A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Virginia Beach for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

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

Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach? 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.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a cultural, charming, and colorful town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. San Cristobal de Las Casas is a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See San Cristobal de Las Casas travel costs.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a relaxing, bustling, and fun-filled coastal city. Virginia Beach is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and beaches. See Virginia Beach travel costs.

San Cristobal de Las Casas and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

Visitors will generally find more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Virginia Beach. While Virginia Beach is larger than San Cristobal de Las Casas, San Cristobal de Las Casas has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. San Cristobal de Las Casas is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Virginia Beach attracts visitors for its resorts and beaches. San Cristobal de Las Casas is more touristy than Virginia Beach and is known for its historical buildings, local markets, and traditional churches. It is also well known for the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas. Virginia Beach is famous for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe.

How is San Cristobal de Las Casas different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Virginia Beach and San Cristobal de Las Casas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is great for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to San Cristobal de Las Casas can be an interesting and educational experience. The town is filled with historical churches such as the main Cathedral of San Cristobal. While this is the most notable church, there are also smaller churches worth visiting like the Templo Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Guadalupe, and Iglesia de San Cristobal. For museums, make sure you check out the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, Na Bolom, and Museo de Ambar.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine is a mix of Spanish-influenced cured meats such as ham and sausage, as well as indigenous flavors like tamales and burritos. There's also a lot of great pizza around town as well as several Asian restaurants.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is great for nightlife and partying. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its evening party scene.

Many people head to San Cristobal de Las Casas for the nightlife scene. There's an active nightlife scene that includes everything from late night clubs to salsa lessons. Most tourists who want to party head to the pedestrian streets around the plaza. There are countless bars where you'll likely find a crowd late into the night. Some clubs have a cover charge on weekends but, in general, drinks are cheap and getting around is easy.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Virginia Beach. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a handful of resorts to choose from. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a resort destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its beaches. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for its Old Town?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is great for its old town. However, Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to San Cristobal de Las Casas to see the historical old town. The town is filled with narrow pedestrian streets, colorful markets, and historic churches.

Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is terrific for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Known for shopping, San Cristobal de Las Casas draws large crowds to its stores. The nearby villages are famous for their weaving, leather, pottery, and embroidery, so many visitors pick up souvenirs at the colorful markets around town. This is one of the best towns in Mexico to purchase local items, and you should definitely set aside time to explore and shop.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach More Beautiful?

San Cristobal de Las Casas and Virginia Beach both are comparable with their nice scenery and beauty.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a gorgeous place to visit. Set against the backdrop of mountains, this town is colorful and charming.

Virginia Beach is a beautiful place to visit, too. As a developed beach town, the city has its share of hotels along the beach, but it is still a beautiful setting to explore.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

Virginia Beach is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Virginia Beach is a very family-friendly destination. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas. While kids may not appreciate the town's beauty and culture, they will have fun exploring the night market or taking a chocolate-making class. There are pedestrian streets where everyone can explore without fear of traffic and pizza restaurants that appeal to the kids as well.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is great for its romantic activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for couples.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy culture, markets, traditional cuisines, and new experiences will love their time here. It's a fun place to simply wander. You can explore the markets and then eat at a local restaurant before making your way back to your boutique hotel.

Virginia Beach is a good town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Virginia Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Many backpackers visit San Cristobal de Las Casas. There are a number of hostels in town as well as budget-friendly hotels. Backpackers love the laid back nature of this town as well as the many markets and nature-oriented activities.

Virginia Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not popular with students.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

While San Cristobal de Las Casas offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Urbano buses are minibuses that connect the town to the outlying residential areas. There are also colectivos that travel to nearby villages.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is terrific for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very easy town to get around on foot. Walking is the best way to experience the town. Most of the sights can be reached on foot and there are pedestrian-only streets that let you avoid the traffic.

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

For even more information, also check out Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

How long in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

Both San Cristobal de Las Casas and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for San Cristobal de Las Casas, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

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

Couples should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Virginia Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Virginia 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas.

One day in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

San Cristobal de Las Casas might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Visiting the old town is also a must. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this bustling destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this destination offers. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this bustling destination offers. This is a popular place to visit for five days.Five days is often enough time to do most activities. This coastal city offers something for everyone.

A week in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. 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.

In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this coastal city offers. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. If you have one week, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Virginia Beach, 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.