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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island? 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 Hilton Head Island?

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.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head, also called Hilton Head Island, is primarily a resort and beach town off the coast of South Carolina. Located on a barrier island, the place is best known for its beaches and golf courses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Hilton Head Island or Basse-Terre?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is $167, while the average daily cost in Hilton Head Island is $243. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Basse-Terre and Hilton Head Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basse-Terre $99
    Hilton Head Island $129
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basse-Terre $198
    Hilton Head Island $258
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Hilton Head Island

Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island? 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.

Hotels in Basse-Terre


Hotels in Hilton Head Island


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and Hilton Head Island Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Basse-Terre $8.84
    Hilton Head Island $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island?

Prices for flights to both Hilton Head Island and Basse-Terre 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Basse-Terre $51
    Hilton Head Island $60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hilton Head Island

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

  • Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basse-Terre $51
    Hilton Head Island $23

Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:

  • Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $188

Tours and Activities in Hilton Head Island

For Hilton Head Island, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Beaufort Ghost Walking Tours : $22
  • Hilton Head Hustle Amazing Race & Tour: $24
  • Tybee Island Ghost Tour: $30
  • Complete History and Movie Walking Tour of Beaufort: $30
  • Walking Tour in Beaufort: $30
  • History and Movie Tour of Beaufort by Golf Cart: $32
  • Dolphin Experience Tour : $33
  • Beaufort City Minibus Tour: $35
  • 90-Minute Dolphin & Nature Tour: $35
  • Historic Tour of Tybee Island: $35
  • Beaufort’s #1 Horse & Carriage History Tour: $35
  • #1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basse-Terre $14
    Hilton Head Island $26

Sample the Local Flavors in Hilton Head Island

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hilton Head Island:

  • Historic Walking Pub Crawl of Tybee Island: $40
  • Hilton Head's ONLY Distillery Experience: $55


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Hilton Head Island, we can see that Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Hilton Head 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 Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island in the Summer?

Both Hilton Head Island and Basse-Terre during the summer 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, many travelers come to Hilton Head Island for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Hilton Head Island. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

In Hilton Head Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the summer, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hilton Head Island receives 267 hours of full sun.

Hilton Head Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets less rain in July than Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 7.9 inches (200 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Hilton Head Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Hilton Head Island in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Basse-Terre is a little warmer than Hilton Head Island in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hilton Head Island this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hilton Head Island during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Hilton Head Island receives 223 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 68°F (20°C)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Hilton Head Island for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Basse-Terre is much warmer than Hilton Head Island. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Hilton Head Island averages at about 48°F (9°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the winter, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hilton Head Island receives 176 hours of full sun.

Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in January than Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 48°F (9°C)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Hilton Head Island in the Spring?

Both Hilton Head Island and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Hilton Head Island because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Basse-Terre is generally a little warmer than Hilton Head Island. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

It's quite sunny in Hilton Head Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Hilton Head Island during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Hilton Head Island receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In April, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Hilton Head Island. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 67°F (19°C)

Typical Weather for Hilton Head Island and Basse-Terre

Basse-Terre Hilton Head Island
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 48°F (9°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 52°F (11°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 58°F (15°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 67°F (19°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 73°F (23°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 80°F (26°C) 5.9 inches (150 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 82°F (28°C) 7.9 inches (200 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 81°F (27°C) 6.5 inches (164 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 77°F (25°C) 5.6 inches (141 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 59°F (15°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)