A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Monica vs. Hope for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Santa Monica or Hope?

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

Should I visit Santa Monica or Hope? 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.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a energetic, active, and lively town. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Monica travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a friendly, local, and small town. And you can't forget about the hiking. See Hope travel costs.

Santa Monica and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Monica or Hope?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Monica. Although Santa Monica and Hope are popular destinations, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Hope attracts visitors for its hiking. Santa Monica is more touristy than Hope and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also well known for the Santa Monica Pier. Hope is famous for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is Santa Monica different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Monica or Hope?

Santa Monica is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Santa Monica is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

Is the Food Better in Santa Monica or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Monica is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Hope is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Monica. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hope. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Nightlife?

Santa Monica is a great town for nightlife. However, Hope is not known for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Santa Monica has something for everybody. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

Most people don't head to Hope specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Hope is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Santa Monica is a very popular vacation destination. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Hope is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Hiking?

Hope is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Santa Monica is not a hiking destination.

Hope is a popular spot for hiking. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

Santa Monica is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Monica or Hope?

Santa Monica is a great town for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Families?

Santa Monica is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Hope is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Monica is one of the most popular family destinations. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

Hope is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Santa Monica and Hope make for a great place to visit.

Santa Monica is a very popular place to visit for couples. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

Hope makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hope is notable for backpackers. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Hope is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Santa Monica is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

Is Santa Monica or Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Monica is a great town for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

Visitors to Santa Monica can move around easily with public transportation. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is Santa Monica or Hope a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is a great town for its walkability. However, Hope is not known for its high level of walkability.

Santa Monica is very walkable. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

Hope is generally not very walkable. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Monica Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or Santa Monica?

How long in Santa Monica or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Monica and Hope. In our opinion, Santa Monica has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Monica than Hope. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Santa Monica, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Monica than Hope 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 Santa Monica.

One day in Santa Monica or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Monica. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Hope, many people enjoy the that this small town offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Santa Monica or Hope?

Santa Monica is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

Hope is a fun place to experience. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Santa Monica or Hope?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the energetic destination of Santa Monica. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find around the local destination of Hope. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Santa Monica or Hope?

The active town of Santa Monica offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

Hope is a popular place to visit. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Hope?

Santa Monica has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica and Hope, 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 Santa Monica or Hope?

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 Santa Monica or Hope in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Hope. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hope for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Santa Monica is generally a little warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 70°F (21°C), and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Santa Monica usually gets less rain in July than Hope. Santa Monica gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Hope in the Autumn?

Both Hope and Santa Monica are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Hope in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Santa Monica is much warmer than Hope in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 67°F (20°C) in October, and Hope fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hope. In October, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Hope. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Hope in the Winter?

Both Hope and Santa Monica during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Santa Monica in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Hope for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Hope can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Santa Monica is much warmer than Hope. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Monica in January average around 57°F (14°C), and Hope averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Hope gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santa Monica usually gets less rain in January than Hope. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Hope in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Monica and Hope. Most visitors come to Santa Monica for the beaches during these months.

In April, Santa Monica is generally much warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 61°F (16°C), and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Hope. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hope and Santa Monica