A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea? 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.

Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Basse-Terre

In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.

Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.

If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.

If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.

Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Carmel-by-the-Sea is in North America, 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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 Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Basse-Terre is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Basse-Terre during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Basse-Terre is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.

In the winter, Basse-Terre is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 51°F (11°C).

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, Basse-Terre is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and Basse-Terre