What exactly is November’s deal anyway?
If you’re lucky it’s an uneventful gap month between the autumn rain and the winter cold – a time to reflect, to prepare, to buckle down and to… pack a suitcase?
You know it’s always time to pack a suitcase!
Here is where to travel in November and why:
New York
In November the humidity of summer is gone so you can actually breathe and let out that sigh of relief when you click the ‘buy’ button on that ridiculous flight deal from anywhere.
The Macy’s Thankgiving Day Parade is pure Americana and the spectacular turkey dinner menus in the city let you in on the action. Go ice skating at Rockefeller Center in between television studio tours or get a leg up on the holidays with the best Christmas shopping in the world.
Don’t forget the Hudson River Foilage cruises to see the leaves change – they aren’t as fight filled as the Family Guy episode but nothing says autumn quite like it.
The Yucatan Peninsula
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula offers a beach and culture combination like no other. The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaelogical sites in the world with its imposing pyramid-like Castillo. The amount of Pre-Hispanic ruins here offer a great view of a continent before European exploration.
For something a little modern you have the resort city of Cancun just a few kilometers away. The 14 miles of pristine white sand beaches are the perfect place cocktails, clubbing, and some of the best seafood in the world.
Taking this holiday in November in a sort of no man’s land after low season and right before high season means less crowds and better prices.
Tuscany
Yes, it’s the rainiest month in Italy’s postcard region (really, which region isn’t though?) but you won’t go in Novemeber for sun, sand, and mandolin music. Here we’re talking about a period of rustic harvest and the culinary festivals that follow.
It’s olive harvest season and foodies won’t want to miss visiting an olive press. The festa dell’Oglio in Montemurlo is a great place for tastings and grove tours. There’s also the White Truffle Fair in San Miniato outside Pisa and the famous hand-made spaghetti festival called the Festa di San Martino e dei Bringoli.
The Canary Islands
With temperatures still into the 20’s the Canary Islands in November are simply a good place to chill out – literally and figuratively.
These Spanish islands just off the African coast offer unspoiled nature at every corner whether you’re trekking through Teide National Park, windsurfing at Playa de Sotavento de Jandía, or taking advantage of some of the best stargazing in the world.
Marrakech
Culture shock seekers on a budget may want to head to the most accessible city in the entire African continent for a temperate getwaway. Visit in November now that the suffocating summer months have finally come to an end.
Morocco’s gem-like medeival city dolled up in blushing pink stone is a maze of alleyways and chaotic marketplaces called souks. The snake charmers, calls to prayer, and Gnaoua music in El Fna Square are a soundtrack you won’t forget. Just make sure to stock up on luxurious tagine-cooked stews for the price of a corner takeway.
