The 9 Best Places to Travel in November for Adventure & Warmth
Are you wondering where to travel in November? While it’s not the most typical vacation month, it’s actually an ideal time to get away! Cooler weather in the Northern Hemisphere makes it perfect for escaping to warmer climates, and in the southern hemisphere spring is in full swing, but isn’t too hot just yet.
Beyond the weather, November is full of exciting holidays and festivals around the globe, giving you even more reason to plan your next adventure. Whether you’re after sunny beaches or cultural experiences, there’s something for every traveler.
Check out our top picks for the best places to travel in November and start planning your next adventure!
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The Best Places to Travel in November: Which Areas to Consider and What November Travel Looks Like
Before diving into the best places to travel in November, we’re going to share what November travel looks like, and which general areas to consider worth which ones you can probably skip (for now).
🤩 Where to Travel in November
There are so many great places to travel in November, and the place you choose should depend on what kind of adventures you’re looking for.
There are some destinations that shine for colorful colors and are ideal for hiking, while others have special events going on you should look out for.
We honestly think that November travel is ideal for prime fall travel, enjoying a warm (but also mild) getaway in tropical destinations, or to focus on destinations such as India or Thailand that have big celebrations this month.
🙅🏻♀️ Which Areas to Not Travel in November
While we absolutely love traveling in November, we also do think there are some destinations that don’t shine as brightly this time of year. Generally speaking, places like New England and northern states of the US have already passed their peak for fall and start to get pretty cold, but not cold enough for snow. The same goes for Canada.
Northern Europe tends to be colder and gloomier than other areas of the continent, and while they’re never terrible to visit, November just isn’t our recommended travel month for them (they’re much better in December!).
Some of the best places to travel in November will start to be closer to the equator, especially towards the end of the month.
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The Best Places to Travel in November
There are so many incredible places to visit in November! It’s a unique month to travel because you can find everything from beautiful fall colors to tropical getaways and special holidays or festivals. Here are our favorite places to travel in November, categorized by the type of trip you may be looking for.
🎉 The Best Places to Travel in November for Special Celebrations
Some of our favorite trips are those we plan for unique festivals and celebrations around the world. Here are a few that stand out in the month of November you can plan a trip around.
1. New York
If there’s one place we love to be in November, it’s New York. Even though it’s one of the places I call home, I can’t help but mention it in our list of where to travel in November.
The third Thursday in November is Thanksgiving, and it is a truly a special time to be in the US. The holiday bring families and friends together for large feasts where people express their gratitude and think about their blessings.
Football also plays a large part in Thanksgiving, as the sport has a big game played on Thanksgiving Day (which lasts a few hours).
Finally, let’s not forget the parade. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is held each year in Manhattan, and features large floats, marching bands, and dancers through the streets.
If you are visiting as a tourist there are plenty of restaurants that will serve a Thanksgiving style dinner. If you are visiting New York and want to see the parade, get there EARLY! (like a few hours before). Dress very warm as the temperatures in NYC will have most likely dropped to winter temperatures at this point.
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The day after Thanksgiving is also Black Friday. So if you want to experience the biggest shopping day of the year, then this is it! Stores open as early as midnight and bring crazy deal chasers anxiously waiting outside storefronts. If you’re not interested in the shopping, it is still quite the experience.
Not only are Thanksgiving and Black Friday a great reason to visit New York at this time. But the month is also great for enjoying football games each weekend, bonfires, and the tail end of the colorful autumn leaves.
New York City is without a doubt one of the best places to travel in November, and has plenty of reasons to visit for nature lovers, shoppers, and those that like to celebrate holidays around the world in a special way.
Getting There: Flights to New York
Book Your Stay: Hotels in NYC
Book Your Activities: Tours in New York
Learn More: New York Travel Guides
2. Leon, Mexico
Another of our favorite places for where to travel in November is Mexico. We’ve chosen Leon though, as they have a unique event every year. Head to this city just just a few hours of Mexico City to enjoy one of our favorite experiences in Mexico, the hot air balloon festival.
Each year thousands of people flood Leon to see over 100 balloons soaring over the city. They come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes. Even some of them are cartoon characters!
You can participate in riding in one of the balloons if you volunteer (with a party of 4) and a pick up truck. If you don’t fly in a balloon, you can just admire all of the balloons soaring above you.
Aside from the hot air balloon festival, we love Mexico at this time as the first day of the month celebrates El Dia de los Muertos. The weather is also tropical in the South, and still enjoyably warm in the North.
Want to see some other cool places near Leon? Well here are a few other places that you’ll love:
Getting There: Flights to the Leon, Mexico
Book Your Stay: Hotels in Leon
Book Your Activities: Tours in Leon
3. India
Looking for one of the best places to visit in November for holidays around the world? Well, November (and sometimes October depending on the year) is when the biggest festival in India happens.
Diwali is the Festival of Lights and is celebrated to honor the seventh avatar, Rama-chandra. It’s a major Hindu religious festival that lasts for five days during the lunar months of Ashvina and Karttika.
Diwali is the biggest in India, but can also be found being celebrated by millions of others in various countries throughout the world. Some secondary places you can enjoy this holiday include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. Malaysia, Myanmar, and Fiji.
Getting There: Flights to India
Book Your Stay: Hotels in India
Book Your Activities: Tours in India
Learn More: India Travel Guides
4. Thailand
Thailand is one of the most desirable places in the world to visit. With delicious food, incredible temples, and stunning beaches, millions travel to this diverse country every year.
We particularly think it’s one of the best places to visit in November, because the weather overall is at its best. Head to the Northern regions and you will see dry and sunny days, with chillier nights. Go island hopping in the South and you will find the weather getting less rainy than the previous months.
We suggest doing the north of Thailand in the beginning of the month, and saving the South for the end of the month.
Not only is the weather great in November, but the famous lantern festivals take place in the middle of the month. Go to Chiang Mai, Thailand and you can experience thousands of floating baskets with candles released into the sky. We definitely think this is one for the bucket list.
Getting There: Flights to Chiang Mai
Book Your Stay: Hotels in Chiang Mai
Book Your Activities: Tours in Chiang Mai
Learn More: Thailand travel guides
☀️ Places to Go in November that are Hot
While Thailand is also an incredible tropical destination to travel for, here are a few other places to travel in November for warmer temperatures.
5. Central Florida, USA
While New York is an ideal destination for traveling for Thanksgiving, now we’re going to head down south a bit for a nice sunny getaway.
After months of hurricane season, Florida finally gets the break it needs. The storms are over by November, and temperatures are simply perfect to enjoy hot days and pleasantly cool nights.
Not only is the weather great in November, but it’s the start of manatee season! Head to some of the incredible springs in Central Florida (near Orlando) and you’ll be able to kayak with the manatees and explore the great nature that Florida has to offer.
Getting There: Flights to Orlando
Book Your Stay: Hotels in Orlando
Book Your Activities: Tours in Orlando
Suggested Read: 10 Unique Things to Do in Florida
6. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Wondering where to travel in November for perfect weather. the best sunsets, and surreal landscapes? Look no further than Guatemala’s iconic lake destination – Lake Atitlan.
Dotted with charming villages and surrounded by breathtaking volcanoes, Lake Atitlan is one of our favorite Central American destinations there is. November is the best time to visit for perfect weather, and it’s known for having insanely gorgeous sunsets during this month.
Getting There: Flights to Guatemala
Book Your Stay: Hotels in Lake Atitlan
Book Your Activities: Tours in Lake Atitlan
Learn More: Lake Atitlan Travel Guide
7. The Maldives
If you’re looking for where to travel in November for an epic tropical getaway, then this stunning island chain is calling your name.
The Maldives is one of the most dreamy places on the planet. Known for its crystal clear waters and unbelievable beach resorts, people can’t wait to flee to this paradise. However, what most don’t know is that the Maldives receives a severe amount of storms during its rainy season.
Come November, the sun is shining and much more inviting. Because let’s be honest- who wants to spend all that money to make it to the Maldives to sit in the rain?
The Maldives are definitely one of the best places for travel in November if you want an island escape
Getting There: Flights to the Maldives
Book Your Stay: Hotels in the Maldives
Book Your Activities: Tours in the Maldives
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🍁 Places to Travel in November for Foliage
Aside from NYC, some places in the lower US and across the globe peak for foliage in November. Here are a few places we recommend traveling to in November for stunning fall colors.
8. Japan
While the fall colors in the US are fading away come November, Japan’s fall colors are in full force!
We originally had Japan on our bucket list for places to visit in March due to the cherry blossoms, but after seeing a ton of pictures from November in Japan, we honestly can’t decide which to do first!
Stay tuned, because Japan is on our radar, and will hopefully we’ll have a lot of fun guides to come with all of the cool things to do and see in this bustling country.
Getting There: Flights to Japan
Book Your Stay: Hotels in Japan
Book Your Activities: Tours in Japan
Learn More: Japan travel guides
9. Ozark Mountains, Arkansas, USA
While most places in the north east are past peak in November, some places in the south can experience peak colors a bit later.
The Ozark Mountains are absolutely stunning, with winding trails, waterfalls, and bright colors during the first couple of weeks of November. Some highlights we recommend looking our for are Whitaker point (the most photographed spot in Arkansas), Falling Water Falls , Sam’s Throne, and the Buffalo River.
Getting There: Flights to Branson
Book Your Stay: Hotels near the Ozark Mountains
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So have you decided where to travel in November this year? It’s a great month to travel for those that want to experience special holidays around the world. As temperatures cool down in the Northern hemisphere it is also the perfect time for a tropical getaway.
Want to travel in another month? We have plenty of other monthly destination guides so you can plan out other times of the year!
Now that you know where to travel in November, it’s time to plan your trip! With Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning Services you can now explore more, and worry less. Save money and time by getting a free consultation. Take a look at our travel planning packages to get started!
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