242
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Kauai $17
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Kauai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kauai.
- Kauai Poipu & Koloa Town Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Kauai Audio Driving Private Tour: $15
- Ultimate Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of Kauai (Na Pali, Waimea), Hawaii: $17
- Waimea Canyon & Na Pali Driving Tour app: $20
- North Shore Kauai Audio Driving Tour: $20
- Wailua Valley & Waterfalls Audio Driving Tour: $20
- Kauai Tour Bundle: Self-Drive GPS Road Trip: $30
- Island Highlights Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $40
- Allerton Garden Guided Group Walking Tour: $64
- Cruise Ship Excursion: Kauai – Wailua River Cruise & Fern Grotto: $99
- Princeville Botanical Gardens Tour and Chocolate Tasting Ticket: $99
- Catamaran Sunset Cruise: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Kauai $14
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Kauai, we can see that Kauai is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Kauai Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs or Kauai?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kauai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Kauai. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Kauai because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hot Springs is generally a little warmer than Kauai. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Kauai fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kauai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Kauai. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kauai receives 255 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Kauai. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Kauai receives 0.6 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Kauai 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kauai in the Autumn?
Both Kauai and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Kauai this time of year.
Hot Springs is cooler than Kauai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Kauai fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
It's quite sunny in Kauai. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Kauai during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Kauai receives 208 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Kauai. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Kauai receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Kauai 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kauai in the Winter?
Both Kauai and Hot Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kauai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Hot Springs in the winter. In the winter, Hot Springs is much colder than Kauai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Kauai averages at about 71°F (22°C).
It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Kauai. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kauai receives 174 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets less rain in January than Kauai. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Kauai receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Kauai 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kauai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Kauai. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kauai in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Hot Springs is generally cooler than Kauai. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Kauai fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kauai this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Kauai during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Kauai receives 206 hours of full sun in the spring.
Hot Springs gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Kauai. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Kauai receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Kauai 73°F (23°C)
Typical Weather for Kauai and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Kauai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 0.6 inches (17 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 0.6 inches (16 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.5 inches (62 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.