Where Is Hot in November? Real UK Traveller Data

Last reviewed: May 2026

By Bonfire Night in the UK, most Brits are ready to pack it in for autumn and start dreaming of warmer climes. The clocks have gone back, the rain just won't stop and social media is filled with the same old question: "Where's actually worth going to in November to get some decent weather?"

But we wanted to look beyond the usual generic lists that seem to get recycled every year. Instead, we dug into real-world data to see where UK travellers actually headed when they escaped the cold last November.

We used anonymised data from thousands of UK travellers, cross-referenced with November temperatures, to work out where the most in-demand destinations were - and just how warm they were once people landed.

What we found was interesting. Travellers weren't just chasing the hottest destination possible. They were weighing up the pros and cons of different destinations - temperature, flight times, budget, convenience and even how easy it is to stay connected when abroad.

This article is produced independently by Simify, for informational purposes only. We didn't get paid by any tourism boards or featured destinations to give you this run-down.

The November travel trends from real UK travellers

November travel has become a smart way to escape the UK winter.

Flights are generally cheaper than in December, beaches are less crowded and many destinations still offer decent weather before the winter tourists arrive in force.

Looking at the data, UK travellers tended to split into two groups:

• Short-haul sun-seekers after a quick warm-up in Europe or North Africa.
• Long-haul travellers who use November as a chance to get big trips in before Christmas prices go through the roof.

There's a bit of a surprise in the data - short-haul destinations came out on top in terms of overall travel demand. Many UK travellers only wanted a few days of sunshine - just enough to break up the long winter ahead without having to take too much annual leave.

So where did UK travellers go for November sun?

Here are the destinations that had a high demand from UK travellers and temperatures that were actually warm enough to make a holiday worthwhile.

Destination	Avg November Temp	Flight Time from UK	Demand Trend
Marrakech	24°C	4 hrs	Extremely high
Tenerife	23°C	4.5 hrs	Very high
Dubai	31°C	7 hrs	Very high
Algarve	20°C	3 hrs	High
Thailand	30°C	11 hrs	Rising strongly
Cyprus	22°C	4.5 hrs	Stable
Gran Canaria	24°C	4.5 hrs	Very high
Egypt	28°C	5 hrs	Growing
Bali	30°C	16 hrs	Moderate
Malta	20°C	3.5 hrs	Consistent

Marrakech really stood out as a winner in the short-haul stakes.

For long-haul trips, Dubai and Thailand completely outsold any other destination in November - more than we expected.

Morocco was the #1 November escape for UK travellers

One of the biggest surprises in the data was how much UK travellers seemed to love Morocco in November.

It makes sense, when you think about it. November temperatures in Marrakech are often in the mid-20s, flights from the UK are relatively short and the cost is still lower than many of the winter-sun competitors.

But it's not just the weather and prices that made Morocco so appealing. It's also the feeling you get when you're there that it's a genuinely different holiday experience - without having to go on a long-haul flight.

So, if you're off to Marrakech:
Morocco eSim Plans

Loads of UK travellers were combining Marrakech with short riad stays rather than the usual resort holiday. That meant they were using a lot more mobile data while they were abroad - because they needed to navigate, book taxis, restaurants and translation tools while exploring.

Southern Europe still rules for quick winter escapes

Even though the tropical destinations get all the attention online, Europe is still a big deal for November travel.

The Canary Islands, in particular, were flying high for UK travellers. They offer a combination of warmth, short flights and affordable accommodation - exactly what many UK travellers are looking for.

For those searching for "cheap November holidays" or "November half-term sun", southern Europe is often a more practical option than a long-haul trip.

That's also why loads of travellers are opting for flexible European mobile coverage rather than country-specific options: Europe eSim Plans

Looking at the data, it's clear that travellers are increasingly valuing simplicity over going for something extreme. A reliable temperature of 23°C and a four-hour flight can be a lot more appealing than a 12-hour journey to somewhere even hotter.

Dubai kept growing as a November destination

Dubai saw some serious growth in November, with many UK travellers heading there to escape the UK winter and school half-term breaks.

November is one of the best weather months in Dubai, with sunny days averaging 28-31°C and lower humidity than the summer.And unlike some Tropical destinations, Dubai delivers some of the most predictable travel conditions you could ask for - very little chance of a short trip being ruined by rain.

That reliability is way more important to people than you might think. When you've only got 5 or 6 days off, weather certainty becomes incredibly valuable.

The city is also a natural for travellers who want sunshine without sacrificing comfort. Good quality hotels, a strong transport infrastructure, excellent mobile coverage and easy digital payments all mean that Dubai feels extremely "frictionless" as a travel experience.

Thailand remained the obvious choice for longer trips

While short-haul dominated the overall volume of travel, Thailand remained one of the most popular long-haul November destinations.

Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai all saw strong activation numbers from UK travellers who were looking to extend their winter escapes before the Christmas crowds arrived and prices peaked, with Bangkok getting up to 33°C in November.

November just happens to be that perfect sweet-spot for Thailand travel, as the rainy season winds down and the dry season begins:

• Weather that's warm and dry around 28°C to 30°C on average, with highs pushing up to 33°C. 
• Humidity that's lower than in the summer months, with up to eight hours of sunshine per day.
• Prices that are better than the December peak season.
• Fewer crowds in the major tourist areas.

It's also worth noting that many travellers used November as a month to get some remote work done abroad, which meant they were using even more mobile data than they would on a standard beach holiday.

Interestingly, the data shows that travellers who stuck around for more than two weeks consistently used a lot more connectivity services than people just staying in a resort for a week or so. Stuff like ride apps, video calls, maps, hotspot tethering and remote working all came into play.

Why November travel behaviour is changing

One of the biggest shifts we can see from the data is that UK travellers are getting a lot more strategic about their travel plans.

Instead of waiting for the expensive Christmas and New Year trips, people are now using November to get some better-value sunshine before prices start to spike in December.

As a result, November has become one of the strongest months for what we like to call "smart winter sun" travel.

Another thing that's changing is how dependent travellers have become on mobile connectivity when they're abroad. Modern travel is increasingly all about apps:

• Boarding passes.
• Restaurant reservations.
• Google Maps.
• WhatsApp calls home.
• Airport transfers.
• Translation apps.
• Digital payments.

The days of relying on hotel Wi-Fi for everything are well and truly behind us now.

Travellers now expect to be able to stay connected as soon as they land, especially on multi-country or city-hopping trips.

The best cheap winter sun November holidays from the UK

When you balance up the weather, flight costs and accommodation value, some destinations clearly stood out as being the best options.

Morocco delivered some of the strongest value overall for short-haul travel. The Canary Islands remained one of the safest and most reliable winter-sun bets. Thailand offered outstanding long-haul value for travellers who were staying longer than 10 days.

The interesting thing is that travellers weren't just searching for the hottest place in November, they were looking for the easiest enjoyable escape from UK weather.

And increasingly, that means digital convenience is now a key factor in where people choose to go on holiday.

So where is actually hot in November? Cape Town and other destinations

If you want guaranteed heat, Dubai, Thailand, Bali and Egypt remain among the strongest choices. If you want easy short-haul sunshine, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Morocco, and Cyprus continue to be the best options for UK travellers.

And if you want the best overall balance between warmth, affordability and convenience, Morocco might currently be one of the smartest November destinations available from the UK.

What we really saw when we looked at real traveller behaviour is that people are no longer planning holidays around the weather alone.

They're choosing destinations based on how smooth the overall experience feels - from flights and costs to transport, connectivity, and ease once they arrive.

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