November is when the chase begins in earnest. Europe is over. Southeast Asia's Andaman coast comes back online. The Caribbean is fully back. South Africa enters its summer. Australia warms toward its annual peak. Egypt's Red Sea has perfect conditions. The Canary Islands keep delivering. This is the month to commit to a long-stay southern trip.
The weather, the water, the feel
Andaman 30 C air, 29 C water. Caribbean 29 C air, 28 C water. Cape Town 23 C and warming. Australia 26 C and rising fast. Red Sea 26 C air, 25 C water with calmer winds.
Thailand's Andaman coast at Phuket, Krabi, and the Phi Phi islands is in form by mid-November. Caribbean Barbados, Antigua, and St Lucia are in their dry season opening. South Africa's Garden Route from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay is fully open. Egypt's Marsa Alam is at its visual peak with calm seas. Cape Verde is dry, windy, and warm.
Five destinations on the shortlist
Thailand
Phuket
30 C / 86 F
Dry season returning. Patong open, south end quieter.
Caribbean
Barbados
29 C / 84 F
West coast calm, south coast lively, east coast surf.
South Africa
Cape Town
24 C / 75 F
Spring building. Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins.
East coast
Australia
26 C / 79 F
Byron Bay, Noosa, Whitsundays opening.
Atlantic
Cape Verde
27 C / 81 F
Sal, Boa Vista. Wind sports central.
Insider planning tips
- Andaman accommodation prices double mid-December. November is the value window with the same weather.
- Caribbean cruise season ramps up. Island beaches near cruise ports get busy on docking days.
- Cape Town wind picks up late November. Mornings are calm.
- Cape Verde flights from Europe are limited. Book together with accommodation if you can.
Where to stay
Phuket south end villas in Rawai and Nai Harn are open at low season minus rates. Barbados west coast holiday rentals beat the all-inclusives for atmosphere. Cape Town Atlantic Seaboard apartments in Sea Point and Camps Bay are still pre-peak. Australian east coast holiday houses on the Gold Coast hinterland are excellent value. Cape Verde guesthouses on Sal in Santa Maria are walkable to the wind action.
Final word
November is the month long-term travelers start their southern hemisphere season. You can ride it to March without leaving warm weather.