Which place is cheaper, Playa de las Americas or Chania?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Chania or Playa de las Americas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chania or Playa de las Americas, 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: Chania or Playa de las Americas?
Chania
Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. Chania is Crete's most evocative city, with its pretty Venetian quarter, crisscrossed by narrow lanes, culminating at a magnificent harbor. At the harbor entrance is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian, and Ottoman influences. On the other side, the Nautical Museum has model ships, naval objects and photographs. The former monastery of St. Francis houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania. Remnants of Venetian and Turkish architecture abound, with old townhouses now transformed into atmospheric restaurants and boutique hotels. Although all this beauty means the old town is packed with tourists in summer, it's still a great place to unwind. The Venetian Harbor is super for a stroll and a coffee or cocktail. Plus it’s got a university and a modern area to the city, which means that it retains its charm in winter. Indie boutiques and an entire lane dedicated to leather products provide good shopping and, with a multitude of creative restaurants, you’ll likely have some of your best meals on Crete here.
Playa de las Americas
If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Greece, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Greece, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.
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Chania Prices
Greece PricesPlaya de las Americas Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChania €116Playa de las Americas €228
The average daily cost (per person) in Chania is €116, while the average daily cost in Playa de las Americas is €228. 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 Chania and Playa de las Americas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChania €46Playa de las Americas €115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChania €92Playa de las Americas €230
Compare Hotels in Chania and Playa de las Americas
Looking for a hotel in Chania or Playa de las Americas? 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: Chania Hotel Prices and Playa de las Americas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chania €15Playa de las Americas €56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chania
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chania:
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Kalyves to Heraklion: $235
- Transfer from Chania airport to Paleochora up to 3 or vise versa: $219
- Private Transfer - Chania Airport (CHQ) to Heraklion Cruise Port: $179
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer Georgioupoli to Heraklion: $176
- Crete Private Transfer to or from Ports Airports Hotels Villas: $149
- Private Transfers from Chania Airport to Kissamos one way: $143
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania to Sfakia: $143
- Private Transfer from Rethymno to Heraklion airport: $127
- Souda Port-Bay to Chania City Private Tour with Transfer: $119
- Crete: Private Taxi & Transfer from Chania to Rethymno: $108
- Crete: Private Taxi & Transfer from Rethymno to Chania: $108
- Transfer from or to Chania airport to Gerani up to 3 customers : $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Chania or Playa de las Americas?
Prices for flights to both Playa de las Americas and Chania 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 dayChania €56Playa de las Americas €78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chania
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chania.
- The Delicious Chania Street Food Tour : $96
- Half Day Sunset Tour in Rethymno with Dinner and Wine: $100
- Chania Walking Food Tours Crete with a local!: $101
- Evening Feasts A Journey through Cretan Flavors Food Tour: $108
- Eat & Crete Food Tour [non-touristy] Chania Villages: $197
- Horse Riding, Falasarna Sunset View, Drone video, Tavern Dinner.: $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chania €21Playa de las Americas €30
Tours and Activities in Chania
Here are a few actual costs in Chania for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Preveli WW2 Evacuation Private History Tour - Battle of Crete: $239
- 4x4 Cretan Experience from Rethymnon: $112
- 6-Hours Safari Tour in Damnoni and Skinaria Beach, from Plakias: $33
- All Inclusive Full-day Private Tour of Crete Villages from Chania: $269
- Balos & Falassarna Beach - Jeep Tour with Loungers and Lunch: $191
- Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island Cruise Tour: $62
- Chania City & Lake Kournas Tour: $36
- Chania City Evening Tour From Rethymno: $33
- Chania Private Tour: Monastery, Scenic Gorge & Mountain Views: $263
- Chania Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.55
- Chania Villages and Aptera Site Private Guided Tour: $233
- Chania Walking Food And Wine Night Tour: $143
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChania €18Playa de las Americas €8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Chania
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chania:
- Crete: Local Wine Tasting & Visit to the Ancient Olive Tree: $142
- Cave and Cretan Brewery tour with lunch: $185
- PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting by a Sommelier: $191
- Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages : $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chania and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Chania much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chania would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chania 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in Chania.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chania Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chania or Playa de las Americas?
Chania has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Chania and Playa de las Americas, 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 Chania or Playa de las Americas?
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 Chania or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?
Both Playa de las Americas and Chania during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Chania for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Chania is generally around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Chania average around 26°C (80°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chania. In the summer, Chania often gets more sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Chania gets 380 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun.
Chania usually gets less rain in July than Playa de las Americas. Chania gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChania 26°C (80°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Chania or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chania and Playa de las Americas. The autumn months attract visitors to Chania because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
Chania is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chania averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. Chania usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas during autumn. Chania gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Chania usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Chania gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChania 20°C (68°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Chania or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Chania as well as Playa de las Americas. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Chania this time of year.
In the winter, Chania is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chania in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 19°C (66°F).
In the winter, Chania often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Chania gets 118 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun.
Chania receives a lot of rain in the winter. Chania usually gets more rain in January than Playa de las Americas. Chania gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChania 12°C (54°F)Playa de las Americas 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Chania or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?
Both Playa de las Americas and Chania are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Chania for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Chania is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Chania average around 17°C (62°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chania. Chania usually receives more sunshine than Playa de las Americas during spring. Chania gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Chania usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Chania gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChania 17°C (62°F)Playa de las Americas 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Chania
| Chania | Playa de las Americas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (80°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (62°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
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.