A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Daytona Beach vs. Calgary for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Calgary?

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Calgary? 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.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is a energetic, lively, and fun beach city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the live music, beaches, and nightlife. See Daytona Beach travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a authentic, western, and local city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Calgary travel costs.

Daytona Beach and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Daytona Beach than Calgary. While Calgary is larger than Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Daytona Beach is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, beaches, and big city activities, while Calgary is known for its museums and attractions and shopping. Daytona Beach is more touristy than Calgary and is known for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. It is also home to The Daytona International Speedway. Calgary is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede.

How is Daytona Beach different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Calgary and Daytona Beach. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

Calgary is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calgary. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Daytona Beach or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Daytona Beach and Calgary offer a number of decent restaurants to choose from.

Daytona Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. This beach is more about the parties and drinks than it is about the food.

Calgary offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Daytona Beach is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Spring break is when the parties are at their peak. For the most active nightlife head to A1A from Ormond-by-the-Sea to Ponce Inlet, Main and Beach Streets, and Seabreeze Boulevard, ONE DAYTONA and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, and Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach.

If you're looking for night time activities Calgary has a few options to choose from. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Music?

Daytona Beach is a beach city with good options for its live music scene. However, Calgary is not a live music destination.

You'll find some good live music in Daytona Beach. You can see live music at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Bandshell and The Roof.

Calgary is not a live music destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Resorts?

Daytona Beach is a beach city with a few options for its resorts. However, Calgary is not a resort destination.

Not known for its high-end resorts, Daytona Beach offers a few options. Many resorts in the area focus more on affordability than luxury. The oceanfront hotels usually have nice beachfront pools and rooms with balconies and oceanfront views. You'll pay a bit more for the waterfront rooms.

Calgary is not a resort destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Beaches?

Daytona Beach is a beach city with good options for the beach. However, Calgary is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Daytona Beach. The city's beaches are lively and festive, so if you're looking for a beach with music, drinking, and partying, then this is your place. In the surrounding areas you'll find some quieter, more family-friendly beaches. It's also best to avoid the Spring Break crowds if you're hoping for a quieter and more family-friendly vacation.

Calgary is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

Calgary is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Calgary to go shopping. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

Daytona Beach is a good destination for shopping. Souvenir shops and t-shirt shops are the main shopping you'll find in this area. The boardwalk is lined with gimmicky shops where you can pick up magnets or beach paraphernalia.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Families?

Calgary is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its kid-friendly activities.

Calgary is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Daytona Beach is not always a place people visit with their families. Although it's best avoided during spring break, Daytona with kids can be fun when the crowds aren't too bad. There are water parks, surfing lessons, and of course the beach. The restaurants are usually family-friendly as well with many offering kid's menus and early opening hours.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Daytona Beach and Calgary make for a good place to visit.

Daytona Beach is a good beach city for couples to visit. While romance isn't exactly what comes to mind when you first think of Daytona, couples who like to party and be out and about will enjoy a visit to Daytona Beach. There's plenty to do and some very great seafood restaurants in the area, so it's not hard to turn it into a couple's destination.

Calgary is a nice destination for couples. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a popular place for backpackers. However, Daytona Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Calgary. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Daytona Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Students?

Daytona Beach is an unbeatable place for students. However, Calgary is not popular with students.

Daytona Beach is a very popular beach city for students. It's one of the original Spring Break destinations, and the trend continues. If you're a student looking to cut loose, you'll find plenty of likeminded vacationers in the area, with many bars and hotels catering specifically to the younger crowd.

Calgary is not popular with students.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is a popular place for its public transit. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for times when you don't have a car.

Calgary has a few public transit options. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is quite limited in Daytona Beach. There's limited transportation options around town so you really must have a private vehicle. If you've been out drinking, you can call a taxi or an Uber.

Is Daytona Beach or Calgary a more walkable city?

Calgary is a moderate city for its ease of walking around. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its walkability.

Calgary is generally not very walkable. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

Daytona Beach is not a very walkable beach city. This area requires a car if you want to access restaurants, nightlife, or anything away from your hotel.

For even more information, also check out Is Daytona Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Daytona Beach or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Calgary than Daytona Beach because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

Families should spend more time in Calgary than Daytona Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Calgary, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Daytona Beach if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Calgary.

One day in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

In Daytona Beach, you'll find nightlife and live music. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. This beach city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the local destination of Calgary. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

You'll find live music and nightlife around the energetic destination of Daytona Beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. A weekend is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calgary. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

Daytona Beach is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the local destination of Calgary. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Daytona Beach or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Daytona Beach. Many people enjoy the live music and nightlife when visiting Daytona Beach. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the city of Calgary. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Daytona Beach. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Calgary, 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.