A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Grande-Terre vs. Big Island of Hawaii for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii? 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: Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii?

Grande-Terre

Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.

Big Island of Hawaii

What comes to mind when someone says, "Hawaii"? Probably sandy beaches, coconut drinks and lazy days of tanning. It's a dream destination for those who want to get away, but the island of Hawai'i, or the Big Island as it's most commonly called, has so much more to offer than a place to catch up on your latest novel.

At 93 miles across, and a population of 185 thousand, the Big Island was once a large exporter of sugarcane. After its final plantation closed in 1996, tourism became the backbone of Hawai'i Island's economy. More recently, the Big Island has become the focus for sustainable tourism – visiting a place as a tourist and trying to make only a positive impact on your destination.

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

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grande-Terre Expensive? and Is Big Island of Hawaii Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii?

Big Island of Hawaii has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grande-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii in the Summer?

Both Big Island of Hawaii and Grande-Terre during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Big Island of Hawaii in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Grande-Terre is generally a little warmer than Big Island of Hawaii. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the summer, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 169 hours of full sun.

Big Island of Hawaii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets less rain in July than Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 9.7 inches (247 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Big Island of Hawaii. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Big Island of Hawaii for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Big Island of Hawaii in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii during autumn. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Big Island of Hawaii receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 9.8 inches (248 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Big Island of Hawaii because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Big Island of Hawaii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grande-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Big Island of Hawaii averages at about 72°F (22°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the winter, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 158 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre usually gets less rain in January than Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 8.7 inches (221 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Big Island of Hawaii in the Spring?

Both Big Island of Hawaii and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Big Island of Hawaii this time of year.

In April, Grande-Terre is generally a little warmer than Big Island of Hawaii. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii during spring. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Big Island of Hawaii. It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In April, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than Big Island of Hawaii. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 15.6 inches (395 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Big Island of Hawaii and Grande-Terre