The 18 best places to holiday in November: These hotspots are sunny, vibrant, under-the-radar – and surprisingly cheap. Where to stay and what to do, revealed by travel expert ROB CROSSAN

November is a low profile month for getaways – and that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. While Britain sinks into cold and drizzle, many destinations, both far and surprisingly near are basking in sunshine, without the heat rising to uncomfortably scorching summer extremes.

Mauritius, for instance, is just stepping into its balmy phase, with turquoise seas warm enough for swimming and beaches that are (mostly) free of the peak season crowds. Over in southern Africa, Namibia offers cobalt skies and comfortable daytime temperatures perfect for game drives in Etosha National Park or climbing the towering sand dunes of the Skeleton Coast.

It’s not just the weather that makes November so appealing — it’s the prices too. With schools in term and the Christmas rush yet to kick in, flight and hotel rates take a substantial dip.

There’s something undeniably indulgent about stealing a march on winter too. A November getaway combines good value, great weather and, let’s face it, a dash of smugness when you return home to face the full force of winter.

Jordan

Average temperature: 22C

The more bearable temperatures make November ideal for an extended walk around Petra; bring a light jacket in the evening, though you’ll be fine in a t-shirt during the daytime. The majority of the crowds have gone by this time, which makes November a great time to lazily float in the Dead Sea without too much company. That famously salty dip is the reward you can give yourself after hiking through the Wadi Rum desert by day.

Budget hotel:

Located in the small town of Gadara, home to a renowned Greco-Roman archaeological site, Beit al Beraka is a boutique bed and breakfast with handcrafted bed boards, a beautiful tiled garden and local honey and thyme on offer to bring home. (doubles from £88, hotels.cloudbeds.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Under £200 a night might not sound excessive, but this is high-end for wallet friendly Jordan. The small outlay represents astonishing value given the opulence of the Kempinski Red Sea, with its private beach and gorgeous off-white coloured rooms with huge windows looking out over the placid waters. (doubles from £193, kempinski.com)

Mauritius

Average temperature: 25C

Before the storms and humidity arrive, November is a superb month to visit Mauritius; borne out from the moment a catamaran trip delivers a sighting of bottlenose and spinner dolphins or while you walk among the stripy, red, brown, green and violet volcanic landscapes of Chamarel. The Blue Bay Marine Park lets you get even closer to the marine life; dip below the surface with your snorkel and you can swim alongside thousands of damsel and butterfly fish.

Budget hotel:

The minimum stay at Maison Papaye is four nights. But you’ll find yourself wanting to stay longer here in the south west of the island at this cute little guest house. Slow down the pace by relaxing in the walled tropical garden then sipping a pre-dinner rum punch on the veranda. There’s just four individually decorated rooms, all with their own terrace or patio. (doubles from £56, maison-papaye.odoo.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

This ultra-exclusive retreat on an east coast lagoon comes with four of its own private beaches, tropical forests filled with banyan trees, huge, contemporary villas (one of which is on its own private island) and a gorgeous spa overlooking a vista of mangroves. Guests get a bicycle of their own, but there’s always the club car waiting for you if you find the pedalling too exerting. (doubles from £1,084, fourseasons.com)

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Average temperature: 27-29C

We dream of such a thing in Britain during late autumn; but Zanzibar really does have an all-but-guaranteed, ‘short’ rainy season in November, meaning brief, refreshing showers but plenty of sunshine in between. The rains keep the spice plantations and countryside lush, while the beaches are quieter and prices lower than the busy December-February peak. Take advantage of the cooler climate by strolling around Stone Town’s spice markets before taking a dhow out to Mnemba Atoll, where snorkelling is superb in the calmer, pre-monsoon season seas.

Budget hotel:

Once home to the American consulate, this gracious, white washed old-timer in the centre of Stone Town comes with a mermaid blue pool and generously sized rooms with four poster beds and wood carved furnishings. (doubles from £89, tembohotel.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Just south of Paje on the south eastern coast of Zanzibar, this is a discreet, and highly sybaritic retreat adored by honeymooners. Right on the creamy sands (which are raked each morning) each of the 21 villas here comes with a private pool or hot tub, garden and personal butler. (doubles from £669, whitesandvillas.com)

Namibia

Average temperature: 25-30C

Just before the summer heat begins to up its ante, November in Namibia has a desert temperature that makes a full day sandboarding on the dunes of the Skeleton coast or exploring the abandoned town of Kolmanskop, slowly disappearing beneath the sand, far less enervating. The wildlife further north in Etosha national park is outstanding at this time; animals linger for longer around the waterholes, giving you a better chance to spot elephants, zebras, springbok and black rhinos in great numbers.

Budget hotel:

On the fringes of the quiet coastal town of Swakopmund, overlooking the Swakop river, sits this cluster of 13 bungalows and villas, painted vivid colours, in vivid contrast to the dry desert surroundings. Staff can book horse riding, quad bike riding and sand boarding experiences in the vast sand dunes beyond this unique hideaway. (doubles from £99, desertbreezeswakopmund.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Just half an hour’s drive from the pleasantly dull capital Windhoek, Omaanda is located in a private wildlife reserve, rich with elephants, cheetahs and even white rhinos. The ‘huts’ you stay in are anything but rustic; resplendent with leather and ceramics, the giant beds are perfect to lounge on of an evening while gazing at the savannah beyond. (doubles from £490, zannierhotels.com/omaanda)

Athens, Greece

Average temperature: 15-19C

November might just be the best month of the entire year to visit Athens; before the winter chill and long after the majority of the crowds have stopped clambering around the Acropolis. The autumn light makes the city’s ruins especially photogenic while the hike up Mount Lycabettus with its gorgeous panoramic sunset views over the Aegean, is infinitely less onerous with a slight autumn chill as your companion.

Budget hotel:

The Brown Acropol’s location on a somewhat seedy square doesn’t inspire. But don’t let first impressions fool you; this is a seriously cool design hotel taking its cue from 1960s New York. The roof terrace offers fabulous views out to the Acropolis and rooms are a groovy delight – complete with hostess trolleys and vintage vinyl record players (doubles from £98, brown-hotelseurope.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Formerly part of the Royal Palace there’s still a distinctly regal air to this grandiose hotel. The Murano chandeliers and sea of marble in the lobby give an accurate first impression of the place while the rooms are suitably opulent with herringbone floors, huge beds and yet more marble in the bathrooms. (doubles from £321, marriott.com)

Goa, India

Average temperature: 28C

OK, 28 degrees is still pretty steamy, but it’s nothing compared to the thermometer shattering heat that cooks Goa in spring. The southern half of the coastline offers a quieter November break than the north, with fewer guests populating the ever growing number of yoga retreats that back onto the beaches. The interior is at its most lush now at the end of monsoon season, making November the perfect time to visit spice plantations such as the 120-hectare Sahakari Spice farm, where you can inhale the lush scents of cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Budget hotel:

Even older than the Taj Mahal, Figueiredo House is a hugely atmospheric retreat housed in a building dating back to 1590. Overlooking paddy fields and the odd wandering cow, this is an authentic place to sample rural Goan village life without skimping on comfort; rooms come with air con, four poster beds and tasteful antique furnishings. (doubles from £72, figueiredohouse.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

With just half a dozen rooms, the Postcard Cuelim is a former family home, and a pretty grand one at that, with two chapels on site and restful views out over rice fields. There’s a free shuttle to the beach, welcome cocktails and a refreshingly relaxed ‘do as you please’ ethos; breakfast is served anytime and dinner could include a beautiful Goan stir-fry with chorizo. (doubles from £211, postcardresorts.com)

St Lucia

Average temperature: 26C

The mighty, foliage smothered twin peaks of the Pitons look at their most lush after the September rains. If you can’t face the trek up the Pitons (only one is accessible to non-professional climbers and it’s tough at any time of year) then this is a fine month to simply take a dip beneath the island’s waterfalls. The Toraille falls is the most spectacular and easy to reach of the many on the island, but all of them will be gushing torrents thanks to the recent wet season.

Budget hotel:

A two night minimum stay is required at Crystals; a bucolic hideaway collection of cottages high up on the hillside with superlative views of the Pitons. You’ll want to stay longer though, such is the relaxed vibe here, bolstered by the lanterns, wind-chimes, chaise longues and private pools in each of the nine cottages. (doubles from £75, stluciacrystals.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Sugar Beach is a former plantation which comes with its own forest spa and treehouse treatment garden. The villas are widely spread out over 100 acres while even the lowest priced cottages come with Victorian style baths, plunge pools and verdant private gardens. (doubles from £974, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com)

Lanzarote, Spain

Average temperature: 22-23C

You shouldn’t find the waters around the most northerly of the Canary Islands too cold for a dip in November; it’s still perfectly warm enough to kite surf, paddleboard and kayak without feeling too much pain should you fall in. On terra firma, exploring the surreal landscape of Timanfaya National Park or cycling the island’s quiet coastal roads under cobalt skies are activities to enjoy rather than endure in this month’s temperate climate.

Budget hotel:

Far removed from the typical Canaries resort hotel, Hotel Rural Finca de La Florida is a former family home next to some volcanic soil vineyards. The green wooden shutters, terracotta tiles and easy access to great hiking trails make this a welcome retreat if walking among vines and palms feels preferable to beach life. (doubles from £78, hotelfincalaflorida.com).

Blow the budget hotel:

You can’t stay for less than four nights at Paradisus by Meliá Salinas, by far the most luxurious property on Lanzarote. Worked out per night however, the cost is on the low side for somewhere so stylish. Adults only and with a chic design credo, the views out over the Atlantic, the lagoon pool, golden beaches sub-tropical gardens and marble floored rooms make for a beguilingly sophisticated retreat. (doubles from £375, melia.com)

Marrakech, Morocco

Average temperature: 22-23C

Some pleasant, yet far from oppressive, African summery warmth is less than a four hour flight away from the UK if you plump for a city break in Marrakesh. November is a month where the city is still full of life; from the souks to the street food and snake charmers on show at Djema el-Fna square. The milder temperatures make a hike in the Atlas mountains a more tempting prospect too; the trails are quieter at this time and you might even catch a touch of snow above you on the higher peaks.

Budget hotel:

Formerly home to a fortune teller, the Zamzam Riad and Spa offers outstanding value, with its gorgeous roof terrace and enviable position on the edge of the medina. Homemade jams from the organic garden are served at breakfast and the seven rooms are gorgeous hideaways filled with silks and rugs. (doubles from £82, riadzamzam.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

For over a grand a night, you’d expect something pretty special, but the Marrakesh Mandarin Oriental is adept at meeting the most exacting demands, with its riad-inspired villas, each with its own plunge pool, gardens festooned with roses and olive trees and two stellar restaurants, of which Shirvan by Michelin-starred Chef Akrame Benallal is a strong contender for Morocco’s greatest fine dining experience. (doubles from £1,126 mandarinoriental.com)

Gozo, Malta

Average temperature: 17-20C

Malta’s sister island is minuscule; but even a short walk in the summer here can be exhausting. November’s milder climate makes a stroll around the capital Victoria (locals call it Rabat) a pleasure; though ‘city’ is pushing the definition of a p lace that only has a population of a few thousand. It’s still warm enough to stroll on the famous red sands of Ramla Bay but a saunter around the island’s fertile countryside (Gozo is considered Malta’s kitchen garden) is equally delightful; the landscape is festooned with wildflowers starting to bloom after the autumn rains.

Budget hotel:

On the edge of a typically genteel Gozitan village, the Santa Lucia may be a modern building but it blends in beautifully with the surrounding landscape thanks to its limestone and chocolate coloured décor. The cheese and charcuterie platters at breakfast are immense; setting you up perfectly for a slow walk to the capital Rabat or a stroll around the quiet country lanes. (doubles from £87, santaluciaboutiquehotel.com),

Blow the budget hotel:

The Kempinski is the only major resort hotel on Gozo but it’s dimensions are still pretty bijou compared to elsewhere in the Med. Discreetly wedged into the side of a valley, the large pool and limestone sculptures make a sublime backdrop for a perfectly chilled afternoon before feasting on Maltese cuisine on the terrace of L’Ortolan restaurant. (doubles from £132, kempinski.com)

Madeira/Porto Santo Portugal

Average temperature: 20-21C

Family friendly Madeira is quiet in November, and you can easily spend your days here taking whale watching trips or sauntering around lush waterfalls like Cascata dos Anjos. But to really embrace the cool and quiet life, take the 90 minute ferry from here to the sister island of Porto Santo. The island’s eponymous 9km long beach is the stuff of soft, sandy dreams while the moderately taxing two hour hike to the summit of Pico Branco delivers fresh and blustery views out to sea.

Budget hotel:

There’s just eight rooms in the charming Vitorina Corte Guesthouse, located in the Old Town of Funchal; but they’re all sizable and come with traditional, very heavy Madeiran furniture. The shuttered windows flood the public spaces with sunlight and there’s BBQ’s of local meats on the patio each evening. (doubles from £91, vcguesthouse.eu)

Blow the budget hotel:

Reid’s Palace is a Madeira institution; a rambling old charmer of a hotel from the golden age of travel. Owners Belmond have done a superb job of restoring the place in recent years; with lush gardens, a Michelin starred restaurant and a diving board that enables you to dive (safely) directly into the cool seas from the cliff edge. (doubles from £498, Belmond.com)

Belize

Average temperature: 27C

There are hundreds of sedate atolls and cayes scattered along the coastline of this tiny Central American nation in which you can while away the days snorkelling and sunbathing. The adrenaline levels only accelerate if you head offshore from Cayo Espanto, where you’ll find the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere; teeming with parrot fish, rays, turtles and moray eels. Head inland and catch the Garifina Settlement Day celebrations (in honour of the Garifuna people who arrived here from the Grenadines in 1802) on the November 19; it’s a national holiday bringing drumming, dancing and parades across the nation.

Budget hotel:

In a country awash with high-end resorts, the Blue Belize is a rare budget option. Though you won’t be roughing it at this guesthouse in Punta Gorda with its six suites decorated with Belizean woodwork and equipped with a kitchenette. The Caribbean sea views from the veranda terrace are exquisite while breakfasts, including Belizean fry jacks (deep-fried dough) and tortillas are brought fresh to your room. (doubles from £90, bluebelize.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Created by none other than Francis Ford Coppola, the Turtle Inn, on the Placencia peninsula, has just 25 cottages; most with appropriately cinematic views out over the Caribbean. All come with Balinese style furnishings and a private veranda with hammock which you’ll struggle to leave unless you fancy an evening cocktail or three at the in-house Laughing Fish bar located right on the beach. (doubles from £341, thefamilycoppolahideaways.com)

Sicily, Italy

Average temperature: 14-18C

Sicily is one of the great larders of Italy, and November sees numerous olive oil tastings and mini-festivals in villages and towns across the island to celebrate the new oil season. Gently kissed, rather than oppressively snogged by the southern Med sunshine, November is a wonderful month for climbing Mount Etna’s volcanic slopes without the searing heat, or exploring the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento without the crowds.

Budget hotel:

A limestone palazzo in the centre of the Baroque town of Scicli in the south east of the island, the Hotel Novecento is a sedate beauty with limestone walls, public areas scattered with art books, a gorgeous courtyard and just seven rooms; many of which have frescoed ceilings and beautiful mosaics in the bathrooms.(doubles from £82, hotel900.it)

Blow the budget hotel:

Overlooking Acquasanta port, Villa Igiea is by far the most raffish hotel in Sicily. Owned by the Rocco Forte group, all the indulgences you would expect are present and correct, from the Art Nouveau aesthetics to gardens gravid with banana and tamarisk trees to premium wines served on arrival. A stay in the plusher suites even comes with airport transfers and staff to unpack your bags for you. (doubles from £464, roccofortehotels.com)

Azores, Portugal

Average temperature: 17C

These wild Atlantic islands, chock full of hot springs and volcanic lakes; see far fewer visitors in November, and while there may be the odd storm, the climate is mild enough for an active escape. Hike around the volcanic crater lakes of São Miguel before taking a boat trip to spot migrating sperm whales and, if you’re lucky, the elusive beaked whale.

Budget hotel:

The Santa Barbara resort is far from a budget option in high season. But prices plummet in November to make a stay here incredibly affordable. Adjacent to a soft sand beach on São Miguel Island, the emphasis is on sustainable building materials (cork, bamboo and local stone) and a minimalist yet still opulent feel; even the cheaper rooms come with a hot tub and private terrace. (doubles from £140, santabarbaraazores.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

There’s little difference in price between the luxe hotels in November, meaning that even the chicest accommodation on the island will only blow your budget if you insist on many bottles of the finest local ‘pico’ wines with dinner. White has just nine suites perched on a cliff in the village of Lagoa on São Miguel island. The first floor suites are the ones to book with a suspended balcony to lounge on after a ride in the hotel’s motorboat. (doubles from £183, whiteazores.com)

Charleston, South Carolina

Average temperature: 17-20C

Whether your tastes lean towards hardbacks or Hoppin’ John (that’s local parlance for rice and peas), Charleston delivers in November with its food and literary festivals both taking place in the middle of the month. Elsewhere, the brutal heat of the Southern summer has faded enough to make strolling on the cobblestones, past the Colonial architecture of the Historic District a pleasure before getting a deep insight into slavery and Gullah Geechee culture at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site.

Budget hotel:

Most of the budget hotels in Charleston are of the uninspiring chain variety but quality accommodation can be had at nowhere near high end pricing in shoulder season. The Inn at Middleton sits on a bluff alongside the Ashley River next to an old plantation 15 miles from the centre and offers an atmospheric respite with its riverside pool, shrimp and grits dinners in the restaurant and hammocks gently swaying from the trees in the expansive gardens. (doubles from £163, theinnatmiddletonplace.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

Formerly a federal building opened by President Johnson back in the 1960’s, this rectangular, brick and marble hulk of a building has been masterfully redesigned with 1950’s Danish mohair furniture, chrome topped bar counters and bookshelves in the bar areas lined with vintage hardback Woolf’s and Forster’s. The bedrooms have floor to ceiling windows but you’ll want to spend plenty of time in the bar sipping mint juleps before a decadent fried-chicken dinner. (doubles from £319, thedewberrycharleston.com).

San Diego, California

Average temperature: 18–20C

November marks the start of whale-watching season in San Diego. Take a boat ride from Mission Bay and you stand a good chance of spotting Gray and Humpback whales as well as dolphins and sea lions. The sunshine is still all but guaranteed at this time of year; but temperatures are much cooler; especially if you soak up the cliff top ocean breezes during a trail walk around the Torrey Pines nature reserve.

Budget hotel:

The Sofia is a downtown Gothic Revival building which used to be a YMCA but has been considerably beautified with rooms that are compact but come with sash windows, earth tones and a surprisingly calm feel given how close all the downtown attractions are. (doubles from £84, thesofiahotel.com)

Blow the budget hotel:

The legendary Hotel del Coronado is a red turreted beach resort dating back to 1888. Marilyn Monroe fans flock here as this is was a location for her finest movie ‘Some Like It Hot’. You’ll find it a little cooler in November but a stay here is tailor-made for a Californian beach day on the hotel’s sands. Request a day bed and fringed umbrella for the full Norma Jean vibe. (doubles from £326, hoteldel.com)

North Island, New Zealand

Average temperature: 18-19C

The end of the New Zealand spring translates into lower hotel prices and fewer visitors in both the South and North islands; with the North staying a little warmer at just under 20 degrees. It’s the perfect time to visit the hot springs at Rotorua or Lake Taupo’s hot-spring complexes, or to raft through the extraordinary glow worm caves at Waitomo.

Budget hotel:

The Parnell hotel’s exterior won’t win any awards for beauty, but if you’re making Auckland your base then this family owned hotel offers outstanding value in this, never particularly cheap, city with outstanding views over the city and harbour from the upper floors. (doubles from £77, theparnell.co.nz)

Blow the budget hotel:

The prices are astonishingly high, but you’ll never forget a stay at the Solitaire. Located on a thin peninsula overlooking Lake Tarawera, the knock-out rooms have panoramic views and, unusually, a mini-bar stocked with beers, wines and soft drinks that are absolutely free. (doubles from £1,137, solitairelodge.co.nz)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Average temperature 17-21C

Avoid the days around Thanksgiving (November 27) when prices soar and the crowds on Bourbon Street become immense, and November is a great time to embrace the al fresco jazz and outstanding Creole cuisine laid on in the Big Easy. It’s 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, but the French Quarter (if not all the outer suburbs) has long since recovered. The cooler temperatures make a stroll along the Lafitte Greenway, a recently completed biking path stretching from the French Quarter to the lush City Park – much more enjoyable now than in high season.

Budget hotel:

The Catahoula offers outstanding value given its location (just three blocks from the French Quarter) and its authentically local atmosphere. The building is a Creole style townhouse with just 35 rooms while the lively bar area serves up Peruvian street food and cocktails.(doubles from £92, catahoulahotel.com).

Blow the budget hotel:

The Monteleone is the grande dame of New Orleans hotels. Smack bang in the middle of the French Quarter, it’s been here since 1886 and previous guests include Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. Taking a ‘ride’ in the rotating Carousel Bar while sipping a Vieux Carre cocktail is an unmissable Big Easy experience, (doubles from £171, hotelmonteleone.com).