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

Should you visit Playa Blanca or Messina?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Playa Blanca and Messina 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: Playa Blanca or Messina?

Playa Blanca

Located on the southern tip of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is a resort area popular with families and couples seeking a quieter vacation alternative to the lively neighbor resort of Puerto del Carmen. The resort's white sandy beaches are peaceful and sheltered from the higher winds found on other parts of the island. Timanfaya National Park is also nearby, as well as a number of other spectacular volcanic features.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Playa Blanca or Messina?

Messina has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Playa Blanca. When comparing the sizes of Playa Blanca and Messina, 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 Playa Blanca or Messina?

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 Playa Blanca or Messina in the Summer?

Both Messina and Playa Blanca during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Messina this time of year.

In July, Playa Blanca is generally cooler than Messina. Daily temperatures in Playa Blanca average around 23°C (73°F), and Messina fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In Messina, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Playa Blanca. In the summer, Playa Blanca often gets less sunshine than Messina. Playa Blanca gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Messina receives 332 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Messina in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa Blanca and Messina. Also, many travelers come to Messina for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Playa Blanca is around the same temperature as Messina in the autumn. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 22°C (72°F) in October, and Messina fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

In Playa Blanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Messina during autumn. Playa Blanca gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Messina receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Messina receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Messina. Playa Blanca gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Messina receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Messina in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Playa Blanca as well as Messina. Also, many visitors come to Messina in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Playa Blanca is a little warmer than Messina. Typically, the winter temperatures in Playa Blanca in January average around 17°C (63°F), and Messina averages at about 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa Blanca this time of the year. In the winter, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Messina. Playa Blanca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Messina receives 115 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Messina. Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in January than Messina. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Messina receives 113 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Messina in the Spring?

Both Messina and Playa Blanca are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Messina for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Playa Blanca is generally a little warmer than Messina. Daily temperatures in Playa Blanca average around 19°C (66°F), and Messina fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Messina. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Messina during spring. Playa Blanca gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Messina receives 207 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Messina. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Messina receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Messina and Playa Blanca