By Mark Hodson
Sunday Times Travel Writer
Q. Where is hot in November for a holiday in 2024?
A. Go abroad in November and you can escape the start of the British winter. You only need to fly four hours to experience temperatures of 24ºC in the Canary Islands. You’ll find sunshine and 30ºC in the Caribbean, and guaranteed heat and sun in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Mauritius.
These are my own personal holiday recommendations with links to companies tested and approved by our team of editors. For details and prices, follow the links below to individual tour operators.
If you’re travelling alone, see the best singles holidays in November. You can also find the best family holidays in November.
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Short haul in November– Long haul in November
Short haul: under 6 hours flying time
Nowhere in mainland Europe is still hot in November, but if you fly for just 4 – 5 hours from the UK you can reach several destinations where sunshine and warm weather are all but guaranteed.
The Canary Islands would be my top pick. It’s good value and the weather is fine in November. Treat yourself to a hotel in Tenerife, a villa in Lanzarote, or escape to one of the lesser-known islands such asLa Gomera. Even at the end of November you can expect long days of sunshine and temperatures of 24°C.
The Portuguese island of Madeira is close to the Canaries and boasts a wonderful selection of luxury hotels and traditionalquintas – plus direct British Airways flights from London. This is not just an island for sunbathing – it’s wonderful for walking in rugged countryside, discovering traditional villages and visiting botanical gardens.
Also consider the Portuguese islands of the Azores. Ideal for winter sun, this is also one of the best places in Europe for whale and dolphin watching.
You can get lucky and find warm temperatures in the Greek islands in November but they aren’t guaranteed. Also see my guide to the hottest places in Turkey in November.
The Gambia on the West coast of Africa is one of the best-value winter sun destinations. It’s only 6 hours flying time from the UK with direct flights and no jet lag. Average high temperatures are 32°C with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day. And if that doesn’t warm your heart, you will also love the sandy beaches, low prices and friendly people. Check out the latest special offers.
Morocco is easy to reach – airfares are low and flying time is less than 4 hours from the UK. In the colourful city of Marrakech you can expect highs of 24°C with similar weather in the less touristy city of Fes.
Egypt is just 5 hours flying time from the UK with many direct flights. In Cairo you can look forward to 8 hours of sunshine and highs of 23°C in November – ideal conditions for visiting the Pyramids and the treasures of the new Egyptian Museum. You certainly shouldn’t miss out on a Nile cruise.
It’s also 5 hours to Jordan where you can expect 22ºC and 8 hours of daily sunshine in November. A compact country rich in ancient treasures, Jordan requires at least a week and this 8-day Splendours of Jordan tour includes all the essentials including Petra, the Dead Sea, Jerash and the deserts and dunes of Wadi Rum. See a choice of small-group tours.
Another option is theCape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. Just six hours from the UK, with direct flights, you can expect highs of 28ºC in November with lashings of sunshine and lovely beaches.
See more city breaks in Novemberand where is hot in November in Europe.
The hottest places in November
Destination | Average temperature | Average hours of sun | Monthly rainfall (mm) |
---|---|---|---|
Goa | 32°C | 10 hours | 6 mm |
The Gambia | 32°C | 9 hours | 0 mm |
Dubai | 31°C | 11 hours | 10 mm |
phu*ket | 30°C | 8 hours | 280 mm |
Cuba | 30°C | 7 hours | 65 mm |
Barbados | 29°C | 8 hours | 150 mm |
Mauritius | 29°C | 9 hours | 110 mm |
Maldives | 29°C | 8 hours | 175 mm |
Tenerife | 24°C | 8 hours | 30 mm |
Marrakech | 24°C | 9 hours | 30 mm |
Madeira | 23°C | 6 hours | 90 mm |
Cyprus | 23°C | 9 hours | 50 mm |
Turkey | 23°C | 9 hours | 90 mm |
Cairo | 23°C | 10 hours | 3 mm |
Malta | 22°C | 8 hours | 80 mm |
Greece | 22°C | 9 hours | 70 mm |
Long haul: over 6 hours flying time
If don’t mind a long-haul flight, you can discover some of the world’s most beautiful destinations in November. The Caribbean is our top pick: the hurricane season is over but the busy tourist season doesn’t start until Christmas, so hotels are quiet and prices are low.
If you like quiet Caribbean islands with local flavour tryGrenada. Of the bigger islands, St Lucia is one of the prettiest, with some very special hotels, whileJamaicahas a genuinely friendly vibe with lots to see and do.
Barbados is known for its celebrity visitors and glitzy restaurants, but in November it too is quiet, so you can discover the natural beauty of the island and its welcoming people – see the latest special offers. Antigua also has some lovely beaches, as does the tinycoral island of Anguilla. Both are home to some outstanding hotels.
You’ll find amazing deals at the luxury all-inclusive Sandals Resorts which has hotels in Jamaica, Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Vincent and Curaçao. It’s for couples only and runs regular special offers. See more Caribbean holiday ideas and details of the Caribbean weather in November.
If you love sailing, you could join a tall ship cruiseto explore some of the Caribbean’s smaller ports. Find out more fromStar Clippers.
In the Arabian Gulf, few can resist the heady charms of Dubai where the hotels, shopping malls and architecture will leave you open-mouthed.
Another interesting option in the region is Abu Dhabi where you can laze in the sun at stunning beach hotels or get tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Across the Gulf, expect temperatures of 31ºC in November.
The beaches of Mauritius are hard to beat in November with temperatures of 28°C and 9 hours of sunshine. This is a dream destination for couples, with fabulous hotels and spas.
If you want a side serving of dazzling culture along with your tropical beach, try Sri Lanka. The high season is just beginning in November but airfares remain at low-season prices. On the popular west coast, the weather is excellent with high temperatures of 29°C and 6 hours of daily sunshine. See some of the amazing experiences you can have in Sri Lanka.
More tropical magic: from Brazil to Botswana
How about South America? November is a lovely month to visitBrazil where you can expect highs of 27ºC. Follow the jet set to the resort ofBuziosand hippy-chicTrancoso.
The Maldives offer perfect beaches, warm seas and wonderful hotels such as the all-inclusive Coco Bodu Hithi. In the Seychelles check out Raffles which is a stunning hotel, but not cheap.
It’s nine hours flying time toGoa in India where you can expect 9 hours of daily sun and 32ºC heat. The beaches are world class – as are the sunsets – plus you’ll find fresh seafood, very low prices and friendly places to stay like these good-value beachfront hotels. Check out the latestspecial offers.
You can also explore the eye-popping cultural highlights of India’s Golden Triangleon one of these private tours (with chauffeur and guide) or small group tours. For something more adventurous, try this Journey through the Himalayan foothills or experience the Treasures of Southern India.
November is one of the best months to visit Thailand. Head to the stylish barefoot Koyao Island Resort where you can expect eight hours of sun and temperatures of 30°C. Nearby you can kayak by starlight and encounter wildlife in Khao Sok National Park. We recommend Experience Travel Group which has put together some extraordinary experiences, from village home stays to secret beaches.
In Africa, the unique island of Madagascar offers an exciting mix of tropical beaches, turquoise seas and thrilling wildlife encounters.
You could splash out on a private safari in Botswana or enjoy the spring sunshine in South Africa(where I recommend thistwo-week self drive holiday). See more of our recommended holidays in Africa.
Cuba is excellent value whether you want a private tour or agroup tour. You can explore the countryside and meet the locals on a self-drive holiday. If you want a bargain beach in the Caribbean, look at these stylish all-inclusive resorts on Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
You can also explore more ideas on where to go on holiday in November. Our sister site, 101 Honeymoons, has expert tips on honeymoons in November.
We also have information on thehottest Canary Islands, thehottest Greek islandsand thehottest, sunniest places in Europe.
What are the hottest places in November?
Goa (32°C) and The Gambia (32ºC) are the hottest holiday destinations in November, followed by Dubai (31ºC), phu*ket (30ºC), Cuba (30ºC) and Barbados (29ºC). You should also consider average monthly rainfall: phu*ket tends to be wet with an average 280 mm of rain with Barbados expecting 150 mm of rain. See more details about November weather in the Caribbean. In Goa, The Gambia and Dubai, rain is highly unlikely. In Europe, the hottest place is the Canary Islands (24ºC) with just 30 mm of average rainfall.
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January –February–March – April –May– June –July–August–September–October–November–December
Last updated: 12 February 2024
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