Travel topic · Season
Where to go in November
Book the first half of November for the best mix of dry weather and pre-peak prices: Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, the Gulf, southern Spain, Morocco, Japan and New Zealand all work now.
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The short answer: November is shoulder season almost everywhere, so the best trips are places that are dry and warm now but crowded and expensive in December — Mexico and the Caribbean before peak, Thailand and Vietnam before high season, the Gulf and Egypt, southern Spain, Morocco, Japan's autumn, and New Zealand's late spring. Avoid the northern-hemisphere cold only if you want sun; ski areas are still waiting for snow.
Key facts
- Best value window
- 1–20 November: dry-season destinations are open but not yet at December prices
- Weather pattern
- Dry season starts in Thailand, Vietnam's south, Mexico, the Caribbean, Egypt, the Gulf and Morocco
- Still wetcheck
- Vietnam's centre (Hue, Hoi An), Sri Lanka's east coast, the Maldives' south atolls, parts of Indonesia
- Too cold for most
- Northern Europe, Canada, northern China, Korea, most of the US and Japan's north
- Peak-price risk
- Thanksgiving week (US) and the last week of November push up flights and hotels
- Ski seasoncheck
- Most Alpine, Rocky Mountain and Japanese resorts open late November at the earliest
- Trip length that works
- 7–14 days; long-haul flights from the US are 8–14 hours each way
The short answer
>- November is the month when the northern-hemisphere summer crowds are gone, the December crowds have not arrived, and the dry season has started in a band running from Mexico through the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia. That makes it one of the best-value months of the year for long-haul travel.
>- If you want beach and sun: Mexico's Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the Caribbean islands, Thailand's Andaman coast, southern Vietnam, Egypt's Red Sea, the UAE and Oman, Morocco's Atlantic coast, and New Zealand's South Island as spring settles in.
>- If you want cities and culture: Japan (autumn colours, Kyoto and Tokyo), southern Spain (Seville, Granada, Madrid), Italy and Greece (cooler, quieter, cheaper), Egypt's Nile, Jordan's Petra, Mexico's colonial cities, and India's Rajasthan as the heat breaks.
>- If you want to avoid: northern Europe, Canada, the northern US, Korea, northern China and Japan's Hokkaido are cold and dark; the Alps and Rockies have little snow yet; the Caribbean and Mexico are still technically in hurricane season until 30 November, though risk drops sharply after mid-month.
Do
- Book flights 6–10 weeks out for the first half of November; the last week behaves like December.
- Check hurricane-season status before booking Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico trips in the first ten days.
SeeTravel topics: visas, money, health, transport and planning
Who this applies to
>- This page is for travellers choosing a destination for a November trip, usually 7–14 days, from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland. It assumes you can fly long-haul and want either sun or a city break.
>- Passport and visa rules depend on your passport, not on the month. US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports get visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to most of the destinations below for short tourist stays, but always check the destination's own immigration site before booking.
>- If you are travelling with school-age children, the US Thanksgiving week and the UK half-term at the end of October are the two dates that change prices most. If you are retired or flexible, the first three weeks of November are the cheapest window.
| Traveller type | Best November fit |
|---|---|
| Beach and sun | Mexico, Caribbean, Thailand, Vietnam south, Egypt, UAE, Oman, Morocco |
| City and culture | Japan, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico's colonial cities |
| Budget and shoulder season | Southern Europe, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam, Thailand |
| Family with school dates | Avoid Thanksgiving week; book early |
| Skiers | Wait for December; late November only at high altitude |
Show 6 sectionsHideHow to choose, step by step, Cost and time, Exceptions and things that change the plan, Compare the main options, Questions people ask, Related
How to choose, step by step
>- Step 1 — Decide the weather you want. Sun and beach, cool cities, or autumn colour. November cannot give you all three in one place.
>- Step 2 — Check the rainy season. The dry season has started in Thailand, southern Vietnam, Mexico, the Caribbean, Egypt, the Gulf and Morocco. It has not started in Vietnam's centre, Sri Lanka's east coast or parts of Indonesia.
>- Step 3 — Check the crowd calendar. The first three weeks of November are shoulder season almost everywhere. Thanksgiving week in the US and the run-up to Christmas change prices and availability.
>- Step 4 — Check flights. Long-haul fares from the US to Asia or Europe in early November are usually 10–25% below December fares (2026 estimate).
>- Step 5 — Check entry rules for your passport and buy travel insurance that covers medical care and cancellation.
>- Step 6 — Lock the trip in the itinerary builder so dates, flights and hotels stay in one place.
| Step | What to check | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weather and season | Best-time-to-visit picker |
| 2 | Rain and storms | National weather services, hurricane centres |
| 3 | Crowds and prices | Airline and hotel sites, 6–10 weeks out |
| 4 | Flights | Google Flights, Skyscanner, KAYAK |
| 5 | Visa and entry | Destination immigration site, your government's travel advice |
| 6 | Insurance and plan | Travel insurance page, itinerary builder |
Cost and time
>- Flights are the biggest variable. From the US east coast, early-November return fares to Mexico or the Caribbean are often USD 300–600; to Europe USD 500–900; to Japan or Southeast Asia USD 800–1,400 (2026 estimate). From the UK, short-haul Europe is GBP 60–200 return and long-haul Asia or the Caribbean GBP 500–900 (2026 estimate).
>- Hotels in shoulder season run roughly 20–40% below December rates in Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand, Vietnam and southern Europe (2026 estimate). A mid-range double in Thailand or Vietnam is often USD 40–80 a night; in Mexico or the Caribbean USD 120–250; in Japan or Spain USD 100–200 (2026 estimate).
>- Trip length: 7–10 days works for Mexico, the Caribbean, Egypt, Morocco or southern Europe from the US east coast or Europe. 10–14 days is better for Japan, Thailand, Vietnam or New Zealand, because the flights are 10–14 hours each way.
>- Daily costs on the ground vary more than flights. Southeast Asia and Egypt are cheap; Japan, Spain, the UAE and New Zealand are mid to high.
| Destination | Flight time from US east coast | November weather | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico (Pacific or Caribbean) | 3–5 h | Dry, 25–32 °C | Low–mid |
| Caribbean islands | 3–5 h | Warm, 27–31 °C, storm risk early | Mid–high |
| Thailand (Andaman coast) | 20 h+ with a stop | Dry season starts, 28–32 °C | Low |
| Vietnam (south) | 20 h+ with a stop | Dry, 27–32 °C | Low |
| Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto) | 13–14 h | Cool, 10–18 °C, autumn colour | Mid–high |
| Egypt (Nile, Red Sea) | 11–13 h | Dry, 22–30 °C | Low–mid |
| UAE and Oman | 12–14 h | Dry, 25–32 °C | Mid–high |
| Morocco | 7–8 h | Mild, 18–24 °C | Low–mid |
| Southern Spain | 7–8 h | Mild, 15–22 °C | Mid |
| New Zealand | 13–14 h+ | Late spring, 15–22 °C | Mid–high |
Exceptions and things that change the plan
>- Hurricane season in the Atlantic and Caribbean runs to 30 November. Risk is highest in the first half of the month and falls sharply after mid-November, but a single storm can still disrupt a trip (check).
>- Vietnam's centre, including Hue and Hoi An, is often still in its rainy season in November, with flooding possible. The south around Ho Chi Minh City is drier.
>- Sri Lanka's east coast is wet in November; the south and west coasts are the better bet.
>- The Maldives' southern atolls see more rain in November; the northern atolls are drier.
>- Thanksgiving week in the US (the fourth Thursday) is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Flights and hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe jump in price.
>- Ski resorts in the Alps, the Rockies and Japan mostly open in late November or December. Early-season snow is unreliable (check).
>- Some national parks and mountain roads close for winter in Europe and North America from late October or November (check).
Watch out
- Check your government's travel advice and the destination's immigration site before booking; rules change.
- Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and cancellation; November storms and winter closures are common causes of claims.
SeeTravel topics: visas, money, health, transport and planning
Compare the main options
>- If you want the best weather for the money, pick Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam's south, Egypt or Morocco.
>- If you want cities and culture with mild weather, pick Japan, Spain, Italy or Egypt's Nile.
>- If you want a beach close to the US, pick Mexico or the Caribbean, but watch the storm forecast early in the month.
>- If you want spring and long days, pick New Zealand.
>- If you want snow, wait for December.
| Priority | Best pick | Second pick |
|---|---|---|
| Beach and sun | Thailand (Andaman) | Mexico Pacific coast |
| Short flight from US | Mexico | Caribbean |
| Cities and culture | Japan | Spain |
| Best value | Vietnam (south) | Egypt |
| Spring and nature | New Zealand | Morocco |
| Winter sun from Europe | Egypt | UAE and Oman |
Questions people ask
Where to go in November: what is the short answer?
Pick a destination whose dry season has started but whose peak season has not: Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand, southern Vietnam, Egypt, the UAE and Oman, Morocco, southern Spain, Japan and New Zealand. The first three weeks of November are the best-value window; the last week behaves like December.
Who does it apply to?
Travellers planning a 7–14 day trip in November, mainly from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Passport and visa rules depend on your passport, not the month, so check the destination's immigration site and your government's travel advice before booking.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
From the US east coast, early-November return fares are often USD 300–600 to Mexico or the Caribbean, USD 500–900 to Europe and USD 800–1,400 to Japan or Southeast Asia (2026 estimate). Hotels run roughly 20–40% below December rates. Allow 7–10 days for Mexico, the Caribbean, Egypt or southern Europe, and 10–14 days for Japan, Thailand, Vietnam or New Zealand because of the flight time.
Is November a good time for a beach holiday?
Yes, in the right places. Thailand's Andaman coast, southern Vietnam, Mexico, the Caribbean, Egypt's Red Sea, the UAE and Oman are all warm and mostly dry. The Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico are still in hurricane season until 30 November, so check the forecast if you travel in the first half of the month.
Where is it still rainy in November?
Vietnam's centre (Hue, Hoi An), Sri Lanka's east coast, the Maldives' southern atolls and parts of Indonesia are still wet. Vietnam's south, Thailand's Andaman coast and Sri Lanka's south and west coasts are drier.
Can I ski in November?
Only at high altitude, and only late in the month. Most Alpine, Rocky Mountain and Japanese resorts open in late November or December, and early-season snow is unreliable. If skiing is the goal, plan for December or later.
When should I book a November trip?
Book flights 6–10 weeks ahead for the first three weeks of November. If your dates fall in Thanksgiving week or the last week of the month, book earlier, because prices and availability move toward December levels.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialUS State Department – Travel advisories
- officialUK FCDO – Foreign travel advice
- officialGovernment of Canada – Travel advice and advisories
- officialSmartraveller (Australia)
- officialSafeTravel (New Zealand)
- officialDepartment of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
- officialNational Hurricane Center
- officialWorld Meteorological Organization