The best places to travel in November

Craving a far-flung getaway? Make plans to head to the Andaman Islands, off the coast of India — accessible via flights through most major Indian cities. It’s best known as one of the few places to spot swimming elephants, and it has some of Asia’s most stunning stretches of sand. Once you get there, it remains fairly affordable — particularly in November. The month is officially part of monsoon season, but it’s still the best time to go. Plan your trip for mid-November, when the weather is perfect and before high season kicks off.

You’ll need at least three days to explore the area, to take in everything from its one-of-a-kind landscape to a horseback riding trip over the sand dunes to the volcanic rock formations. Just make sure to time your trip right: Parts of Chile get incredibly cold June to September, and the desert is unbearably hot January to March, making November one of the best times to go.

The Caribbean island is one of the most hassle-free vacations you can take — no passport or adapters required, full phone and data service at no extra fee — and for that reason, it can get incredibly crowded. The holiday season is particularly brutal, so go in early November, when crowds are low and it’s perfect beach weather.

Italy has a new wine destination, in the stunning coastal city of Sicily. The Mount Etna region is drawing visitors from around the world with its family-run wineries and one-of-a-kind terroir. The red wine varietals the region is known for pair perfectly with famous Silician snacks, from fried anchovies to piping hot chickpea fritters. November is Sicily’s low season, so you’ll have your pick of the region’s best villas and enjoy crowd-free strolls through the area’s ancient Greek ruins.

The Canadian dollar is already relatively weak compared with the American one, but if you want to save even more money, November is the time to go. Hotel prices drop, restaurant reservations open up and even airfare comes down a bit. While you’re in Toronto, make sure to hit the popular sights that are most crowded during the summertime — St. Lawrence Market, the Aga Khan Museum, the Gehry-designed Art Gallery of Ontario. You’ll have more room to appreciate them.

November is one of the few months when there’s a bit of relief in the Texas desert region, and the clear skies are ideal for stargazing. Marfa has a budding beauty scene as well: The locally made products are some of the best desert souvenirs around.

Uruguay’s beach town livens up in November, the start of South America’s summer season. Jose Ignacio, a sleepy village that’s known for its fishing community, is transformed as jet-setters descend for a glamorous — but still completely laid-back — vacation.

Seoul is gorgeous in the winter and no less busy — the bustling activity rarely slows down in the world’s beauty capital. Recently, the city has made a name for itself beyond cutting-edge beauty treatments. Seoul has always had wonderful food, as well, but it now has a surprising art scene and exciting shops and boutiques. And, of course, there’s no lack of things to do at night, from exploring street food carts to whiling hours away at a karaoke bar.

Jamaica is a crowd-pleaser — many families return to the same hotel each year during the holidays. That’s why pre-Christmas and New Year’s are the best times to go. The best hotels, including Jamaica Inn and Round Hill, almost always have much more availability in the first few weeks of November than in December and January. No matter where on the island you stay, there will be beautiful beaches to enjoy, wonderful live music and plenty of Red Stripe beer, which — no surprise — pairs fantastically with conch fritters.