A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Rochelle vs. Playa de las Americas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas? 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: La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas?

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a lovely French city in the province of Charente-Maritime. It's located in western France and is a seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Most people who visit the city enjoy exploring the "Vieux Port" or Old Harbour area. This area is the heart of the city and it is a beautiful neighborhood that has many seafood restaurants and nice architecture. It's particularly enjoyable to walk around during the evening hours. Ile de Re is connected to the city by a bridge and is also a nice place to visit. If you head out of town, the surrounding countryside is very rural. North of the city is Venise Verte, which is very marshy and has many small canals. It's a popular area for inland boating.

Playa de las Americas

If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Rochelle and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is La Rochelle much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Rochelle would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Rochelle 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in La Rochelle.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Rochelle Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas?

La Rochelle has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle and Playa de las Americas, 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 La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

Both Playa de las Americas and La Rochelle are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year.

La Rochelle is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 20°C (67°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Rochelle. La Rochelle usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas during summer. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?

Both Playa de las Americas and La Rochelle during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to La Rochelle for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, La Rochelle is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Rochelle in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Rochelle and Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to La Rochelle in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, La Rochelle is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 7°C (44°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

La Rochelle usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to La Rochelle as well as Playa de las Americas. Most visitors come to La Rochelle for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.

La Rochelle is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the spring, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. La Rochelle gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and La Rochelle