A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Fernando vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.

Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.

If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.

If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.

Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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 San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, San Fernando is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 63°F (17°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea in the autumn for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, San Fernando is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

San Fernando is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

San Fernando usually gets more rain in January than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Fernando or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, San Fernando is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 56°F (13°C).

In April, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Fernando