A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Suzhou for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Similan Islands or Suzhou?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Suzhou 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: Similan Islands or Suzhou?

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

Suzhou

Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu province famed for its beautiful gardens and traditional waterside architecture, featuring elaborate canals and bridges. Located on the Yangtze Delta, the city consists largely of waterways making Suzhou a kind of 'Venice of the Orient.' It is also a hub for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Suzhou?

Suzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Similan Islands experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Suzhou in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Suzhou. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Similan Islands is generally around the same temperature as Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 28°C (82°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the summer, Similan Islands often gets less sunshine than Suzhou. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the summer. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in July than Suzhou. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Suzhou in the Autumn?

Both Suzhou and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year.

Similan Islands is a little warmer than Suzhou in the autumn. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during autumn. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In October, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Suzhou in the Winter?

Both Suzhou and Similan Islands during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Suzhou can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Similan Islands is much warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the winter temperatures in Similan Islands in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Suzhou averages at about 4°C (39°F).

It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the winter, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Suzhou. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Suzhou in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Suzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round.

In April, Similan Islands is generally much warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 29°C (83°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during spring. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

Suzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring. October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands.

Typical Weather for Suzhou and Similan Islands