A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Providence vs. Vail for Families, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Providence or Vail?

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 Providence and Vail. 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.

Providence

Providence is a fascinating, active, and friendly city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Providence travel costs.

Vail

Vail is a resort-filled, charming, and picturesque ski town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, Vail attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the shopping, skiing, and nightlife. See Vail travel costs.

Providence and Vail: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Providence or Vail?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Vail. Although Providence and Vail are both popular with visitors, Vail has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Vail is more popular for its skiing, nightlife, music, resorts, hiking, shopping, christmas markets, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Providence is known for its museums and attractions and food. Vail is more touristy than Providence and is known for its world-class skiing, charming mountain town atmosphere, and adventurous outdoor activities. It is also home to The Vail Ski Resort. Providence is popular for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Providence different from Vail?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Providence or Vail Better for Skiing?

Vail is an unbeatable place for skiing. However, Providence is not a skiing destination.

Vail is a top destination for snow skiing, and it attracts visitors from around the world. This ski town has produced its share of Olympians. Vail is the third largest ski resort in the US and it has 31 lifts and 195 runs. There are five different bowls that offer beautiful views.

Providence is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Providence or Vail?

Providence is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Vail does not have museums and landmarks.

Providence offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

Vail does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Providence or Vail? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Providence is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Vail is not as popular, but is still a nice ski town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Providence has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Vail area. The town has a diverse sampling of restaurants that include different ethnic options as well as taverns with comfort food. It's easy to find mountain-friendly restaurants where you can refuel during your ski vacation.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Nightlife?

Vail is a great ski town for its evening party scene. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Vail has something for everybody. Happy Hours start early, and then the partying can go late into the night. There are bars, lounges, breweries and live music that keep the atmosphere light and offer entertainment after your long day on the slopes. Do keep in mind that many places close or dramatically reduce their hours during the off-peak fall and spring months.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Music?

Vail is a good destination for its music scene. However, Providence is not a live music destination.

You don't have to look far to find a unique music venue in Vail. You can often find live music at Shakedown Bar, Bridge Street Bar, and the Red Lion.

Providence is not a live music destination.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Resorts?

Vail is a great ski town for its luxury resorts. However, Providence is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Vail to choose from. Designed as a resort town, Vail offers great accommodation. Nice resorts include Four Seasons Resort and Residences, the Ritz Carlton Club, and the Grand Hyatt.

Providence is not a resort destination.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Hiking?

Vail is a great ski town for hiking. However, Providence is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Vail for the hiking trails. During the warmer months, this resort town is surrounded by world-class hiking trails. You can enjoy the wildflowers, search for wildlife, or take in the sweeping mountain views. Popular hikes near Vail include Booth Falls, Davos Trail, and Shrine Ridge.

Providence is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Providence or Vail?

Vail is a great ski town for its shopping areas. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Vail. The cobblestone streets are lined with boutiques and ski shops that sell everything from evening dresses to outdoor gear. It's easy to pop into the many shops around downtown Vail and find anything you might need.

Providence is a great destination for shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Providence or Vail More Beautiful?

Vail is a great ski town for its scenery and beauty. However, Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Vail attracts visitors from all around. It is a beautiful town that has stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Families?

Vail is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Vail is very family-friendly. With its world class skiing, rock climbing, ice skating, and ice cream, kids love this ski resort. The resort town has two terrain parks - Golden Peak and Avanti. Avanti is perfect for kids. It has small jumps, wide rails, and kid-friendly amenities. Golden Peak is designed for more advanced athletes. Vail also has nice beginner slopes that are great for kids.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Couples?

Vail is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Vail is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples who enjoy skiing and outdoor adventure will appreciate everything that this ski town has to offer. There are nice restaurants, beautiful gardens, and plenty of romantic activities to choose from.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Vail is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Providence is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Vail. This ski town isn't completely closed off to budget travelers as there are a couple of hostels around town.

Providence is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town for those who want an affordable place to stay.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Students?

Providence is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Vail is not popular with students.

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Vail is not popular with students.

Is Providence or Vail Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Providence and Vail both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Providence offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Vail has a few public transit options. There is a free bus service through the area.

Is Providence or Vail a more walkable city?

Vail is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Vail is a very easy ski town to get around on foot. The main downtown is pedestrian-only and perfect for popping in shops and restaurants.

Providence is very walkable. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Providence Worth Visiting? and Is Vail Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Vail or Providence?

How long in Providence or Vail?

Both Providence and Vail have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Vail than in Providence. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Providence, and 3-7 days is enough time in Vail.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vail than Providence 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 Vail.

One day in Providence or Vail?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Providence. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Vail might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the skiing. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Providence or Vail?

Providence is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Even though Vail is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the skiing. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Providence or Vail?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Providence. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Vail, a popular ski town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this ski town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Providence or Vail?

The friendly city of Providence offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

Vail is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this ski town makes for a great vacation. One of the main draws to the area is the skiing. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this ski town has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Providence or Vail?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Vail. When comparing the sizes of Providence and Vail, 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.