A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Terre-de-Haut vs. Santa Cruz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz?

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

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz? 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: Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz?

Terre-de-Haut

Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.

Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.

Santa Cruz

On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.

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, Santa Cruz or Terre-de-Haut?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Terre-de-Haut is $150, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Terre-de-Haut and Santa Cruz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Terre-de-Haut $73
    Santa Cruz $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Terre-de-Haut $146
    Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Terre-de-Haut and Santa Cruz

Looking for a hotel in Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz? 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 Terre-de-Haut


Hotels in Santa Cruz


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: Terre-de-Haut Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Terre-de-Haut $47
    Santa Cruz $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Terre-de-Haut

Also for Terre-de-Haut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Guadeloupe to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport - Private Departure Transfer: $80
  • Private Transfer from Deshaies or Trois Riviers to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz and Terre-de-Haut 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
    Terre-de-Haut $48
    Santa Cruz $41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Terre-de-Haut

For Terre-de-Haut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Grilled Lobster and Fish Private Cooking Tour with Lunch Included: $232

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Terre-de-Haut $21
    Santa Cruz $18

Tours and Activities in Terre-de-Haut

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Terre-de-Haut.

  • Small Day Cruise (Ilet caret, mangrove, coral reef: $104
  • Private Shooting Tour Around Soufrière: $107
  • Sailing and Snorkeling Day Tour to Les Saintes: $157

Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz

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

  • Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
  • Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
  • Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
  • Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
  • Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
  • Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
  • Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
  • Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
  • Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
  • Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Terre-de-Haut $47
    Santa Cruz $8.57

Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:

  • Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
  • Private Brewery Tour: $500
  • Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Terre-de-Haut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

Both Santa Cruz and Terre-de-Haut during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.

In July, Terre-de-Haut is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Terre-de-Haut 27°C (81°F) 
    Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Terre-de-Haut 27°C (80°F) 
    Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as Santa Cruz. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).

Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in January than Santa Cruz. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Terre-de-Haut 24°C (76°F) 
    Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

Both Santa Cruz and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches during these months.

In April, Terre-de-Haut is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

It's quite rainy in Terre-de-Haut. In April, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Terre-de-Haut 26°C (78°F) 
    Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Terre-de-Haut

Terre-de-Haut Santa Cruz
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 51°F (10°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 54°F (12°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 55°F (13°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 58°F (14°C) 1 inches (26 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 62°F (16°C) 0.3 inches (7 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 65°F (19°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 67°F (19°C) 0.1 inches (1 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 67°F (20°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 67°F (19°C) 0.2 inches (6 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 63°F (17°C) 0.8 inches (21 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 56°F (13°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 51°F (10°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)