It can be easy to let November slip away without a break — but planning a trip this month can guarantee you a moment of respite before end-of-year festivities kick into high gear.
Treat yourself to one of these November getaways, which cover everything from epic city escapes to low-season destinations with manageable crowds. This month is the perfect travel sweet spot, whether you are a food or sports lover, itching for your next outdoor adventure or need a wellness reset before the holidays roll around.
No matter your budget, palate or pleasure, you’re sure to find a trip for you. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
The Food and Drinks Lover
New Orleans, Louisiana
Even for a city that boasts more reasons to visit than there are gumbo recipes, November is a vibrant feather in its culinary cap. It’s a magical time when the city shows out with pleasant weather leading up to the winter holidays.
New Orleans’ mosaic of cultures and history echoes through its food traditions and modern restaurants. Expect Sunday jazz brunches, cooking workshops and annual festivals and celebrations — whatever you fancy, you’ll find it here. In November, celebrate Caribbean culture during the Bayou Bacchanal or be an amateur judge at the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival.
Any meal will likely come with a side of storytelling, as NOLA’s chefs double as memory keepers, combining stories of the city’s heritage with their passion for cooking. Pick up some crisp fried chicken from the legendary Willie Mae’s Scotch House. Alternatively, try an eight-course feast at culinary institutions like Galatoire’s or the tasting menu at Dakar NOLA, a Senegalese restaurant that specializes in farm-to-table (and sea-to-table) fare.
Lisbon, Portugal
Despite its gorgeous year-round climate, this capital city sees inexpensive travel and accommodation rates in November, as well as fewer tourists.
If gastronomical sumptuousness — everywhere, all at once — were a city, it would be Lisbon. While away an afternoon in rustic village eateries that feature fresh seafood, and order a bica (Portugal’s answer to espresso) in a tasca (tavern). Chat and nosh with locals in Lisbon’s must-visit food markets that showcase delicious restaurants, cultural events, cooking workshops and more.
Explore the cobbled lanes and leg-testing inclines of the city’s historic neighborhoods, such as Baixa and Alfama. And don’t forget to take advantage of the low season at the breathtaking beaches of Praia do Guincho and Praia da Figueirinha.
The Sports Fan
Tucson, Arizona
Don’t let the sun-streaked relaxation of Tucson fool you. This city steps up to bat with an array of professional sports and outdoor activities.
With November comes cooler temperatures, making Tucson an ideal destination for world-class golf, soccer and lacrosse. When you’re ready to cheer on the professionals, head to the Tucson Convention Center Arena to watch the Roadrunners play ice-hockey during an electric home game. In November, you can also join the fun at Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games.
Take in the cacti-flecked desert and majestic mountain views with a bike ride along any of the trails that lead into the wilderness at the edge of the city.
British Columbia, Canada
It’s hard to imagine anything more picturesque in November than the stunning Canadian Rockies under a blanket of snow or Johnston Canyon’s thundering falls as they begin to freeze.
Winter sports adventures abound in British Columbia, and November is smack-dab in the middle of low season, which means fewer cars in parking lots and fewer people on the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb, Big White and other popular spots. There’s often plenty of snow to work with by late November, so grab your skis or snowboard and get to it before the crowds arrive.
Winter sports not your jam? Grab a ticket to a Canadian football game in Vancouver.
The Wellness Buff
Southern California
Sunny times and flawless climes is what you’ll get in Southern California in November — to say nothing of the surplus of holistic wellness options from which to choose.
Spending time outdoors is one way to balance the mind and body, and in SoCal, there are endless chances to walk, hike, surf and more. Leave the drudgery behind and turn your visit into a wellness retreat by adding a yoga, meditation or spa session to your itinerary. Enjoy some yoga with your brunch at AC Hotel Beverly Hills or book time at the spa at VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort & Spa.
Anguilla
In Anguilla, November offers shoulder-season rates and sublime warm weather. The raw beauty of this Caribbean island’s sandy beaches and bright blue waters will be a sight for sore eyes.
Get a group of family or friends together to rent a waterfront villa, which can serve as a comfortable home base from which you can explore the rest of the main island. You can take exploration at your own pace, but make sure to spend time at the spectacular Shoal Bay Beach. Worries? What worries?
The Outdoor Enthusiast
Nadi and Yasawa Islands, Fiji
Whether you’re island-hopping with friends or on a backpacking adventure, the low travel season makes November an excellent time to grab a bargain flight to Fiji.
Book a room at a waterfront spot in Nadi (Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is an excellent choice) and enjoy convenient access to diving and surfing. With such a stunning backdrop for adventures, you’ll want to spend all your time outside.
You also can’t go wrong with a trip to the Yasawa Islands. There are a variety of day trip options that will take you by boat from Nadi to the Yasawas Islands, where you can explore beaches, take advantage of hiking trails or snorkel among the coral reefs. This is life, one island at a time.
The Arts and Culture Seeker
Vietnam
With November comes the end of the rainy season in Vietnam — and the perfect opportunity to explore its modern metropolises, coastal towns and beaches.
Consider taking an extended trip and making your way down the coast. Eat your fill in perennially bustling Hanoi. View the Hue Monuments of the Nguyen Kings — ancient tombs and homes of the last dynastic rulers of Vietnam — in and around Hue City in Thua Thien-Hue Province. Enjoy the impressive art galleries and workshops, as well as the lantern-lit streets and canals, of Hoi An.
Farther south, get swept away by the energy of Ho Chi Minh City, or take a riverboat down the mighty Mekong, past floating houses, swathes of rice paddies and villages built on stilts.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Is there a more magical month to peruse the cultural treasures of Buenos Aires than November? Not likely. Nicknamed “the Paris of South America,” Argentina’s capital city shimmers with an array of underground galleries, historic theaters, eye-catching street art and impressive museums.
Not to be missed is the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires. The museum houses hundreds of works by modern Latin American artists, like Diego Rivera and María Martins.
November also kicks off the official opening of the polo season in Buenos Aires. Take a day trip to San Antonio de Areco to enjoy Day of the Gaucho festivities toward the beginning of the month.
Best Places to Travel by Month — See All 12
Related Articles
