Should I Visit Destin or Orlando? Which is Better for Resorts, Families, Food, and Couples? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Which city is cheaper, Orlando or Destin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you’re trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Destin and Orlando can help you decide which place is right for you.

Destin is a relaxing, peaceful, and family-friendly beach town. It’s a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

Orlando is a family-friendly, entertaining, and active city. It’s also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Destin and Orlando.

Destin offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The area has great seafood including crab chowder, seafood gumbo, and fried fish.

Orlando has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are a diversity of restaurants on the Disney grounds and nearby. Restaurants can be challenging though, as reservations must be made months in advance.

Party-goers will usually choose Orlando over Destin.

There’s a variety of activities in the evening in Orlando. If you need a break from the kids, you’ll find some of the best nightlife around Orlando at Disney Springs, Wall Street Plaza and Universal CityWalk.

Destin doesn’t offer many options. The region is more popular as a family-friendly beach destination than it is for it’s nightlife. Head to the Harbor area for the most lively nightlife.

Luxury resorts are fairly comparable in Destin and Orlando.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Destin. Popular options include the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, as well as Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort & Spa.

Orlando offers an unforgettable resort vacation. Disney World is famous for its many iconic resorts. Some of the most popular are the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Resort, and the Grand Floridian Resort.

Both Destin and Orlando are good shopping destinations.

Destin is a great destination for shopping. In the shopping centers around town you’ll find a number of unique boutique shops that are fun to explore.

Orlando is well-known for its shopping. Shopping is a dream for any Disney enthusiast. There are countless malls and shops, both on and off the Disney grounds, that sell all of the Disney paraphernalia.

You’ll find kid-friendly activities in either Destin or Orlando.

Destin is a very family-friendly place to visit. The area has beautiful sandy beaches, calm waters, and plenty of activities like Big Kahuna’s Water Park.

Orlando is an amazing family-friendly beach town to visit. Known as a theme park capital, here you’ll find the iconic Disney World, as well as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and many more.

Both Destin and Orlando are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Destin is a nice destination for couples. For a relaxing beach vacation, this is a nice option for couples. A lot of the accommodation is in the form of condos, so it may not have the romantic resort vibe you’re going for though.

Orlando makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While most people visit the area with family, there is a niche crowd that enjoys honeymooning or vacationing here as a couple. There are many beautiful restaurants and interesting activities that couples can enjoy together.

Both Destin and Orlando offer public transit options.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Destin.

Public transit is mostly limited in Orlando. If you’re staying at a Disney Property, there is excellent transportation around the complex, but otherwise, a car is essential.

Destin and Orlando both are comparable when exploring on foot.

Destin is not a walkable beach town. The area is very spread out so you’ll need a car to access restaurants and most forms of entertainment.

Orlando is not a very walkable beach town. The city is sprawling, so unless you stay on the Disney grounds, it’s best to rent a car.

Both Destin and Orlando have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Destin is 5-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Orlando is 7 days.

In Destin, you’ll find food and shopping. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This beach town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the theater and nightlife when visiting the destination of Orlando. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you’ll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Destin, you’ll find shopping and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people come for the beaches. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Orlando is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Destin is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Destin has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It’s hard to know how much time to spend in Orlando. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It’s hard to know how much time to spend in Destin. In Destin, you’ll find shopping and food. It’s also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and theater when visiting the family-friendly destination of Orlando. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Destin is $153, while the average daily cost in Orlando is $256. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Destin and Orlando in more detail.

Looking for a hotel in Destin or Orlando? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:

Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

Prices for flights to both Orlando and Destin change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:

For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Destin are as follows:

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Destin are as follows:

For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:

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

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.

The summer brings many poeple to Destin as well as Orlando. Most visitors come to Destin for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Orlando because of the family-friendly experiences.

Destin is around the same temperature as Orlando in the summer. The temperature in Destin is usually 82°F (28°C) in July, and Orlando stays around 82°F (28°C).

It’s quite rainy in Orlando. Destin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Destin usually gets less rain in July than Orlando. Destin gets 7.4 inches (189 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Both Orlando and Destin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Destin because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Orlando this time of year.

In the autumn, Destin is cooler than Orlando. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Destin in October are around 69°F (21°C), and Orlando is about 75°F (24°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Orlando. It’s quite rainy in Destin. In October, Destin usually receives around the same amount of rain as Orlando. Destin gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Both Orlando and Destin during the winter are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Destin this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Orlando for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

In January, Destin is generally much colder than Orlando. Temperatures in Destin average around 50°F (10°C), and Orlando stays around 59°F (15°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Destin. Destin usually gets more rain in January than Orlando. Destin gets 4.6 inches (117 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Destin and Orlando. Many travelers come to Destin for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Destin is cooler than Orlando in the spring. The temperature in Destin is usually 68°F (20°C) in April, and Orlando stays around 72°F (22°C).

In April, Destin usually receives more rain than Orlando. Destin gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

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