November is the month savvy travelers look forward to: airfares hit their annual low, the crowds have vanished, and while France turns on the heat, half the globe enters the dry season. The real question remains: where to travel in November to find sunshine without breaking the bank? If your departure is sooner, our guide where to travel in October covers the previous month.
Here are our 10 November destinations, ranked by flight time: sunshine within 6 hours, long-haul flights entering their best season, and Europe's mild escapes. For each: real weather, sea temperature, and what makes that month special.
Gear for November Travel
A word on gear before you board, because November widens the gap between departure and arrival: 46°F at takeoff, sometimes 86°F upon landing, and in the tropics, a local pharmacy may not have your medication equivalents. A compartmentalized first aid kit saves you from rummaging through three bags for an antihistamine; a hanging wash bag adapts to hotel and riad bathrooms alike; and a travel bag that withstands tropical downpours or Roman drizzle protects your documents and camera. Our trio for this month:
The 10 November Destinations at a Glance
Average air and sea temperatures in November, flight times from Paris, and each destination's highlight—enough to compare at a glance before diving into the details.
| Destination | Air | Sea | Flight from Paris | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sea (Egypt) | 80.6 °F | 78.8 °F | 4 h 45 min non-stop | diving + guaranteed sunshine |
| Madeira (Portugal) | 71.6 °F | 69.8 °F | 4 h non-stop | hiking + eternal spring |
| Malta | 69.8 °F | 69.8 °F | 2 h 50 min non-stop | city break + warm sea |
| Cape Verde | 80.6 °F | 77 °F | 6 h non-stop | beaches + trade winds |
| Thailand | 89.6 °F | 84.2 °F | 11 h non-stop | start of dry season |
| Mexico (Oaxaca, Yucatán) | 82.4 °F | 80.6 °F | 11 h non-stop | festivals + beaches |
| Mauritius | 80.6 °F | 78.8 °F | 11 h non-stop | lagoon + southern summer |
| Vietnam (north and center) | 75.2 °F | 77 °F in Da Nang | 11:30 h layover | Halong Bay + culture |
| Seville and Andalusia | 68 °F | — | 2 h 20 min non-stop | mild weather + tapas without crowds |
| Rome | 63 °F | — | 2 h 10 min non-stop | eternal city returned to the Romans |
Want a visual preview before the detailed destination breakdown? This video selection sweeps through the month's must-sees:
Sunshine Within 6 Hours of Flight
The Red Sea, Sun Guaranteed
Hurghada, Marsa Alam, or Sharm el-Sheikh offer 81°F in the air, 79°F in the water, and almost guaranteed clear skies in November—all within 5 hours from Paris. It's one of the best sun-to-flight-time ratios of the fall, and diving season is at its peak: visibility on the reefs is at its maximum, and a Luxor–Red Sea combo adds the Valley of the Kings without the summer heat.
Madeira, the Eternal Spring
The Portuguese island never really drops below 68°F: in November, expect 72°F, a sea at 70°F, and levadas—irrigation channels turned trails—that can be explored in superb autumn light. Funchal is slowly preparing its lights, prices are at their lowest, and the island remains one of the few places in Europe where you can still hike and swim on the same day.
Malta, the City Break That Kept Summer
Less than 3 hours of flight, the Maltese archipelago maintains 70°F in the air and water in November. Valletta can finally be visited without crowds, Gozo's coves regain their calm, and the underwater world remains accessible for the brave. An excellent choice for the November 11th holiday: Mediterranean escape, budget-friendly, direct flights from most French cities.
Cape Verde, the Trade Winds 6 Hours from Paris
Off the coast of Senegal, the Cape Verde archipelago begins its best season in November: the short wet season ends, Sal and Boa Vista boast 81°F, a sea at 77°F, and winds that delight kitesurfers. Almost no time difference (one hour), no long-haul flight: it's the taste of the tropics without the fatigue of the far end of the world.
Long-Haul: Heading for the Dry Season
November marks the great shift in the tropics: the monsoon retreats from Southeast Asia, the southern summer settles in the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean emerges from hurricane season. Before booking, check your passport's validity—six months after the return date for Thailand and most distant destinations—and protect it from airport handling:
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Thailand, the Return of the Prime Season
The monsoon ends, the dry season sets in: 90°F, an Andaman Sea at 84°F, and islands—Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta—reopen their boat connections. November is the ideal month to get ahead of Thailand, just before December's high season and its doubled rates. To budget the trip item by item, our guide detailed budget for a trip to Thailand provides real ranges, from guesthouses to resorts.
Mexico's Festivals and Beaches
Early November, the country celebrates Día de los Muertos: altars adorned with cempasúchil flowers, candlelit vigils in Oaxaca or on Lake Pátzcuaro—festivities inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The rest of the month, the dry season sets in: 82°F, a Caribbean Sea at 81°F, and still gentle rates before December on the Yucatán coast.
Mauritius, the Start of the Southern Summer
The southern winter is over: 81°F in the air, a lagoon at 79°F, and flamboyant trees in bloom. November is one of the island's driest and brightest months—perfect for combining relaxation, snorkeling, and inland hikes before the southern summer rains arrive in January. Hotel rates climb mid-December: November is the smart window.
Northern and Central Vietnam
It's the best window of the year for Hanoi and Halong Bay: 75°F, dry air, and soft light on the karst sugar loaves. The center—Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang—emerges from its rainy season with a sea still at 77°F. Only the south (Mekong Delta) remains to be monitored at the beginning of the month; everywhere else, November is the photographers' month.
A reflex for all these distant destinations: showers remain possible and brief—a waterproof backpack protects your camera and documents while they pass. And to fit eleven days of light clothing in a carry-on, compression changes everything:
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Europe's Mild Escapes
Seville and Andalusia
Sixty-eight degrees in November, orange trees laden with fruit, and terraces still lively: Andalusia offers the continent's last true respite of mildness. Seville, Cordoba, and Granada can finally be visited without queues—the Alhambra in November means easy reservations and low sunlight transforming the patios. The November 11th holiday is more than enough.
Rome Returned to the Romans
Sixty-three degrees, a few quick showers, and a city that finally breathes: November is when Rome becomes Italian again. The Colosseum and Vatican Museums can be explored without jostling, trattorias welcome back their regulars, and hotel rates drop by a third compared to October. The cultural city break par excellence—just remember the umbrella and shoes that can handle wet cobblestones.
Packing for November
The month's trap is well-known: leaving France in a coat to land in a t-shirt—or the reverse on return. The solution lies in three habits: layering instead of stacking (t-shirts + fleece + windbreaker cover 90% of situations), rolling clothes by outfit, and compartmentalizing to separate summer from mid-season. A compressible organizer saves a third of the space—enough to stay in carry-on even with two climates in the same bag:
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Complete with a wash bag in airplane format if you're traveling light: bottles under 3.4 oz gathered in a clear pouch, and security checks take only seconds. On flights with layovers, always keep a change of clothes in your carry-on—the suitcases sometimes miss the connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is the hottest in November? Among destinations accessible from France, Thailand leads (90°F, sea at 84°F), followed by Mexico and Mauritius (81-82°F). Within 6 hours of flight, the Egyptian Red Sea and Cape Verde hold 81°F with almost guaranteed sunshine.
Where to find sunshine in November without breaking the bank? The Red Sea offers the best sun-to-price ratio of the month (direct flights + discounted hotels outside school holidays). Malta and Madeira combine low-cost flights and off-season accommodation. On long-haul, November Thailand remains 30 to 40% cheaper than in December.
Where to spend the November 1st and 11th holidays? For 3-4 days, aim short: Seville or Rome for culture, Malta for the sea, Marrakech for a change of scenery. The Mexican Día de los Muertos (November 1-2) deserves a real ten-day stay.
Where to find warmth within 6 hours of France? Four safe bets: the Red Sea (81°F, 4h45), Cape Verde (81°F, 6h), Madeira (72°F, 4h), and Malta (70°F, 2h50). All maintain a sea at 70°F or more—enough to swim in November without long-haul flights.
