Where to Go in November

Christmas is around the corner, so is the new year. The holiday feeling is definitely starting to kick in. It’s a good time to go on a long holiday, especially for families with kids now enjoying the Singapore school holidays. Here are some great places to go on holiday in November, whether you fancy a short trip or a two-week holiday.
Trip Planner: Where to travel and when’s the best time to go?

Here’s our top picks of where to go in November for enjoyable holidays. Go where the weather is great and fun events are happening in November. Read on to find out what makes these destinations the best places to travel to this month.

WHERE TO GO IN NOVEMBER

Lounge in the Peace and Quiet of Lombok, Indonesia

Great for: Short trips from Singapore, Tropical, Beaches, Water Sports

Lombok is an Indonesian island paradise. In November, the days are long and temperatures average around 28 degrees, but the nights can be cool, so it’s a good idea to pack a few jackets or scarves, just in case.

Best known for its pristine beaches and azure-blue sea, Lombok is an excellent destination for surfing, snorkelling and diving, or lazing about and simply doing nothing.

Among the many temples on the island, the 18th-century Balinese Hindu temple Pura Meru is the largest and most ornate. The real gems however are the resorts, which offer fine dining, pampering and absolute luxury. The Oberoi is sensational and is a perfect getaway for families too.

Sightsee and Shop in Sydney, Australia

Great For: Beach, Australian Summer, Shopping, Food, Surf

Sydney is at its best in November, when the winter months are well and truly gone. The days are warm and long, and the nights are balmy and bright.

November is a great time for sightseeing and touring, and because it’s before peak season, prices are low, accommodation is bountiful and you won’t be jostling through crowds or standing in queues.

Stay at Circular Quay or in the city overnight, so you’re in the centre of things. Dine at one of the great restaurants at The Rocks or ‘tour’ the solar system from the Sydney Observatory.

In terms of luxury Sydney hotels, The Langham in The Rocks is excellent (read our Langham Sydney review here), as is The Old Clare Hotel which is a little further afield. You’ll have easy access to Sydney’s highlights – the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Taronga Zoo.

Stroll through the Botanical Gardens in the spring sunshine and enjoy a meal at one of the harbourside restaurants. Then indulge yourself at the designer boutiques on Oxford Street in Paddington.

Live It Up in New York

Great for: Christmas spirit, Cool, Culture, Art, Movie Sites, Luxury Shopping

By November, the blistering heat of the summer has gone and there’s a chill in the air. However, the sky is blue and if you wrap up warmly you’ll look just like a New Yorker. You’ll get to see the Christmas decorations adorn every lamppost and shop window without having to come back in the snow! 

It’s easy to stay indoors in New York and hop from taxi to museum to art gallery, restaurant and theatre without braving the cold. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Film Forum, the American Museum of Natural History and Madame Tussauds wax works are all worth visiting.

Broadway shows such as the Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and Aladdin shouldn’t be missed. You can also wander through Times Square and take in the atmosphere and the lights.

Take in some hearty New York fare and sample the pizza at Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn or Lombardi’s, America’s first pizzeria, the finest bagels at Absolute Bagels on Broadway and the doughnuts. We’re torn between Dough in Brooklyn and the Doughnut Plant on the Lower East Side. You decide.

Don’t forget to shop while you’re in New York City. Try Macy’s, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue and, the ultimate in luxury, Bergdorf Goodman where you can do serious damage to your credit card. Then there’s Hamleys, where kids’ dreams come true.

Get Lost in the Natural Wonders of Penang, Malaysia

Great for: Food, Nature, Asian Culture, Short trips from Singapore

Penang, known as the Pearl of the Orient, is in northwest Malaysia and is hot and sunny –perfect for a getaway in November. That’s when the Pesta Pulau Pinang Festival livens up Penang with carnivals, street performances and live music.

The capital city of Georgetown is a bustling mix of old and new, east and west, and by simply wandering around you can soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

If natural surrounds beckon, Penang has plenty to offer. Its beaches are long and pristine, with Tanjung Bungah the most popular. Penang National Park is lush with its mangroves, forests and jungles.

One of the highlights of your trip is bound to be the Snake Temple in Sungai Kluang. Not only is it a stunning piece of art, but it also has vipers living freely inside it. It’s not for the faint hearted, but they are harmless, and are thought to be lucky.

The Kek Lok Si Temple, or Temple of Supreme Bliss, is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and is an exquisite fusion of Chinese, Burmese and Thai creativity. Surrounded by market stalls and restaurants serving traditional fare and selling gifts, it is well worth a visit.