A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ao Nang vs. Qingdao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ao Nang or Qingdao?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Qingdao? 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: Ao Nang or Qingdao?

Ao Nang

If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.

Qingdao

Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Qingdao?

Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Qingdao, 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 Ao Nang or Qingdao?

Qingdao has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ao Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Qingdao in the Summer?

Both Qingdao and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.

Ao Nang is a little warmer than Qingdao in the summer. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Qingdao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Qingdao during summer. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 183 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In July, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Ao Nang is August to October.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Qingdao in the Autumn?

Both Qingdao and Ao Nang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Ao Nang is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ao Nang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Qingdao averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Ao Nang often gets less sunshine than Qingdao. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 220 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in October than Qingdao. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Ao Nang. August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Qingdao in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.

The weather in Qingdao can be very cold. In January, Ao Nang is generally much warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).

In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Qingdao during winter. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Qingdao in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Qingdao. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Ao Nang is much warmer than Qingdao in the spring. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Qingdao fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the spring, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Qingdao. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 224 hours of full sun.

Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in April than Qingdao. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Qingdao and Ao Nang