The hottest holiday offers in November

The Golden State or the Sunshine State? The first offers Hollywood glam, Napa Valley’s prestigious wineries, and the cultural charm and iconic architecture of San Fran, while the second has Miami’s Art Deco magic, the theme park thrills of Orlando and sports splendour of Tampa. Both share a much-needed dose of vitamin D during winter – and the opportunity for a recharging road trip. California dreamers can take in the sights of the Pacific, dramatic cliffs and towering trees from San Fran to LA on the Pacific Coast Highway or opt for a hiking and rafting adventure from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park. Meanwhile, Florida fans can trace the Atlantic from Amelia Island to Miami Beach, or explore central Florida, beginning at its largest city, Jacksonville, passing through Gainesville (be sure to stop by nearby gorgeous Ginnie Springs), and ending at Ocala, the horse capital of the world.

British Airways Holidays offers up to 20 per cent off your car hire when you book California and Florida fly-drives between 1 May and 30 September 2025. Book by 30 November 2024. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

On Crete’s rugged northeastern coast, this sleek stone-clad resort is spread over a five-level amphitheatre that dips down into a private sandy beach. Rooms are minimalist, matching natural surroundings, and categories are abundant, from multi-bedroom villas with private pools that are perfect for families, to two-storey wellness villas featuring Technogym treadmills and Finnish saunas (all accommodation overlooks brilliant blue Vathi Bay, so it’s hard to go wrong). The 35-hectare retreat also includes a heated outdoor pool and six high-end eateries homing in on handpicked Cretan ingredients. A highlight is award-winning Ocean restaurant, serving sights of the cove and a must-try tasting menu (the amberjack carpaccio is exceptional). But the ultimate draw is the 2,500sqm spa, Kēpos by Goco, which blends holistic restoration with cutting-edge medical tech. A Styku 3D body scanner that measures fat, a cryotherapy chamber and vitamin IV infusions are just a few things on the ‘look at me now’ list.

British Airways Holidays offers 35 per cent off and a free meal upgrade from half to full board. Valid between 11 April and 1 November 2025. Book by 30 November 2024. The offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

In the central yet village-like Haidhausen quarter (aka the original Munich), this Hilton high achiever has it all and then some. It’s around the corner from the Deutsches Museum, the world's largest museum of science and tech, plus Rosenheimer Platz S-Bahn train station. The latter can whisk you off to the airport or Marienplatz, Munich’s marketplace in the Middle Ages and still the city’s heart (don’t miss the Old and New Town Hall and St Peter’s Church). After sightseeing, head back for cocktails at Juliet Rose, where master mixologist Antonio Mišetić crafts blissful botanical creations such as the Munich Mule, made with The Duke Bavarian gin. Then it’s off to modern MoNa for an epicurean journey inspired by Italy, from the Alps to Napoli. Indulge in an olive oil tasting and tartare of Bavarian oxen (don’t worry, you can always work it off at the 24/7 fitness centre, before a second round of nibbles and drinks at the Executive Lounge). 

British Airways Holidays offers two nights from £229pp, from 1-31 January 2025. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow airport, one checked bag at 23kg per person and accommodation. Book by 30 November 2024. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

The Ambasciatori Palace has all the old-school sophistication (minus the stuffiness) one would expect of a hotel on Via Veneto, once the epicentre of la dolce vita, and is housed in a Renaissance Revival palazzo – the former American Embassy Library no less. A magnificent marble staircase, elegant columns and dazzling chandeliers are all part of the grandeur, but the hotel also has a boutique feel, with 160 rooms that are refined yet stripped-back. Chic and cosy touches include leather headboards, brass bedside table lamps and curated textiles (bonus points for the extensive pillow menu), while beautiful balconies and marble-adorned bathrooms give that Eternal City charm. Dining is just as decadent, with Ambasciatori bringing over NYC-based restaurant group Scarpetta. The vibe is buzzy, and Italian-American dishes include handmade pastas with gluten-free options. Stop by Anita lounge bar for a cocktail before a dreamy night of DJ sets at Charlie’s Rooftop.

British Airways Holidays offers two nights from £479pp, from 1-31 December 2024. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow airport, one checked bag at 23kg per person and accommodation with breakfast. Book by 30 November 2024. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

Its name means ‘sun island’ in Dhivehi, but there’s more than just sun- and sea-swathed splendour at this all-inclusive, family-run retreat (though we wouldn’t complain if there wasn’t). Just a 45-minute seaplane flight from Malé, the private island can be walked around in 30 minutes, giving both a secluded and communal feel. Banyan, hibiscus and ‘giraffe’ trees meet milky sands and glass-like lagoons, and there are 14 restaurants and bars – head to The Islander’s Grill for authentic Maldivian seafood – plus a Nemo Garden underwater park for families and the largest spa in the Maldives, with 140 stress-melting treatments (little jet-setters can get pampered at the Sweet Pea Spa). For a local high, hop on board a dhoni, a traditional Maldivian fishing boat, for a dolphin sunset cruise. Now for the tough part, where to sleep and soirée island-style: an overwater villa with an outdoor hot tub, or a beach villa with a private pool?

British Airways Holidays offers 20 per cent off for a minimum three-night stay. Valid between 1 November and 22 December 2024. Book by 30 November 2024. The offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

It’s hard to compete if you’re next to KL’s Mogul masterpiece, the grand train station built in 1910 (its chalk white plaster, onion domes and horseshoe arches are divine), but if anything can, it’s the Autograph Collection’s Majestic Hotel. The Majestic Wing, the original hotel, was built in 1932 during the golden age of travel, while its 15-storey Tower Wing is a more modern, but equally magnificent, addition from 2012. The hotel has all the stateliness its name suggests: Neoclassical and Art Deco styles, afternoon tea and the tinkle of piano keys in the Colonial Café, clawfoot tubs on sleek black and white tiles in sumptuous suites. In the intimate Cigar Room, you can even ask for a luxurious smoking jacket. There are plenty of epicurean eats, too – open-kitchen Contango restaurant serves everything from crab carbonara to nasi biryani – and palatial-style pampering, from the spa inspired by Willow Tea Rooms to gentlemen’s grooming services at Truefitt & Hill.

British Airways Holidays offers a complimentary room upgrade. Book a Deluxe room and upgrade to a Junior suite or a book Colonial suite and upgrade to a Governor suite if available upon check-in. Valid until 19 December 2024 and between 7 February and 30 March 2025. Book by 30 November 2024. The offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.