Which place is cheaper, Vail or Saint John?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John 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 Saint John 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: Saint John or Vail?
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $192Vail $291
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $192, 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 Saint John and Vail in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Vail $174
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Vail $348
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Vail
Looking for a hotel in Saint John 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: Vail Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Vail $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vail
Also for Vail, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Avon/Vail Valley to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer : $238
- EGE Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Vail, Beaver Creek, and Avon: $229
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $153
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Springs Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
- Eagle County Airport to Breckenridge Keystone: Arrival Transfer: $93
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat Springs-Round-Trip Transfer: $120
- Eagle County Airport to Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon-Arrival Transfer: $115
- Eagle County Airport(EGE) to Steamboat - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Eagle County Regional (EGE) to Steamboat Springs-Arrival Transfer: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer from Vail Airport EGE: $156
- Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Vail?
Prices for flights to both Vail and Saint John 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 daySaint John $56Vail $74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Vail $133
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Tours and Activities in Vail
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vail.
- Smartphone Driving Tour between Denver & Vail / Breckenridge: $7.99
- Save the Mountain Escape Room Adventure: $45
- Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village: $89
- Stand Up Paddle Board Colorado River Adventure: Guided Half Day : $98
- Inflatable Kayak Adventure Colorado River: Half Day Guided Tour : $109
- Bike Tour or Mountain Bike down Vail Mountain: $120
- Dillon Marina & Shopping Tour: $267
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Vail $9.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Vail, we can see that Vail is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John 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 Saint John would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint John 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 Saint John.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint John Expensive? and Is Vail Expensive?.
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.