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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Kailua-Kona?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Kailua-Kona? 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 Kailua-Kona?

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.

Kailua-Kona

Kailua Kona, or Kona, as it is commonly referred, is the largest city on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It's a popular destination for sport fishing, snorkeling, and its beautiful sunsets. Kona is protected by the mountains so it receives very little rain annually and has about 300 days of sunshine every year. The closest airport is Kona International Airport at Keahole, which receives flights from the mainland United States, Canada, as well as Honolulu and other islands. Once in town, you can walk around Kona, but if you hope to explore anywhere else on the Big Island you will need a car. To take full advantage of your Hawaiian vacation it really is recommended that you rent a car for at least a few days while you're on the island.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Kailua-Kona?

Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Kailua-Kona, 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 Kailua-Kona?

Kailua-Kona 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 Kailua-Kona in the Summer?

Both Kailua-Kona 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.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?

Both Kailua-Kona 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.

In the autumn, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Kailua-Kona. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Kailua-Kona. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.

In January, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.

Kailua-Kona receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?

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

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun.

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Kailua-Kona. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Basse-Terre