When I graduate college on October 24, I’ll have finished 3 years of year-round schooling. Rather than going straight into a 40 hour a week job, I have a burning need to get out and reward myself with a vacation. I’ve had my sights on Europe for a long time, but won’t be able to go there until late Oct, Early november.
So, for those who’ve been there, is it possible to travel to Europe in November? If you think it’d be impossible because of the weather, where else (internationally) can I go for about $1,000 to $1,500 ?
Actually, I think late Oct-November is one of the more pleasant times to visit Europe, weather-wise. In western Europe at least, it’s not too cold yet (my experience of that particular time-frame is limited to the UK and France; I’ve also travelled in Italy, Spain, and Portugal during the Christmas/New Year’s season, which is a little chillier but not terribly so).
Plus, you’ll be there during the low-season, so airfares will be cheaper and the summer tourist mobs will be gone.
I’m not quite sure what you mean by “impossible because of the weather”. Most of Europe has a fairly moderate climate. As skopo said, it’s probably a good time as you won’t have all the crowds.
Britain gets gray and chilly pretty early, but it’s a great time to visit southern Europe. Even the weather in Paris should be tolerable. Depending on how much time you have, Paris, southern France, Italy and Greece would be a great trip. Low-season prices, small crowds, good-to-great weather.
I’ve only driven, but my youngest son and I travelled through Germany, France, England and Scotland in October and November and ditto that it is less crowded and less expensive. The weather was great. We also travelled through the former Czechoslovakia in December and it was the same as driving in the states except that there weren’t as many snowplows, but we made it okay. We spent some time in the High Tatras and went up by train. It was fine.
I don’t know if you are only interested in Europe, but my oldest son and I took a 12-day tour in China and for the price it was wonderful. It included all transportation, all meals, and all sightseeing for around $1200.00. http://www.chinafocustravel.com/hc.htm
Ditto all the advice about it being a good time to go.
As for the cost…it’s definitely a good time of year if you need cheap transatlantic flights. From major US cities you should be able to get a decent range sub-$500. Which leaves $1000 max for spending, travelling and sleeping…$70/day for two weeks, certainly a potential budget. Roughly a third to a half of that will get you accomodation in Youth Hostels (again, not going to be busy that time of year). Many are the quality of cheap hotels, but cleaner, friendier, better located, and cheaper. See Hostelling International.
I did summer (July-August-September) on one trip and late fall on another (October-November-early December) and if/when I go again it will be in fall. In fact, I spent most of my time in northern Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Scotland) when I was travelling in fall and it was wonderful. No crowds, fewer tourists, cheap hotels and eats, etc. We had a few days where we were rained/snowed out but we would usually find a libarary or coffeeshop and just sit and read (which really isn’t a bad way to spend the day). I did have to to a little bit more planning as many places close earlier in the day during fall/winter as opposed to summer but it was well worth it.
I highly recommend off-season travel, particularly if your interests include lots of stuff llike museums. Things are cheaper and less crowded, as others have already mentioned, but to me the best part is getting to experience the places you are visiting when they are in their normal state, i.e. not crawling with other tourists. It’s much more of a “real” experience than, say, Paris in August, when it doesn’t have any actual Parisians in it.
And if you go to London, definitely hook up with the LonDopers for a pint (or several). You won’t regret it.
Helluva time to go to Venice: it’s not smelly! Rainy, often, but smelly no.
October can be very rainy on the Spanish mediterranean coast, but November isn’t. People from cold places (Germans, Swedes) are often seen at the beaches.
If you’re into monuments, those are open year-round. There are some places that it is better to visit in the fall, because during the summer they would be closed (or work less hours). In Madrid, most museums are free on Saturdays.
I don’t like how Paris looks in the rain, but London is ok… we’re all so used to thinking of London as “rainy” that it looks strange to me when I’m there and it’s sunny
Going to Northern Europe in November doesn’t sound to me like a good idea, but then I’ve been known to suffer from an allergy to cold and dark.
And it’s the “low” season everywhere except southern Spain (Sevilla, Cordoba, Malaga), so you get cheaper fares and boarding.
The first time I went to France was in early November. We went to Paris and also drove through western France enjoying many castles. The weather was perfect.
However you may want to look at the exchange rate. The dollar isn’t that strong against the Euro right now.
Venice is much nicer during the low-season because of the smaller crowds. I once visited during June or July, and you can barely walk through St. Mark’s Piazza because of the crowds of tourists and the filthy pigeons. When I’ve visited there in the winter, however, it’s just wonderful–it’s like you have the city (nearly) to yourself.
I imagine that the fall season would be even better, since it does get a little too cold in December to sit out on a terrace and eat a gelato.
I wouldn’t bother coming, us Europeans basically hibernate over the winter months because travel of any sort is nigh on impossible. Buses and trains stop running from Nov 1 until April 1st, the only way of getting around is by sledge or air (although the fuel has been known to freeze and airports close). I once had to go to Frankfurt on business but stupidly didn’t book my return flight until November 5th :eek:
There’s a little rhyme in Britain that everyone knows “Remember, remember the 5th of November”. Basically, if you’re going to continental Europe be back for the 5th November.
Well, I forgot to pay heed to the rhyme and was stuck in Germany until the following March after my plane was cancelled and the airport shut down for 4 months!!!
The things us Europeans have to put up with.
Come on over, the weather will be on the cold side in places but generally good enough to do all your sightseeing without too much discomfort.
The later in the year you travel, and the further north you go, the earlier the daylight goes.
In Scotland, for instance, this means the opportunity for outdoor sightseeing may be curtailed, some of the smaller attractions may be closed until Spring and the evenings may seem long if you don’t find some indoors activity to fill them… or you might like walking round foreign cities in the cold & dark!
I agree that off season travel offers lower airfares, fewer crowds and cheaper lodging.
But as others have said, some activities and sights might be opened for limited amounts of time, or just closed, period. Gardens and suchlike might not be at their best, but libraries, museums, pubs and cafes are mighty inviting. I would lean towards October rather than November, but that’s just me.
Meurglys made the only actual “concern” about European travel in late fall: after September, the daylight gets shorter, faster in Europe than in the States. (If you’re from Canada, you may not notice it as much.)
On November 1, there will be about 10 1/2 hours of daylight at 40° North and about 9 3/4 hours of daylight at 50° North.
On November 30, there will be about 9 1/2 hours of daylight at 40° North and about 8 1/2 hours of daylight at 50° North. (Actual times will depend on variations in time zones and positions of cities relative to the time zone boundaries.)
Relative latitudes:
Dallas 32:47
Atlanta 33:45
Los Angeles 34:06
________________ Athens 38:01
St. Louis 38:38
________________ Madrid 40:26
New York 40:40
Chicago 41:50
________________ Rome 41:52
Boston 42:20
Quebec 46:45
Seattle 47:37
________________ Munich 48:08
________________ Paris 48:51
Vancouver 49:15
________________ Prague 50:05
________________ London 51:30
Edmonton 53:30
________________ Edinburgh 55:57
In several cities, I was able to take some wonderful photos of sunsets and twilight (with the lights on against a not-quite-dark sky)–but I did it in what felt like the middle of the afternoon based on the times the shops and museums were open or closed.
It is certainly not a reason to put off the trip, but it may be one thing you wish to include in your plans. If you are traveling from Orlando or San Diego to Edinburgh or Stockholm, you are going to be really surprised by the way the day has “changed.” If you travel from Calgary to the Mallorcas, you will be pleasantly surprised by the “extra” daylight.
