A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Simons vs. Ottawa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Simons or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Saint Simons or Ottawa? 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: Saint Simons or Ottawa?

Saint Simons

Located just off the coast of southern Georgia, Saint Simons Island is the largest of the state’s renowned "Golden Isle's." Visitors are drawn to the Island for its warm climate, beaches, variety of outdoor activities, shops and restaurants, historical sites, and its natural environment. With most of the natural marsh and woodlands to the north and the commercial attractions centralized in the south, Saint Simons has a little taste of everything for all who come to see it.

Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second.  It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Simons and Ottawa, we can see that Saint Simons is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Saint Simons would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Simons than you might in Ottawa.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Simons or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Saint Simons. When comparing the sizes of Saint Simons and Ottawa, 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 Saint Simons or Ottawa?

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 Saint Simons or Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Simons as well as Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Saint Simons because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Simons is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Saint Simons average around 82°F (28°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Simons this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Simons often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Saint Simons gets 286 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Saint Simons receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint Simons usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Saint Simons gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Simons or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Saint Simons are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Saint Simons this time of year.

Saint Simons is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Simons averages around 70°F (21°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Simons. Saint Simons usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Saint Simons gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Simons usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Saint Simons gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Simons or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Saint Simons during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saint Simons for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Saint Simons is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Simons in January average around 53°F (12°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Saint Simons often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Saint Simons gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Saint Simons usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Saint Simons gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Simons or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Simons and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Saint Simons in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, Saint Simons is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Saint Simons average around 68°F (20°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In Saint Simons, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Simons usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Saint Simons gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Simons usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Saint Simons gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Saint Simons