Which place is cheaper, Vail or North Conway?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit North Conway or Vail?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit North Conway or Vail? 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: North Conway or Vail?
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
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 Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Conway $224Vail $291
The average daily cost (per person) in North Conway is $224, 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 North Conway and Vail in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Conway $125Vail $174
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Conway $250Vail $348
Compare Hotels in North Conway and Vail
Looking for a hotel in North Conway 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.
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: North Conway Hotel Prices and Vail Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Conway $52Vail $19
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 : $237
- EGE Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Vail, Beaver Creek, and Avon: $228
- Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Denver Airport DEN - Departure Transfer: $217
- Private Arrival Transfer from Vail Airport EGE: $156
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $152
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $152
- Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE: $128
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat Springs-Round-Trip Transfer: $119
- Eagle County Regional (EGE) to Steamboat Springs-Arrival Transfer: $119
- Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Eagle County Airport-Departure Transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into North Conway or Vail?
Prices for flights to both Vail and North Conway 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
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Food Meals for one dayNorth Conway $64Vail $74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Conway $38Vail $133
Tours and Activities in North Conway
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.
- 3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH: $39
- Kancamagus Highway: Audio Driving Tour: $12
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide: $17
- Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40
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
- Save the Mountain Escape Room Adventure: $45
- Smartphone Driving Tour between Denver & Vail / Breckenridge: $7.99
- Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Conway $33Vail $9.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Conway and Vail, we can see that Vail is more expensive. And not only is North Conway much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to North Conway would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in North Conway 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 North Conway.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Conway Expensive? and Is Vail Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, North Conway or Vail?
Vail has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of North Conway 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.