A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Martha's Vineyard vs. Whistler for Resorts, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Martha's Vineyard and Whistler. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is a peaceful, affluent, and coastal island. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Martha's Vineyard is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking. See Martha's Vineyard travel costs.

Whistler

Whistler is a charming, adventurous, and outdoorsy village. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, Whistler attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Whistler travel costs.

Martha's Vineyard and Whistler: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Whistler than Martha's Vineyard, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Whistler is better known for its skiing, nightlife, and hiking, while Martha's Vineyard is more popular for its resorts, beaches, shopping, and small town charm. Whistler is more touristy than Martha's Vineyard and is popular for its world renowned skiing and snowboarding. Also, Whistler is famous for Cloudraker Skybridge. Martha's Vineyard is well known for its natural beauty, charming New England towns, and upscale local shopping.

How is Martha's Vineyard different from Whistler?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Skiing?

Whistler is an amazing village to visit for skiing. However, Martha's Vineyard is not a skiing destination.

Whistler is a top destination for snow skiing, and it attracts visitors from around the world. Whistler is the largest ski resort in North America. It covers a vast area that includes two peaks - Whistler and Blackcomb. The slopes are connected by lifts and gondolas and there are options for every level, from beginner to expert.

Martha's Vineyard is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

You'll find a number of respectable museums and attractions in both Whistler and Martha's Vineyard.

While most people don't head to Martha's Vineyard specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of local museums in the area as well as the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Whistler offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There is a local museum where you can learn about the areas culture and heritage.

Is the Food Better in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Martha's Vineyard and Whistler can be difficult as they are each great in their own way.

Martha's Vineyard has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The region prioritizes sustainable agriculture and there are many local eateries that range from upscale to more casual. You'll find the greatest number of options during the peak summer months, but regardless of when you visit, you're sure to eat well.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Whistler makes for a great culinary experience. There are many great restaurants and pubs that serve local dishes like Whistler herring, meatloaf, and Artic char fish. There are casual eateries as well as fine dining with upscale cuisine.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Nightlife?

Whistler is a great village for its evening party scene. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Whistler has something for everybody. After a day on the slopes, you can enjoy the lively nightlife that includes après ski bars, nightclubs, and late night parties.

Most people don't head to Martha's Vineyard specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's more of a laid back vibe, but the best towns in the evening are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Resorts?

Martha's Vineyard is renowned for its resorts. Also, Whistler is not as famous, but is still a good village to visit for its luxury resorts.

Martha's Vineyard offers an unforgettable resort vacation. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts that attract celebrities and socialites. Many have pools and serene outdoor spaces that you can enjoy.

In Whistler, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. There's a large selection of resorts that you can choose from. Many have pools and hot tubs and range from romantic to family-friendly.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Beaches?

Martha's Vineyard is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Whistler is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Martha's Vineyard. The beaches are scenic and peaceful. Head to northern side of the island for shallow water, or south for more surf. While there are some public beaches that are open to everyone, there are also beaches that require a parking or town beach permit to visit.

Whistler is not a beach destination.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Hiking?

Whistler is an amazing village to visit for hiking. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for the nearby hiking options.

Whistler is well-known for its hiking and trekking. During the warmer seasons there are miles of hiking trails that take you through both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Many trails are accessible by gondola and you'll find great views and stunning vistas. Trails range from short family-friendly options to strenuous and adventurous routes.

Martha's Vineyard is a good destination for hiking. There are miles of trails around the island that pass through fields or along the coastline. The island is mostly flat, so the hikes are relatively easy for all skill levels.

Is the Shopping Better in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

Martha's Vineyard is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Whistler is not as famous, but is still a good village to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Martha's Vineyard is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are no malls, so you'll enjoy shopping at local stores that sell a mix of locally made items and name brand. There are many art galleries as well as craft festivals during the summer months.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Whistler. The village offers great shopping where you can pick up local items or any ski gear you may have forgotten.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler More Beautiful?

You'll find a similar quality of great scenery and beauty in both Martha's Vineyard and Whistler.

With stunning beauty, Martha's Vineyard attracts visitors from all around. The rugged coastline and rolling hills give this area a natural beauty.

Whistler is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. The town sits in a valley that is surrounded by stunning mountains and impressive glaciers.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Families?

Whistler is an amazing village to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Whistler is very family-friendly. Kids will love the winter activities like skiing, dog sledding, and bobsledding. There's also an ice skating rink, climbing gym, and tons of kid-friendly restaurants.

Martha's Vineyard is a family-friendly place to visit. You can visit local farms or go to a local baseball game. There's also cafes, ice cream shops, and donut shops that kids will enjoy.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Couples?

Martha's Vineyard is renowned for romance. Also, Whistler is not as famous, but is still a good village to visit for its romantic activities.

Martha's Vineyard has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's filled with charming bed and breakfasts and plenty of New England charm. Couples will enjoy the quaint restaurants and mix of history, small town charm, and outdoor adventure.

Whistler makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy an adventure will love the year-round outdoor sports. There are also romantic spas, fine dining, and scenic gondola rides.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Whistler is a great village for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Whistler. There are several hostels in the area that are perfect for backpackers and budget travelers.

Martha's Vineyard is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Budget options are limited, making this an inconvenient destination for backpackers.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Martha's Vineyard and Whistler both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Martha's Vineyard. Access to the island is limited to boat and air. There's a bus service that connects the towns.

Public transit is generally limited in Whistler. There's a bus system that connects the town to other nearby neighborhoods.

Is Martha's Vineyard or Whistler a more walkable city?

Whistler is a great village for its ease of walking around. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its walkability.

Whistler is a very walkable destination. It's a compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

Martha's Vineyard is somewhat walkable. Many of the towns have walkable downtown areas, but traveling between towns and into the countryside requires a vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Martha's Vineyard Worth Visiting? and Is Whistler Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Whistler or Martha's Vineyard?

How long in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

In either Martha's Vineyard or Whistler, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Whistler than Martha's Vineyard because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Martha's Vineyard, and 3-5 days is enough time in Whistler.

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

Couples should spend more time in Martha's Vineyard than Whistler. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Martha's Vineyard that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Whistler than Martha's Vineyard 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 Whistler.

One day in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

Martha's Vineyard is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With food and shopping around the destination of Whistler, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this island makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Martha's Vineyard, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With shopping and skiing around the charming village of Whistler, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Five days in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With skiing and nightlife around the charming destination of Whistler, there's plenty to do. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. If you have five days, this village makes for a great vacation. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here.

A week in Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

Martha's Vineyard is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This island offers something for everyone.

Whistler is a popular choice for travelers. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This village offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Martha's Vineyard Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Martha's Vineyard or Whistler?

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 Martha's Vineyard or Whistler in the Summer?

Both Whistler and Martha's Vineyard during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Martha's Vineyard in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Whistler for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Martha's Vineyard is a little warmer than Whistler. Typically, the summer temperatures in Martha's Vineyard in July average around 73°F (23°C), and Whistler averages at about 18°C (64°F).

In Whistler, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Martha's Vineyard. In the summer, Martha's Vineyard often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Whistler. Martha's Vineyard gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 296 hours of full sun.

Martha's Vineyard usually gets more rain in July than Whistler. Martha's Vineyard gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or Whistler in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Martha's Vineyard and Whistler. Most visitors come to Martha's Vineyard for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Whistler because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Martha's Vineyard is generally a little warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Martha's Vineyard average around 53°F (12°C), and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In Martha's Vineyard, it's very sunny this time of the year. Martha's Vineyard usually receives more sunshine than Whistler during autumn. Martha's Vineyard gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Whistler receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Martha's Vineyard usually receives less rain than Whistler. Martha's Vineyard gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or Whistler in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Martha's Vineyard as well as Whistler. The winter months attract visitors to Martha's Vineyard because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Whistler this time of year.

It's quite cold in Whistler in the winter. The weather in Martha's Vineyard can be very cold. Martha's Vineyard is much colder than Whistler in the winter. The daily temperature in Martha's Vineyard averages around 28°F (-2°C) in January, and Whistler fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Martha's Vineyard often gets more sunshine than Whistler. Martha's Vineyard gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 55 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Whistler. Martha's Vineyard usually gets less rain in January than Whistler. Martha's Vineyard gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or Whistler in the Spring?

Both Whistler and Martha's Vineyard are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Martha's Vineyard this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Whistler for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Martha's Vineyard is around the same temperature as Whistler. Typically, the spring temperatures in Martha's Vineyard in April average around 48°F (9°C), and Whistler averages at about 9°C (49°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Martha's Vineyard. Martha's Vineyard usually receives more sunshine than Whistler during spring. Martha's Vineyard gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. In April, Martha's Vineyard usually receives less rain than Whistler. Martha's Vineyard gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Whistler and Martha's Vineyard