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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Saint John?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Saint John? 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 Saint John?

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.

Saint John

With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.

This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.

Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Basse-Terre?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is $162, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basse-Terre $96
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basse-Terre $192
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Saint John? 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 Saint John


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Basse-Terre $8.57
    Saint John $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $49
    Saint John $56

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basse-Terre $50
    Saint John $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: $214

Tours and Activities in Saint John

Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
  • St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basse-Terre $14
    Saint John $44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Basse-Terre much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Saint John?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Saint John. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Saint John in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Saint John. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Saint John. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Saint John. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Saint John. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In January, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Saint John in the Spring?

Both Saint John and Basse-Terre during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Saint John. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Basse-Terre

Basse-Terre Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)


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