Which place is cheaper, Vail or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Vail?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Vail? 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 Vail?
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.
Vail
Vail is one of the premier ski resort areas in the United States. Located in central Colorado, Vail is not far from Denver and situated in the heart of the Rockies. Here you'll find a quaint mountain town designed around tourism, especially for the winter, although plenty of visitors come in the warmer months, too.
High-end hotels, condos, and other accommodation options are surrounded by shops and restaurants that are all somewhat expensive compared to other costs in the United States. Because of this, Vail is definitely not considered an "affordable" travel option for many. However, good deals can be found if you look around and do some research.
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 $182Vail $291
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Vail is $291. 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 Vail in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Vail $174
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Vail $348
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Vail
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Vail? 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 Vail Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Vail $19
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 Vail
Also for Vail, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Eagle County Airport(EGE) to Steamboat - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Springs Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
- Eagle County Airport to Breckenridge Keystone: Arrival Transfer: $93
- Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Eagle County Airport-Departure Transfer: $114
- Eagle County Airport to Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon-Arrival Transfer: $115
- Eagle County Regional (EGE) to Steamboat Springs-Arrival Transfer: $120
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat Springs-Round-Trip Transfer: $120
- Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE: $128
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $153
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Private Arrival Transfer from Vail Airport EGE: $156
- Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Denver Airport DEN - Departure Transfer: $218
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Vail?
Prices for flights to both Vail 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 $52Vail $74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Vail $133
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 Vail
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vail.
- Smartphone Driving Tour between Denver & Vail / Breckenridge: $7.99
- Save the Mountain Escape Room Adventure: $45
- Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village: $89
- Stand Up Paddle Board Colorado River Adventure: Guided Half Day : $98
- Inflatable Kayak Adventure Colorado River: Half Day Guided Tour : $109
- Bike Tour or Mountain Bike down Vail Mountain: $120
- Dillon Marina & Shopping Tour: $267
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Vail $9.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Vail, we can see that Vail is more expensive. And not only is Hot Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hot Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hot Springs 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 Vail would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vail than you might in Hot Springs.
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 Vail Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Vail?
Hot Springs has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Vail. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Vail, 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.
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.