A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hot Springs vs. Victoria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hot Springs or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Hot Springs or Victoria? 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 Victoria?

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.

Victoria

The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.

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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Hot Springs?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Victoria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hot Springs $100
    Victoria $113
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hot Springs $200
    Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Victoria

Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Victoria? 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.

Hotels in Hot Springs


Hotels in Victoria


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 Victoria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hot Springs $47
    Victoria $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:

  • Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
  • Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria

Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
  • Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $206
  • Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219

Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Victoria?

Prices for flights to both Victoria 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hot Springs $52
    Victoria $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria

For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
  • Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
  • Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
  • Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
  • Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $146

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hot Springs $30
    Victoria $45

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 Victoria

For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
  • Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
  • 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
  • Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
  • Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Experience Victoria by Foot Walking Tour: $15
  • Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
  • Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
  • Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
  • Malahat SkyWalk General Admission Tickets: $29
  • Experience Victoria City Tour: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hot Springs $22
    Victoria $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:

  • Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $48
  • 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
  • Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
  • Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $439


When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Victoria, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Victoria Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Victoria, 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.


When is the best time to visit Hot Springs or Victoria?

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 Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit.

In July, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hot Springs 83°F (28°C) 
    Victoria 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Hot Springs or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Victoria.

Hot Springs is much warmer than Victoria in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Victoria. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hot Springs 64°F (18°C) 
    Victoria 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Hot Springs or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Victoria.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. It's quite cold in Hot Springs in the winter. In the winter, Hot Springs is cooler than Victoria. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Victoria averages at about 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Hot Springs usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hot Springs 40°F (4°C) 
    Victoria 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Hot Springs or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In April, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Victoria. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hot Springs 65°F (18°C) 
    Victoria 10°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Victoria and Hot Springs

Hot Springs Victoria
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 40°F (4°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 5°C (41°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 45°F (7°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm) 7°C (44°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 54°F (12°C) 4.8 inches (121 mm) 8°C (46°F) 67 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 65°F (18°C) 5.2 inches (133 mm) 10°C (49°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
May 71°F (22°C) 5.2 inches (133 mm) 12°C (54°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Jun 79°F (26°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 14°C (58°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Jul 83°F (28°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 16°C (60°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 3 inches (77 mm) 16°C (61°F) 19 mm (0.8 in)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (95 mm) 15°C (58°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Oct 64°F (18°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 11°C (52°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 53°F (12°C) 5.1 inches (130 mm) 8°C (46°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dec 44°F (6°C) 4.6 inches (118 mm) 5°C (42°F) 153 mm (6 in)