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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Santa Monica?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Santa Monica? 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 Santa Monica?

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.

Santa Monica

When it comes to visiting Los Angeles, Santa Monica is high on the must-see-and-do list. Chances are you'll recognize the iconic ferris wheel from Pacific Park in films and TV shows, and nothing beats the relaxed yet bustling vibe of this laid-back city.

Santa Monica is a popular and diverse beach town, cultural hub, fitness venue, shopping district, and neighborhood full of unique and trendy restaurants, all rolled into one. Visited by more than 6 million people a year, it's no wonder you'll always find a crowd there.

So whether you're up for a high-end shopping spree, bicycling down the waterfront, an eclectic food crawl or simply a stroll down the promenade, Santa Monica is sure to have something in store for you.

The weather in Santa Monica is moderate, with average summer highs in the low to mid 70s and winter climate that rests comfortably around the low 50s. Though flip flops and sandals are considered year-round footwear in Los Angeles, bring comfortable walking shoes for browsing galleries, malls, and boutiques. Santa Monica is the perfect place to break out your California-casual wardrobe.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica is $210. 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 Santa Monica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre $87
    Santa Monica $123
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre $174
    Santa Monica $246
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Santa Monica

Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or Santa Monica? 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 Santa Monica


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 Santa Monica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre $9.64
    Santa Monica $50

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:

  • Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $80
  • Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Santa Monica?

Prices for flights to both Santa Monica 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
    Santa Monica $52

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Monica

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.

  • Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour: $96
  • Los Angeles Premier Dinner Cruise from Marina del Rey: $124
  • Marina del Rey Christmas Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
  • Marina del Rey Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
  • Marina del Rey Father's Day Plated Dinner Cruise: $222

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre $48
    Santa Monica $38

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

Tours and Activities in Santa Monica

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

  • LA & Self-Guided Aerospace Legacy Audio Tour: $15
  • Explore Malibu's Coast: PCH & Beyond - Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $22
  • Santa Monica Ghosts Haunted Ghost Tour on the Pier: $30
  • Santa Monica Puzzling Adventure: $35
  • Santa Monica Downtown Walking Tour: $40
  • Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $44
  • Virtual Reality Escape Room Experience: $45
  • Onewheel Board Experience: $60
  • Los Angeles: Latin Dance Club Crawl Experience: $65
  • 4.5 Hour Venice Beach Open Air Van Tour: $65
  • Sights and Sips Cruise Tour in Marina del Rey: $69

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre $13
    Santa Monica $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Monica

Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private Vintage VW Hippie Tour to Malibu with wine tasting: $195
  • Vintage VW Hippie Shared Tour to Malibu with Wine Tasting: $199
  • Charcuterie Board and Wine Tasting in Marina Bay: $300


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



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

Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Santa Monica. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.

Grande-Terre is a little warmer than Santa Monica in the summer. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Grande-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Santa Monica 70°F (21°C)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Santa Monica in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Santa Monica. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Grande-Terre is a little warmer than Santa Monica. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grande-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Santa Monica averages at about 67°F (20°C).

Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Santa Monica. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Grande-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Santa Monica 67°F (20°C)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Santa Monica in the Winter?

Both Santa Monica 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, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Grande-Terre is generally much warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In January, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Grande-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Santa Monica 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Santa Monica in the Spring?

Both Santa Monica 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Santa Monica for the beaches during these months.

Grande-Terre is much warmer than Santa Monica in the spring. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Santa Monica. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Grande-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Santa Monica 61°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Grande-Terre

Grande-Terre Santa Monica
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 57°F (14°C) 0.7 inches (17 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 58°F (15°C) 0.9 inches (24 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 58°F (15°C) 0.4 inches (10 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 61°F (16°C) 0.2 inches (4 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 63°F (17°C) 0 inches (1 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 66°F (19°C) 0 inches (0 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 70°F (21°C) 0 inches (0 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 71°F (22°C) 0 inches (0 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 70°F (21°C) 0 inches (1 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 67°F (20°C) 0.2 inches (6 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 62°F (17°C) 0.2 inches (5 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 58°F (14°C) 0.6 inches (15 mm)