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

Should you visit Playa Blanca or Saint-Etienne?

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 Saint-Etienne 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 Saint-Etienne?

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.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne (Saint Stephen), a city southwest of Lyon, is drawing on its Industrial Revolution origins and its history of arms, bicycle, textile and ribbon production, to reinvent itself as design city. And the change is noticeable. After almost 30 years of decline, the city is now looking optimistically towards the future. Its center and suburbs are smartening up at a rapid pace. There are plenty of good surprises, including two great museums and a great eating scene.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

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

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 Saint-Etienne Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Playa Blanca or Saint-Etienne?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa Blanca. When comparing the sizes of Playa Blanca and Saint-Etienne, 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 Saint-Etienne?

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 Playa Blanca or Saint-Etienne in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa Blanca and Saint-Etienne. Also, many travelers come to Saint-Etienne for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Playa Blanca is around the same temperature as Saint-Etienne in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint-Etienne this time of the year. In Playa Blanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa Blanca usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint-Etienne during summer. Playa Blanca gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Saint-Etienne. Playa Blanca gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Saint-Etienne in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Playa Blanca as well as Saint-Etienne. Also, many visitors come to Saint-Etienne in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Playa Blanca is much warmer than Saint-Etienne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa Blanca in October average around 22°C (72°F), and Saint-Etienne averages at about 14°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa Blanca this time of the year. In the autumn, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Playa Blanca gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 127 hours of full sun.

Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in October than Saint-Etienne. Playa Blanca gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Saint-Etienne in the Winter?

Both Saint-Etienne and Playa Blanca are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Saint-Etienne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Saint-Etienne can be very cold during winter. In January, Playa Blanca is generally much warmer than Saint-Etienne. Daily temperatures in Playa Blanca average around 17°C (63°F), and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Saint-Etienne during winter. Playa Blanca gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Saint-Etienne. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Saint-Etienne in the Spring?

Both Saint-Etienne and Playa Blanca during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Saint-Etienne because of the natural beauty.

Playa Blanca is much warmer than Saint-Etienne in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa Blanca. In the spring, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Playa Blanca gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 174 hours of full sun.

Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in April than Saint-Etienne. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint-Etienne and Playa Blanca