A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Vientiane for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Similan Islands or Vientiane?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Vientiane can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Similan Islands or Vientiane?

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Vientiane?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vientiane in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Vientiane. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.

June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Vientiane. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the summer. Similan Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Vientiane. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the summer, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun.

In July, Similan Islands is generally around the same temperature as Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 28°C (82°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vientiane in the Autumn?

Both Vientiane and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In October, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

It's quite sunny in Vientiane. Similan Islands usually receives less sunshine than Vientiane during autumn. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Vientiane in the autumn. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Vientiane fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vientiane in the Winter?

Both Vientiane and Similan Islands during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.

Similan Islands usually gets more rain in January than Vientiane. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the winter, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Similan Islands is a little warmer than Vientiane. Typically, the winter temperatures in Similan Islands in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Vientiane averages at about 24°C (75°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vientiane in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Vientiane. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Vientiane during spring. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. In April, Similan Islands is generally around the same temperature as Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 29°C (83°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).

Typical Weather for Vientiane and Similan Islands