Where to go in November

November cues the beginning of high season for Thailand. The crowds don’t really arrive until Christmas, so you can enjoy the beaches all to yourself at this time of the year. What’s to love about Thailand? You’ll quickly come to love the road-side noodle stands, eating rice for breakfast, the beaches, the jungle, the chaos of the cities, the markets that are packed to the brim with people and exotic produce.

Split your time in Thailand between the islands and Bangkok. Dive with whale sharks in Ko Tao, scale the sea cliffs at Krabi, party all night long on Ko Phi Phi and rejuvenate your body and spirit at a spa in Ko Samui. As for Bangkok, this urban paradise will certainly excite! Eat up, the street food here is out of this world. Get lost in Chinatown and catch a ferry to a temple across the river. This city will always keep you on your toes; it’s what we love about it.

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November cues the beginning of high season for Thailand. The cool and dry season arrives after the monsoon, leaving behind it a lush landscape but with cooler temperatures.

As far as American states go, Arizona is quite the showstopper. It’s practically made for road trips, as you criss-cross its deserts and plains to visit all the natural wonders it’s hiding: Monument Valley, Cathedral Rock, the Grand Canyon, to name a few. Essential drives with your Phoenix car hire include Route 66 to Flagstaff, stopping at some classic mom-and-pop diners and motels as you go. Dip your toes into Native American culture as you drive past Hopi villages that have been there for a thousand years.

Cities like Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff and Prescott have enough to keep you busy but Arizona’s charm isn’t anywhere within city limits. Visit Chiricahua National Monument for the state’s most evocative landscapes, Petrified Forest National Park for fossilised logs, the Hoover Dam for some serious engineering and of course the Grand Canyon where you can literally travel back in time 2 billion years. Arizona is magical… and very dusty, but it’s all part of the experience.

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Arizona can get deathly hot in the summer months, so plan your trip for autumn or winter when the temperatures are still warm and ideal for hiking, climbing and golfing.

The charm of Chile is that this country can really be visited any time of year; it depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. Summer is the perfect time to visit the Lakes District and the Torres del Paine, so it’s off to Patagonia we go! This is one of the world’s most dramatic frontiers, thrown in there with Alaska and the Amazon. These landscapes have been chiselled away by glaciers, long before humans arrived here.

You’ll wish the days were longer as you hike across mountain passes, dance with thousands of penguins and ride horses across the steppe. Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is the star attraction in this part of Chile, so base yourself here and get ready for the active trip of a lifetime. The granite pillars reach vertically, nearly 3,000 metres above the steppe, creating one of the most dramatic landscapes on the continent. Don’t come here in a rush, you’ll want time to take it all in, bit by bit.

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Chile's unusual shape means its climate is extremely varied, from Mediterranean-like along the coast and extremely dry like a desert in the north. Easter Island is tropical year-round.

It’s just about that time of the year when we start looking for anywhere warm to go. Sicily ticks all the boxes. For one, you can jet off to Sicily in a matter of hours and the hotels are super-cheap in November. Two, it’s gorgeous anytime of the year and let’s not forget all the Italian comfort foods that are waiting for you. The island is a stunning juxtaposition of sea, mountains and volcano, with some postcard-perfect villages thrown into the mix. There is enough swimming, climbing, hiking and sailing to keep your holiday action-packed, whether you’re visiting the surrounding Aeolian Islands, the Ionian Coast or the city of Palermo.

Head west and you’ll stumble upon the ancient ruins of Segesta and Selinunte and the endless vineyards where the sweet wine, Marsala, is produced. Central Sicily is rural and genteel, the best place to enjoy some earthy country food. The Mediterranean coast boasts the Valley of the Temples and endless sandy beaches (the Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa is a must). The Ionian coast brings you Mount Etna and Catania, a shabby-chic city with the best seafood around. Tuck in and enjoy, that’s an order!

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Enjoy warm, sunny days in Sicily when you visit in November. A light jacket will certainly be enough as you sightsee during the daytime.

When it comes to winter sun, you can never go wrong with Spain. While the Mediterranean coastline never seems to lose its flare, a trip to the ravishing Balearic Islands will be the perfect thing to banish away the winter blues. All the action of the island is really concentrated to the island’s south-western corner so if it’s a quiet escape you’re after, it’s a good idea to avoid Palma and instead explore the golden hill towns further north.

Looking for an active holiday? Hire a bike and tackle the limestone peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana. The hiking is equally amazing. To the east, you’ll find the prettiest stretch of coastline on the island, so it’s no wonder it’s dotted with hotels and villas. Keep heading east however and you’ll find plenty of coves accessible only by foot. Try Porto Cristo’s wild beaches and the town of Artà, for its medieval charm. Whichever part of Mallorca catches your eye, you’ll be in good hands with the locals of the island who are happy to see visitors, especially in the low season.

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Late-autumn is the ideal time to visit Mallorca for outdoor sports like hiking, trekking and climbing. It's far past swim season, but you can still expect bright, sunny days while you're here.

Los Angeles is a bit of a beast. She’s a wild one everything seems possible. There is a lot to cover here, from the Hollywood Bowl to the Griffith Observatory, from the Venice Boardwalk to the Santa Monica Pier. Where do you start in a city this size? First up, it’s Hollywood! Swing by the Grauman’s Chinese Theater to see your favourite star’s handprints in the cement outside. The Hollywood Museum is home to many props, costumes and photos you’ll recognize from your favourite films.

Santa Monica and Venice Beach is where you’ll find LA’s quintessential beach scene. Surf dudes, skater punks and girls in string bikinis are just the start. Santa Monica Pier’s vintage amusement park is a must, especially at sunset. Downtown LA is where you can get your culture kick. Visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a Frank Gehry masterpiece, and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Spot a star? Try to keep your cool; you’re in LA after all where a lot of them call home.

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LA is a hot place to be in the summer, which is why November is a great time to visit, before the rainy season starts in in the New Year.