A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Terre-de-Haut vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Carmel-by-the-Sea? 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.

Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.

If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.

If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.

Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands and Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea.

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the summer temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 63°F (17°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in July than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Terre-de-Haut is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (80°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°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 Carmel-by-the-Sea. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.

Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the winter. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in January than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea 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, many travelers come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the spring temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 56°F (13°C).

It's quite rainy in Terre-de-Haut. In April, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and Terre-de-Haut