A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Rochelle vs. Playa del Ingles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Rochelle or Playa del Ingles?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa del Ingles? 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 del Ingles?

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 del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

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 Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

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

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Playa del Ingles?

La Rochelle has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle and Playa del Ingles, 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 del Ingles?

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 del Ingles in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Rochelle and Playa del Ingles. Many travelers come to La Rochelle for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, La Rochelle is generally cooler than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 20°C (67°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. In La Rochelle, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Rochelle usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during summer. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to La Rochelle as well as Playa del Ingles. Many visitors come to La Rochelle in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

La Rochelle is much colder than Playa del Ingles in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the autumn, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Ingles. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

Both Playa del Ingles and La Rochelle are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to La Rochelle for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, La Rochelle is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Rochelle in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 17°C (63°F).

La Rochelle usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during winter. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

Both Playa del Ingles and La Rochelle during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the beaches and the small town charm.

In April, La Rochelle is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 11°C (52°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Ingles. La Rochelle gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and La Rochelle