A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sarasota vs. Vieques Island for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sarasota or Vieques Island?

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 Sarasota and Vieques Island. 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.

Where Should I go: Sarasota or Vieques Island?

Sarasota

Located on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, Sarasota is a popular city known for its thriving arts scene, selection of restaurants, plenty of shopping, and beautiful beaches. The metropolitan area is a hub of city culture, while the beaches offer escapes of fine white sand and aqua waters.

Vieques Island

Amidst the melodious chorus of coqui frogs and gentle whispers of palm trees blowing in an evening breeze, you will find that the waters around you glow just as brightly as the stars above. This tropical paradise is none other than Vieques, Puerto Rico. Tropical forests, bioluminescent bays, coral reefs--this island attracts visitors from all around the world who seek to see the wonders and beauties of the tropics. This island suits those from all walks of life, from history buffs seeking to learn about its unique past to nature-lovers wanting to admire its untouched wilderness. Vieques is the place for a perfect vacation!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sarasota and Vieques Island, we can see that Sarasota is more expensive. And not only is Vieques Island much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sarasota is in North America and Vieques Island is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Vieques Island would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vieques Island 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota than you might in Vieques Island.

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

Which is Bigger, Sarasota or Vieques Island?

Sarasota has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Vieques Island. When comparing the sizes of Sarasota and Vieques Island, 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 Sarasota or Vieques Island?

Sarasota has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vieques Island experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sarasota or Vieques Island in the Summer?

Both Vieques Island and Sarasota are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sarasota for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Vieques Island because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Sarasota is around the same temperature as Vieques Island in the summer. The daily temperature in Sarasota averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Vieques Island fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Vieques Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sarasota. Sarasota usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during summer. Sarasota gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Sarasota. In July, Sarasota usually receives more rain than Vieques Island. Sarasota gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sarasota or Vieques Island in the Autumn?

Both Vieques Island and Sarasota during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Sarasota because of the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vieques Island year-round.

In the autumn, Sarasota is cooler than Vieques Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sarasota in October average around 76°F (24°C), and Vieques Island averages at about 28°C (82°F).

In Vieques Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sarasota. In the autumn, Sarasota often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vieques Island. Sarasota gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 235 hours of full sun.

Vieques Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sarasota usually gets less rain in October than Vieques Island. Sarasota gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Sarasota is June to November.

Should I visit Sarasota or Vieques Island in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sarasota and Vieques Island. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sarasota this time of year. Vieques Island attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Sarasota is generally much colder than Vieques Island. Daily temperatures in Sarasota average around 59°F (15°C), and Vieques Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vieques Island this time of the year. In Sarasota, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sarasota usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during winter. Sarasota gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Sarasota usually receives more rain than Vieques Island. Sarasota gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sarasota or Vieques Island in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sarasota as well as Vieques Island. Many travelers come to Sarasota for the beaches. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vieques Island throughout the year.

Sarasota is cooler than Vieques Island in the spring. The daily temperature in Sarasota averages around 73°F (23°C) in April, and Vieques Island fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vieques Island. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sarasota this time of the year. In the spring, Sarasota often gets more sunshine than Vieques Island. Sarasota gets 299 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 272 hours of full sun.

Sarasota usually gets less rain in April than Vieques Island. Sarasota gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Sarasota.

Typical Weather for Vieques Island and Sarasota