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Warmer destinations in November

Hello - my fiancee and I are planning a 'mini-moon' for after our wedding at the end of October/early-November (the real honeymoon will be for 3 weeks in May/June in south of Italy and Greece). We'll have ~10-11 days for this trip, and are looking to relax (i.e. beach, warm weather) and to leisurely walk around cities and maybe go on a few medium intensity hikes or other activities. We were originally looking at the Caribbean or Costa Rica (and nearby islands) - given that we're from Montreal, a trip south would be easy and wouldn't take much planning.

I've since had a change of heart and am looking into European destinations including Majorca, Azores, Canary Islands, etc. Given the time of year, will the weather be suitable for beach days at those destinations? I've read on other forums that a lot of places close after mid-term breaks in mid-October. I'm happy to go somewhere quieter and without hoards of tourists, but would hate to fly all the way across the ocean to not have beach days and/or many choices of restaurants, etc. Though it's not a deal breaker, we're also looking for ease of travel; with the upcoming wedding, we're hoping to have to plan ahead as little as possible, and would generally like to avoid flying or ferrying between islands. For that reason, I was thinking Majorca might be the best option because we could rent a car to hop around between different areas of the island.

Would love to know your thoughts! Thanks :)
Casey

Posted by
6883 posts

Canary Islands will have beach weather, but don't expect Caribbean beaches - there's more of a mix of beach and non beach stuff in the Canary Islands. Majorca, however, could be hit or miss this late in the year. Mediterranean areas in general can have unsettled weather by end October (Fall is the rainiest season). Not that it means much anymore in these times of climate crisis...
I know very little about the Azores, so I won't comment.

Posted by
12172 posts

I love Rome, and south, in November. I wouldn't go any other time.

Places like Majorca are summer destinations. The weather should be comfortable but everything will likely be closed. If you want an island, try Corsica. It's hugely popular but shouldn't be overly crowded in November. Sicily is an island, should be a good time to visit. Malta is another option that isn't overly reliant on summer traffic.

Posted by
6113 posts

If you want guaranteed beach weather, (as much as anywhere is guaranteed) in November in Europe, the Canary Islands are the only option. You may get lucky elsewhere, but it’s not guaranteed.

The best sandy beaches are on Fuerteventura. Gran Canaria and Tenerife are more developed. Lanzarote has fewer beaches, some white and some black sand.

The Azores are further north and therefore cooler and wetter. I have been to Majorca at that time of year and have had a mix of some sunshine and lots and lots of torrential rain.

The Canaries are a year round destination and therefore nothing will be closed.

Posted by
4573 posts

Can't have it all, sadly. A few years ago they were promoting Azores to Cdns. Not sure if Nov. falls into packaged charter flights or not. Warmth won't be great however. Would you consider a cruise of the Canaries? If open to European ships Costs or MSC might suit, but check Costco or Expedia Cruise Center and filter by dates and region.
As mentioned beaches are no on par to Caribbean but tons of Europeans go to the resorts for warm winters. Some mountains and awesome telescopes. I think that was Fuertoventura. You'll have to check.

Posted by
17872 posts

The places famous in warm weather just aren't the same in "cool" weather. Either go to a really warm place or go embrace the cold ..
the colder the better because that's where they know how to extract the most fun out of short days and frigid weather. Half a$$ just doesn't cut it for me.

Posted by
681 posts

Have you thought about Florida-like the Keys? We got married in Islamorada in early November. Still off season rates, lots of beach and Key West for a day. Just a thought.

Posted by
327 posts

What about a Sandals couples resort in the Caribbean? I've not been but friends from Ottawa really enjoyed the experience, so there must be decent air from Montreal. They don't usually care for all-inclusive but said it was a pleasant surprise the first time and they went back a second time. Maybe check it out at Air Canada Vacations.

Posted by
2188 posts

In November you have no guarantee for warm weather for 10 days at all - nowhere in Europe, even not Canary Islands which can experience storms in that month. For a nearly guarantee consider Red Sea (Egypt).

Cyprus an Crete are European destunations that can still be warm - but also here no guarantee.

To try the opposite: how about chasing Northern Lights in Canada, Norway or Sweden? There is also direct charter flight on Fridays from Tromso to Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). so 5 days there and 5 days significantly warmer.

Posted by
381 posts

We were in the Canary Islands in October 2018 and all the beach hotels seemed to be closed. It was not warm enough to swim.

Also, the beaches we saw didn't seem very nice. All the closed-up beach hotels had huge swimming pools areas so I surmise that that is where most spent their sunning time.

Posted by
613 posts

Beaches in Europe are problematic in warm weather, let alone on the cusp of winter, but Check the water temperature at Barcelona & the Costa del Sol..

Caribbean beaches are far better. Consider island hopping. Bonaire has limited beaches but if its time for the flamingos to arrive for the winter, its worth the trip. Also great scuba views. Aruba has the best beaches (the beaches are on the west side of the island. They dump the garbage off the east coast to keep the sharks away from the beaches.. Puerto Rice and Jamaica have great beaches and San Juan has a quaint old town. My recollection is that the Vue Point hotel on Montserratt has a nice black sand beach (check the state of the volcano). And to get away from it all, Saba is unique.

Posted by
3049 posts

Just weighing in to say every European I know only goes to the Canaries from Nov-March for "beach" weather and as others have said, it's no guarantee. I love Mallorca but I wouldn't visit after the end of September or beginning of May for beach weather - I was even there in May and it was still a little too chilly for the beach.

I'm like you in that I love beachy vacations but in Europe it's just not reliable after the first week of October even in the warmest destinations - best case scenario it's lovely and in the 70s. Worst case scenario it's autumn storms and you're stuck in a beachy area with mostly shuttered restaurants for the season (this happened to us in Greece once) and almost nothing to do.

Posted by
6113 posts

I have spent the last 4 mid October/mid Novembers on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. No hotels are closed, nor restaurants. The sea is warm enough to swim in, compared to January, but it won’t be as warm as the Caribbean. This year, we had a few showers over the month and it was 20-24 most days. Last year, we had one day of torrential rain, then glorious sunny days. There isn’t much to do there other than the beaches.

Nowhere in mainland Europe is without risk of wet and/or cold weather in October/November. Avoid half term holiday weeks for better value and places not overrun with children - the last 2 weeks of October in the U.K. Flights from London to Fuerteventura peak around half term, costing more than triple compared to the weeks either side of this time.

The Azores are further north and therefore cooler and wetter.

If you want a beach holiday in November, with guaranteed good weather, Europe is not the best option.

Posted by
5256 posts

Places like Majorca are summer destinations. The weather should be comfortable but everything will likely be closed.

I've been to Mallorca in the last week of October on a number of occasions and the island is far from shut down. I'm sure some people make assumptions rather than providing advice based on personal experience. It's not helpful to those seeking advice to be given information based solely on assumptions particularly if such advice is incorrect.

On every occasion the weather has been great. Certainly warm enough for sunbathing but the sea will be cool and unless an outdoor pool is heated by renewable sources it will be unheated.

We have encountered a couple of restaurants that were closed but they were ones that were owned and run by non Mallorcans and they take the opportunity to return home or take their holidays elsewhere. Everything else is still open, after all, the locals still need somewhere to eat out.

All the major sites are open, I think the water park might be closed but that will be it. October is a great time to visit for exploring as weather is still good but it's not too hot but if beach time is important then Mallorca at this time may not fit the bill.

Posted by
15579 posts

This thread from last summer was resurrected by a rogue poster yesterday. The OP was inquiring about 2019.

Posted by
7643 posts

Wasn't impressed by Spain's Costa del Sol. Many European beaches don't come up to the level of the Caribbean, or even Florida.