Where to travel in November
Before the festive period swallows you whole with Secret Santas, soaps and socks, why not plan an escape? Swap the high street for barefoot strolls along Mauritius’ bone-white sands or lose yourself in the twinkling Christmas markets of Prague. With less crowds and lower prices, November is perfect for a getaway.
Author: By Beena Nadeem
The city
The lowdown
Off-season, Prague is blissfully uncrowded. Picture the early morning silhouettes of spires before sunrise burns off the mist. It’s a time to gorge on the beauty of the art and architecture that seems to be everywhere. Wander through a thousand years of history or skip straight to the twinkling Christmas markets in Wenceslas Square. And yes, it’s a promising idea to sample some of the best beer in Europe in a cosy pub.
Stay
Art Deco Imperial in Prague’s beautiful Old Town blends 1910s grandeur with modern-day luxury. Just steps from Republic Square, it offers chic rooms and a grand lobby. Top sights including Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge are within a mile’s stroll.
The beach
The lowdown
While the UK wrestles with umbrellas, Mauritius basks in warm temperatures in the twenties. There’s the odd short-lasting tropical shower but it’s worth it to have those warm bone-white sands and turquoise seas almost to yourself. Bask on palm-fringed Trou aux Biches and paddle its calm lagoon or claim the quiet at Mont Choisy. Snorkel reefs around the Blue Bay or take a glass-bottom boat to Coconut Island. Over west, Flic-en-Flac offers one of the island’s longest beaches with reef-protected lagoons. Throw in Mauritian warmth and Creole feasts by the surf and you’re set for November by the beach in paradise.
Stay
On a serene peninsula on Mauritius’ north coast, LUX* Grand Gaube has all you can need for the perfect beach break including chic suites and villas with private pools, tropical gardens and plenty of lagoons and coves to explore. With six restaurants, seven bars and nearby markets and nightlife, it’s the perfect beach island escape.
The family trip
The lowdown
Sharm in November is family perfection with warm days, tepid seas and no crowds. Little explorers can paddle in calm bays or snorkel rainbow reefs at Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island, while glass-bottom boats are for those who don’t like to get wet. On land, try sandboarding or even stargazing under Sinai skies, or just take a walk around Naama Bay’s ice-cream-lined promenade. Kids will love Cleo Park’s Pharaoh slides and come evening you can feast al fresco on grilled fish and mezze, as well as Egypt’s answer to bread and butter pudding, the delicious Om Ali.
Stay
On Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, the Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh dazzles with arches, lush gardens and a private reef teeming with turtles and rays. With kids’ clubs, teen spaces and flawless service, it’s a palatial escape for families, couples and ocean lovers alike.
The cultural break
The lowdown
Thailand is your ultimate antidote to grey skies. One minute you’re gasping at the sight of a 46-metre-long reclining golden Buddha in Bangkok’s Wat Pho the next you’re browsing silks at a night market. You could take a long-tail boat through floating markets, feast on mango sticky rice and coconut-laced curries or cycle past paddy fields and temple ruins in UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya. Whatever you do, Thailand is bursting with culture. Add miles of golden beaches, warm turquoise seas and a boost of November sunshine and your welcome will be as warm as the smiles the country is renowned for.
Stay
Banyan Tree Phuket is a rainforest-wrapped escape where every villa has a private pool. Being steps from Bang Tao Beach just adds to the indulgence. Unwind in its spa or on an 18-hole golf course , paddleboard in its lagoon or enjoy a yoga session before sampling the resort’s signature Thai restaurant. Here with kids? You might appreciate its kids’ club and extra spacious villas.
Just the two of us
The lowdown
Vienna is the city that embraced the great musical minds of Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Schubert. What better place to head together to a candlelit concerto or gilded opera house? Why not take a loving stroll past Baroque palaces and Gothic spires? You could swoon over Klimt’s The Kiss at the Belvedere or just skip straight to the UNESCO-recognised cafes typically with their marble-topped tables and bentwood chairs before heading to a Christmas market for a cheeky gluhwein, making Vienna the perfect escape for a culture-loving couple.
Stay
The Guesthouse Vienna is centrally located just behind the State Opera and the famous Albertina, with sights like St Stephen’s Square and many museums and galleries within easy walking distance, this modern boutique hotel even has its own bakery.
The wild card
The lowdown
November in Amsterdam means world-class art without the slow shuffle. Blissfully crowd free, you can wander the Van Gogh Museum, lose hours in the Rijksmuseum’s Dutch Golden Age treasures or just poke around the city’s indie shops. Granted, it’s a little nippy with highs of around 9C but that makes the twinkling Christmas markets feel even more magical. For those who need snugness, there’s always the glass-topped canal boat tours. Got kids? The NEMO Science Museum has five floors of hands-on fun. Evenings are made for cafes, jazz bars and the sweet, buttery smell of stroopwafels.
Stay
Bold, quirky and perfectly placed for Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the Van Gogh Museum is the boutique Hotel Estherea. Housed in a historic building alongside one of Amsterdam’s oldest major canals, the Singel, this gorgeous UNESCO-protected building first opened its doors in the 1940s and is still lovingly run by the same family today.
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