A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Vail for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Negril or Vail?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Vail. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Negril or Vail?

Negril

Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!

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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Vail or Negril?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, 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 Negril and Vail in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $106
    Vail $174
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $212
    Vail $348
Compare Hotels in Negril and Vail

Looking for a hotel in Negril 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.

Hotels in Negril


Hotels in Vail


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: Negril Hotel Prices and Vail Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.71
    Vail $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:


  • Taxi From Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

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

  • Royalton Negril Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $280
  • Montego Bay: Private Transfer from Airport to Negril: $250
  • Private Airport transfer to/from all hotels in Negril round trip: $170
  • Private Airport Transfer Montego Bay and Negril: $140
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfers to Negril Hotels: $134
  • Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
  • Transfers between Montego Bay Airport and Negril Hotels: $107
  • Private Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels : $107
  • Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay to Grand Palladium: $105
  • From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Negril: $105
  • Airport Round-Trip Transfers To Negril From Sangster’s International Airport : $90
  • Sandals South Coast Private Transfer (White House): $83

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vail

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

  • Private Eagle County / Vail Airport Transfer to Vail: $299
  • Private Eagle County Regional / Vail Airport Transfer to Beaver Creek: $299
  • Avon/Vail Valley to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer : $238
  • EGE Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Vail, Beaver Creek, and Avon: $229
  • Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Denver Airport DEN - Departure Transfer: $218
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Vail Airport EGE: $156
  • Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $153
  • Eagle County Airport to Steamboat - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
  • Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE: $128
  • Eagle County Regional (EGE) to Steamboat Springs-Arrival Transfer: $120
  • Eagle County Airport to Steamboat Springs-Round-Trip Transfer: $120
  • Eagle County Airport to Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon-Arrival Transfer: $115

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Vail?

Prices for flights to both Vail and Negril 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
    Negril $23
    Vail $74

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril

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

  • The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $85
  • Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
  • Local food tour and local fields : $164

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $27
    Vail $133
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $44

Tours and Activities in Negril

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.

  • YS Falls and Sightseeing Tour Day Adventure: $138
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour: $275
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Negril: $232
  • Appleton Estate Rum and Black River Safari Private Tour : $185
  • Appleton Rum Factory and Black River Safari Tour: $279
  • Appleton Rum Factory, YS Falls, and Reggae Horseback Ride & Swim Combo Tour: $195
  • Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
  • Atv Adventure and Ricks Cafe with Private Transportation: $367
  • Atv Adventure and Ziplines with Private Transportation: $413
  • Atv, Seven Mile Beach and Rick’s Cafe Tour & Transportation: $333
  • Atv, Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe Private Tour: $293

Tours and Activities in Vail

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vail.

  • Bike Tour or Mountain Bike down Vail Mountain: $120
  • Dillon Marina & Shopping Tour: $267
  • Inflatable Kayak Adventure Colorado River: Half Day Guided Tour : $109
  • Save the Mountain Escape Room Adventure: $45
  • Smartphone Driving Tour between Denver & Vail / Breckenridge: $7.99
  • Stand Up Paddle Board Colorado River Adventure: Guided Half Day : $98
  • Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $10
    Vail $9.79


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Vail, we can see that Vail is more expensive. And not only is Negril much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Vail is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Negril would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Negril 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 Negril.

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


Which is Bigger, Negril or Vail?

Vail has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril 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.