November is the quiet month before the chaos of Christmas shopping in December, giving you downtime before the festivities begin and the Christmas markets appear. Summer crowds have disappeared, prices have dropped, and many of the world's best cities are at their most atmospheric, with crisp autumn air, shorter queues for major attractions, and more authentic encounters. Here are five cities that our Hotel Gurus think deserve a November visit.

Las Vegas, USA

Las Vegas in November is the city at its most sensible time of year. The summer heat has broken, temperatures are mild and perfectly comfortable for the Strip, and the city's extraordinary concentration of restaurants, shows, and experiences is operating at full capacity without the spring break or summer crowds. November also brings some of the city's best entertainment bookings — residencies, boxing matches, major concerts — and the gaming floor has a noticeably more relaxed energy than peak season.

• The Cromwell is the Strip's first standalone boutique hotel, and it remains the most intimate address on the main boulevard. The 188 rooms draw on a Parisian aesthetic — think velvet drapes and rich dark tones — and the hotel carries a strong sense of identity that mega-resorts cannot match. Drai's Beachclub and Nightclub on the rooftop is one of the more heralded party venues in the city, and Giada, the Italian restaurant by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, is one of the better hotel kitchens on the Strip.
• Park MGM is a quieter, more design-conscious alternative to Las Vegas's biggest resort brands, with 2,700 rooms that have been stripped back and made more liveable than the standard Vegas hotel aesthetic. 
• NoMad Las Vegas sits within Park MGM as its own distinct property; a hotel-within-a-hotel with hardwood floors, velvet furnishings, and standalone soaking bathtubs in the rooms. The rooftop pool, inspired by the Majorelle Gardens of Marrakech and designed by Jacques Garcia, is one of the city's most striking pool areas, and the NoMad Restaurant is widely regarded as one of the finest dining experiences in Las Vegas.
• The English Hotel is a very different proposition from the Strip properties: a 74-room adults-only boutique hotel in the Las Vegas Arts District (the 18b neighbourhood) that offers those who want to experience the city's creative side a genuinely characterful alternative to the casino resorts. The pool area is stylish, the exterior walls carry bold murals that suit the neighbourhood, and the absence of a resort fee and free parking are welcome novelties in Las Vegas.

Cape Town, South Africa

Who doesn't love some sunshine in November? Cape Town in November is spring transitioning to early summer: temperatures are warming, the wildflowers of the Cape Floral Region are approaching their peak, and the city's beaches, restaurants, and wine estates are all coming into full season. The Winelands — Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Constantia — are beautiful in November, when the vines are green, and the harvest is months away. Table Mountain is best accessed on clear November days when the cloud tablecloth is absent, and the views from the cable car extend to the Cape Peninsula.

• Cape Cadogan is a five-star boutique hotel in a National Monument building dating from the early 1800s in the Gardens suburb, on Kloof Street, with its excellent restaurants and independent shops immediately outside. The 19 individually designed rooms were thoroughly refreshed in 2022, emerging with a palette of emerald green, black, white, and gold that gives the Victorian bones a very current personality. A seasonal pool, a full-service spa, complimentary breakfast, and a daily manager's reception make it a complete and very personal city base.
• Compass House Boutique Hotel is a five-star property in Bantry Bay, two minutes from the beachfront and ten minutes from Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront. The property's great distinction is its position and its pool: a 20-metre swimming pool and terrace that look directly out over the Atlantic, with the Cape sunset performing nightly for anyone sitting there. The rooms have ocean views, Bulgari amenities, and a Control4 sound system, and the breakfast is genuinely excellent. Johan and Gerhard run it with a warmth and attention to detail that guests return for.
• Long Street Hotel sits on vibrant, historic Long Street in the heart of Cape Town's city bowl, a boutique property with a strong sense of the neighbourhood that surrounds it. The rooms are well-appointed, and the location puts guests within walking distance of the Cape Quarter, the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, and the best of the city's independent restaurants and bars.
• CUBE Guest House is a small, design-led property in the De Waterkant neighbourhood, Cape Town's most fashion-conscious quarter, with a pool and a strong aesthetic identity. Its intimate scale, quality service, and location in one of the city's most walkable and interesting parts make it a compelling option for those who want Cape Town's character rather than its convention.

Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena is coming to the end of the rainy season in November, when the streets of the walled city are still lush and green, but the worst of the rain has passed. The old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Spanish colonial architecture, bougainvillaea cascading over terracotta walls, and cobbled streets that have changed little in centuries, is one of the most beautiful in the Americas. November 11th is also Cartagena's Independence Day, so you can expect colourful floats, dancing in the street, and music galore.

• Casa San Agustin is widely regarded as the finest address in Cartagena's walled city, a collection of three 17th-century colonial houses connected by walkways and gardens in the Santo Domingo neighbourhood. The 30 rooms and suites keep original frescoes, thick stone walls, and the grandeur of the colonial architecture while offering contemporary luxury. The rooftop pool, the Alma restaurant, and the spa are exceptional, and the hotel's location puts guests in the heart of the most beautiful part of the city.
• Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa is a historic property in the old city occupying a 17th-century convent, with rooms arranged around a central courtyard, a rooftop pool, and a strong sense of the building's extraordinary past. The service is polished and warm, and the hotel's location, close to the Plaza de Santa Teresa, is ideal for exploring on foot.
• Alfiz Hotel is a boutique property in the walled city that takes its name from the decorative frame found in Moorish architecture and brings the same attention to detail to its interiors. The rooms are elegantly appointed, the courtyard is beautiful, and the hotel's smaller scale gives it a more personal atmosphere than the city's larger historic properties.
• La Passion is one of Cartagena's most intimate hotels: a small property (with a plunge pool) in the old city with rooms that blend colonial architecture and contemporary design, and the kind of quiet that is surprisingly easy to find here despite its proximity to the city's lively plazas and restaurants.

Merida, Mexico

Merida in November is the Yucatán at its most comfortable: the rainy season has ended, temperatures are warm rather than fierce, and the capital of the Yucatán state is at its most culturally alive. The Sunday morning free concerts in the Plaza Grande, the Paseo de Montejo boulevard's extraordinary concentration of French-influenced mansions, the archaeological sites of Uxmal and Chichen Itza within day-trip distance, and the exceptional Yucatecan cuisine (cochinita pibil, sopa de lima, panuchos) make Merida one of the most rewarding cities in Mexico to visit.

• Hotel Hacienda Merida is a beautifully restored colonial property in the Centro Historico, with the hacienda architecture, cool patios, and distinctive personality that the best Merida hotels deliver. The rooms combine the thick walls and high ceilings of the original building with comfortable contemporary amenities, and the hotel's garden and pool provide relief from the warm November days.
• Hotel Sureno is a boutique property in Merida's increasingly celebrated arts district, with a design sensibility that reflects the city's creative energy. The rooms are individually appointed, the communal spaces are convivial, and the hotel's connections to the local art and design scene make it a natural choice for culturally engaged visitors.
• Hacienda Xcanatun is a 17th-century hacienda estate on the outskirts of Merida that has been restored into one of the Yucatán's finest small hotels. The 18 suites are arranged across the original estate buildings, surrounded by extensive gardens, a spa, and a fine restaurant. It is the most secluded and grand option in the area, and the short drive to the city centre is easy to manage.
• Hotel Cigno is a small, carefully run boutique property in the Centro Historico with a strong design identity and an intimate scale that gives guests a genuinely personal experience of Merida. The rooms are well-appointed, and the hotel's position in the historic centre makes it an excellent base for on-foot exploring.

Singapore

Singapore in November is post-monsoon and perfectly comfortable: temperatures in the low thirties, the Gardens by the Bay still spectacular, and the city's extraordinary density of food, shopping, and cultural experience in full operation. The hawker centres (Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell Food Centre, Old Airport Road) epitomise the essential Singapore experience and no hotel dinner can compete; but the city's fine dining scene, from Joel Robuchon to the Michelin-starred hawker stalls, is equally remarkable. The National Museum, the Peranakan Museum, the Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the street life of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam are all worth a look.

• Singapore EDITION is the EDITION brand's Singapore debut: a luxury hotel on Cuscaden Road in the Orchard district with 190 rooms of considerable quality; think dark wood floors, marble bathrooms, and a strong design identity delivered by Ian Schrager's team. The rooftop pool is exceptional, the dining programme across multiple venues is strong, and the hotel sits at the top of Singapore's luxury market.
• The Vagabond Club is a Tribute Portfolio hotel in the Little India district, known as one of Singapore's most personally run luxury boutique properties. The 41 rooms are individually designed with a sophisticated global-traveller aesthetic (dark woods, rich upholstery, curated artworks), and the hotel's bar, named among the best in Asia, draws guests and locals alike. Owner David Loh's personal involvement gives the hotel a warmth and character larger properties cannot manufacture.
• The Warehouse Hotel is set in a beautifully restored 1895 Straits-style warehouse in the Robertson Quay neighbourhood along the Singapore River, which was once the heart of the city's trading activity. The 37 rooms have exposed brick walls, warehouse beams, and a warm, industrial aesthetic, and the hotel's Po restaurant and bar draws a strong neighbourhood crowd. The Singapore River walk puts guests close to the city's best dining and nightlife strips.

Still not sure? 

• Browse through the Best Singapore Hotels with Pools
• Refine your search to include our recommendations for the Best Hotels in Las Vegas or The Best Places to Stay on the Western Cape
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.