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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Williamsburg?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Williamsburg? 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 Williamsburg?

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.

Williamsburg

In southeast Virginia, Williamsburg is a historic city that was the capital of Virginia during the 1700's. It's now a popular tourist destination in the state because it has managed to recreate its past in a theme park like setting. Perhaps the most famous attraction in the city is "Colonial Williamsburg," an outdoor museum that recreates an 18th century town with working tradesmen and functioning jobs. You can purchase a one day pass to the area for $36 and multiple day passes at a slight discount. Exhibits in the area include observing a court proceeding, seeing the Governor's Palace, and witnessing the impact of the American Revolution on the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

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

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 Williamsburg Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Williamsburg?

Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Williamsburg. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Williamsburg, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

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

Williamsburg has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Williamsburg in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Williamsburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Williamsburg because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Williamsburg. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Williamsburg fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Williamsburg this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Williamsburg during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Williamsburg receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

Williamsburg receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Williamsburg. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Williamsburg in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Williamsburg. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Williamsburg this time of year.

Basse-Terre is much warmer than Williamsburg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Williamsburg fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Williamsburg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Williamsburg. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Williamsburg receives 211 hours of full sun.

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Williamsburg. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Williamsburg in the Winter?

Both Williamsburg 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. Also, many travelers come to Williamsburg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Williamsburg. In the winter, Basse-Terre is much warmer than Williamsburg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Williamsburg averages at about 38°F (4°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Williamsburg during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Williamsburg receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Williamsburg. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Williamsburg in the Spring?

Both Williamsburg 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Williamsburg in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Basse-Terre is generally much warmer than Williamsburg. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Williamsburg fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In Williamsburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Williamsburg. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Williamsburg receives 253 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Williamsburg. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Williamsburg and Basse-Terre