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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Gainesville?

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

Should I visit Grande-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: Grande-Terre or Gainesville?

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.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Gainesville or Grande-Terre?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is $155, while the average daily cost in Gainesville is $221. 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 Grande-Terre and Gainesville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre $87
    Gainesville $119
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre $174
    Gainesville $238
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Gainesville

Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or Gainesville? 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 Grande-Terre


Hotels in Gainesville


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: Grande-Terre Hotel Prices and Gainesville Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre $9.64
    Gainesville $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:

  • Pointe-a-Pitre to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport to Pointe-a-Pitre Hotels Arrival Transfer: $23
  • PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Cruise Port : $26
  • PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to Airport (PTP) : $26
  • Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre City Hotels to Cruise Port: $26
  • Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to City Hotels: $26
  • Transfer Guadeloupe Airport to Cruise Port: $38
  • Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41
  • Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $42
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Le Gosier by SUV: $50
  • Departure Private Transfer from Le Gosier to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Gainesville?

Prices for flights to both Gainesville and Grande-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
    Grande-Terre $51
    Gainesville $70

Typical Food Prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Diner Breakfast for Two
    $17
  • Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)
    $24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre $48
    Gainesville $44

Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre

Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
  • Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $32
  • Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
  • Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
  • Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49
  • *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
  • Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
  • Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $101
  • Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $158
  • Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $170
  • Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $231

Typical Entertainment Prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Manatee Tour for Two
    $98
  • Tour Guide Tip
    $5.00

Tours and Activities in Gainesville

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:

  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
  • Private Snorkeling Tour in Florida Springs: $250

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre $13
    Gainesville $49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and Gainesville, we can see that Gainesville 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 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 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 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 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 Gainesville Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Gainesville?

Gainesville 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 Gainesville in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Gainesville. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Also, many visitors come to Gainesville in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Gainesville fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

Gainesville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than Gainesville. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Grande-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Gainesville 81°F (27°C)

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Gainesville. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Gainesville for the shopping scene during these months.

Grande-Terre is a little warmer than Gainesville in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Gainesville fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Gainesville. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Grande-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Gainesville 71°F (22°C)

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

Both Gainesville and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Grande-Terre is much warmer than Gainesville. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grande-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Gainesville averages at about 54°F (12°C).

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


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Grande-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Gainesville 54°F (12°C)

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

Both Gainesville and Grande-Terre during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Grande-Terre is generally a little warmer than Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Gainesville fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Gainesville. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Grande-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Gainesville 69°F (20°C)

Typical Weather for Gainesville and Grande-Terre

Grande-Terre Gainesville
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 54°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 57°F (14°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 63°F (17°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 69°F (20°C) 2 inches (50 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 75°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 80°F (26°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 81°F (27°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 81°F (27°C) 8.3 inches (211 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 78°F (26°C) 5.5 inches (139 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 71°F (22°C) 2 inches (51 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 63°F (17°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 56°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)


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