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

Should you visit Messina or Playa del Ingles?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Messina and Playa del Ingles can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Messina or Playa del Ingles?

Messina

Messina is a city in the northwest area of Sicily. There are only five kilometers across the Straits of Messina to the Calabria region of mainland Italy. You can reach Messina by boats which travel every hour from the town of Villa San Giovanni in mainland Italy. There are also a couple of hydrofoils that make the trip every day from Reggio di Calabria. During the summer season don't be surprised to see cruise ships arriving with crowds of tourists. They are usually docked right downtown and are therefore hard to miss. Messina is also connected to mainland Italy by train, which are transported across the Straits of Messina by ferry.

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 Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Messina and Playa del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles is more expensive. And not only is Messina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Messina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Messina 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 Messina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Messina Expensive? and Is Playa del Ingles Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Messina or Playa del Ingles?

Messina has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Messina 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 Messina or Playa del Ingles?

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 Messina or Playa del Ingles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Messina as well as Playa del Ingles. Most visitors come to Messina for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Messina is a little warmer than Playa del Ingles in the summer. The daily temperature in Messina averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Messina this time of the year. In the summer, Messina often gets more sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Messina gets 332 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun.

Messina usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Ingles. Messina gets 19 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Messina or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

Both Playa del Ingles and Messina are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Messina because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Messina is cooler than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Messina in October average around 21°C (69°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. Messina usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during autumn. Messina gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Messina. In October, Messina usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Messina gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Messina or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

Both Playa del Ingles and Messina during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Messina this time of year.

In January, Messina is generally cooler than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Messina average around 13°C (55°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the winter, Messina often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Messina gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Messina. Messina usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Ingles. Messina gets 113 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Messina or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Messina and Playa del Ingles. Many travelers come to Messina for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Messina is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the spring. The daily temperature in Messina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. In Messina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Messina usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during spring. Messina gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Messina usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Messina gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Messina