A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. Gainesville for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Gainesville?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Gainesville? 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 Gainesville?

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.

Gainesville

Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

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

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 Gainesville Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Gainesville?

Gainesville has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Gainesville, 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 Gainesville?

Gainesville 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 Gainesville in the Summer?

Both Gainesville 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, many visitors come to Gainesville in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Gainesville in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Gainesville fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Gainesville. It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Gainesville. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Gainesville in the Autumn?

Both Gainesville 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. Also, most visitors come to Gainesville for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Basse-Terre is a little warmer than Gainesville. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Gainesville averages at about 71°F (22°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Gainesville. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Gainesville is June to November.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Gainesville in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Gainesville. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Basse-Terre is generally much warmer than Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Gainesville fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Gainesville. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Gainesville in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Gainesville. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Basse-Terre is a little warmer than Gainesville in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Gainesville fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Gainesville. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.

Typical Weather for Gainesville and Basse-Terre