For most Americans, Thanksgiving travel means huge headaches. Even if you try to outsmart the crowds by leaving early, you’re still doomed to long airport lines or epic traffic jams.

What if this year, you head overseas instead? Sure, some family members may frown, and you’ll miss Aunt Jackie’s sweet potato pie. But Thanksgiving is a great time to travel abroad.

Once you leave the United States, prices tend to be reasonable and destinations uncrowded. Compared to summer prices, international airfares averaged $200 cheaper over Thanksgiving week 2023, reported Condé Nast Traveler. Plus, Thanksgiving is the best vacation deal if you get paid time off from work: If you can take off the preceding Monday-Wednesday, you have nine days total to plan a grand getaway.

Here are a few of our favorite Thanksgiving travel ideas.

When weighing Thanksgiving travel destinations, consider the weather.

Europe: Late November is the off-season in most of Europe, which means low prices and few crowds. However, days are short, the weather can be damp and chilly, and some tourist sites close down. Spain, Italy, Greece, and other southern countries are appealing: “While Europe's wonderful outdoor evening ambience survives all year in the south, wintertime streets are empty in the north after dark,” Rick Steves says.¹ The good news is that in many European cities, the famous Christmas markets are just beginning to open.

Asia: November is a good time to travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and other destinations in southeast Asia, as cooler, dry weather is arriving. Prices begin to rise, but it’s still the shoulder season. In Japan, late November kicks off autumn foliage season, making it a glorious—but not cheap—time to go.

Southern Africa: Considering a safari vacation over Thanksgiving? November is the rainy season, which means lush foliage and fewer chances to spot wildlife. But parks may also be less crowded, and some special events take place. In Zambia, you can see the amazing wildebeest migration in Liuwa Plain National Park. November’s also an ideal time to see and even swim with whale sharks off the coast of Tanzania.²

The Caribbean: November marks the end of the hurricane season in the Caribbean, so it can be a great time to visit the islands and claim shoulder-season prices before the holiday rush.

The Americas: Late November is a lovely time to travel to Mexico. The dry season has begun and the weather is just about perfect. In Costa Rica and other Central American nations, November is the tail end of the rainy season. Thanksgiving can be a great time to visit, as the skies begin to clear but prices remain low. It’s generally a good time to visit South America as well, although temperatures and rainfall vary depending on where you go.

Plan flights carefully.

Even if you’re heading overseas, you can still get caught in Thanksgiving air-travel tangles. The top three worst days to travel:

• The Wednesday before Thanksgiving
• The Sunday after Thanksgiving
• The Friday before Thanksgiving

Try to avoid these dates, if you can. The best day to travel is Thanksgiving itself! Travel pros also recommend leaving the Saturday before the holiday and returning on Black Friday or the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.³

Regardless of when you travel for Thanksgiving, insurance with the travel delay benefit is a must. This benefit makes life a whole lot easier when you encounter an unexpected pause in your trip. It can reimburse you for lost pre-paid expenses and eligible costs you incur because of the delay, including meals, accommodations, communication and transportation.

Even better: If you have the OneTrip Prime or OneTrip Premier plan, you can get an automatic payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered flight delay. Both these plans include SmartBenefits®, which means you have the option of receiving the $100 payment without submitting receipts for any purchases. Exclusions and maximum benefit limits apply; see your plan documents for details.

Weigh the pros and cons of cruising over Thanksgiving.

Is it a good idea to take a Thanksgiving cruise? That depends on the experience you’re looking for. Family-friendly cruise ships tend to be crowded Thanksgiving week because children are out of school. If kids racing around, screaming, and throwing soft-serve cones at each other (yes, we’ve seen this happen) will ruin your cruise experience, then opt for an adults-only or luxury cruise.

On the flip side, a cruise can be a great vacation for someone who wants to get away but still enjoy the comfort of holiday traditions. Many cruise lines will serve a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast on the big day, and you can expect festive fall decorations too. You can even catch a football game on TV.⁴

Find ways to celebrate the holiday overseas.

You can love traveling for Thanksgiving and still feel homesick for the holidays. While Thanksgiving isn’t widely observed outside of the U.S., there’s a good chance some big-city restaurants are serving a special turkey-and-stuffing dinner. Just don’t expect it to taste exactly like Mom’s.

Here’s a long list of restaurants in London that serve Thanksgiving dinner, offering a British take on stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. In Paris, head to a classic American establishment like Harry’s Bar, which opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1911.¹ Even in Beijing, you’ll find multiple Thanksgiving dinner options. Not sure where to go? Try an American hotel chain — they often offer Thanksgiving buffets.

Protect your Thanksgiving getaway with travel insurance.

The worst ways to spend Thanksgiving abroad? Getting sick, hurt, or stranded. That’s why travelers need the protection of Allianz Travel Insurance. International travel insurance defends you from misadventures with emergency medical benefits, trip interruption/cancellation benefits, trip delay benefits, baggage benefits and more. Get a free quote today.

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