best-sun-destinations-october-november-december
Super El Niño Is Here — Playing havoc with the weather.
If you’ve felt like the weather has been behaving strangely this year, you’re not imagining it. A Super El Niño — one of the strongest on record — has been building through 2026, and its effects are being felt right across the globe. Ocean temperatures in the Pacific have surged well beyond the threshold needed to classify this as a “strong” event, and forecasters are now warning that the knock-on effects will be significant.
For the UK, the outlook is fairly clear: a milder but notably wetter and windier autumn and early winter than usual. Low pressure systems are expected to dominate, bringing spell after spell of rain and stronger-than-average winds through the back end of the year, before colder conditions potentially take hold later in winter. In short — if you were hoping for a crisp, dry autumn, you may want to adjust your expectations (and your travel plans).
Which raises the obvious question: if the weather at home is going to be grim, why not just leave?
With so much of the UK’s fine weather already used up for the year, autumn and early winter are actually a brilliant — and often underrated — time to bag some sunshine abroad. Flights and hotels are typically kinder on the wallet than peak summer, resorts are quieter, and in plenty of destinations the weather is arguably at its best. Here’s our month-by-month guide to where to chase the sun this October, November and December.
October: Dodging the Rainy Season (Perfect for Half Term)
October can be a tricky month for sun-seekers, since a lot of classic tropical destinations are still deep in their rainy season. The trick is knowing which spots buck the trend — and with the October half term falling right in this window, it’s also prime time for a family escape before the winter weather really sets in.
Cape Verde is one of the best-kept secrets for a reliable autumn getaway. Sitting off the coast of West Africa, it’s only around five hours’ flying time from the UK, yet it enjoys a near-guaranteed run of sunshine, warm temperatures and calm seas at a time when much of the Mediterranean is starting to cool off. The short flight time and easy-going resorts make it a genuinely family-friendly choice too — ideal if you don’t want to spend half your holiday travelling.
For a slightly different flavour, El Gouna in Egypt ticks a lot of boxes. Built around a network of pretty lagoons and canals, with charming harbours and some excellent beaches, it offers a real sense of affordable luxury rather than a sky-high price tag — so you get the polish without the premium cost. It’s also brilliant for families: calm, shallow lagoons for younger kids, some of the best snorkelling and diving on the Red Sea for older ones, and plenty to keep adults happy too, including a couple of highly-rated golf courses. October brings warm, dry, sunny days, making it an easy win for a half-term trip that works for everyone.
November: The Sweet Spot for the Caribbean and Beyond
By November, a lot of the wider Caribbean is still shaking off its wet season — but there are exceptions. Antigua is one of the driest islands in the region at this time of year, with plenty of sunshine and none of the heavier downpours you’ll find further south. Add in its famous “365 beaches” (one for every day of the year, so the story goes) and it’s an excellent November pick.
If you fancy something further afield, Goa comes into its own in November too. The monsoon has typically wrapped up by this point, leaving behind lush, green landscapes, warm seas and long stretches of golden sand — all without the humidity and rain of the preceding months. But Goa is about far more than just beaches: its centuries of Portuguese colonial history have left a fascinating mark, from pastel-coloured churches and cobbled old streets to imposing forts like Aguada and Chapora overlooking the coastline. Add in bustling local markets, a genuinely distinctive food and culture scene shaped by that Portuguese influence, and it’s a destination with real depth alongside the sunshine.
December: Guaranteed Sun, Wherever You Look
By December, the picture becomes a lot simpler: the entire Caribbean is generally basking in hot, sunny, reliable weather, making it one of the easiest months to book with confidence, wherever in the region you choose to go.
Further east, Thailand and Malaysia both come into their own in December, offering the classic postcard combination of white sand, palm-fringed beaches and warm, clear water — perfect for slowing right down after a hectic year. Both destinations bring a lot more to the table than just sunbathing, too: think incredible, affordable street food, warm and welcoming locals, and rich cultural experiences from ornate golden temples to bustling night markets. There’s excellent wildlife-spotting on offer as well, whether that’s elephants and jungle treks in Thailand or orangutans and rainforest canopy walks in Malaysian Borneo — plenty to fill the days when you fancy a break from the beach.
And if you don’t mind a longer flight, Bali is well worth the extra hours in the air. December brings warm, tropical weather to the island, along with its usual mix of stunning beaches, lush scenery and standout hospitality — a proper reward for the extra travel time.
The Bottom Line
With a Super El Niño making this UK autumn and early winter wetter and windier than usual, there’s arguably never been a better excuse to get away. Whether it’s a quick five-hour hop to Cape Verde, affordable luxury in El Gouna, drier-than-average sunshine in Antigua or Goa, or a proper long-haul escape to Thailand, Malaysia or Bali — there’s a sun-soaked option out there for every budget and every kind of traveller.
So while the rain hammers against the windows back home, why not be somewhere with your toes in the sand instead?
Want some more inspiration – find out Where’s hot in November – Or families may want to know Where is hot for October half term – Or check out these Winter destinations you never knew you needed – For more ideas and more details information here are The best places for winter sun.
Of course if you want to chat about things and get some advice and help organising an Autumn or Winter holiday – Just ask Paul
