Black Friday Travel Deals: Worth The Hype?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to shop for travel deals, with discounts on everything from flights and hotels to cruises and luggage. While the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the travel industry, it's now making a strong recovery, and there are some fantastic bargains to be had. In 2024, travellers could save hundreds of dollars on flights, hotel bookings, and vacation packages. For example, JetBlue offered up to $400 off flight and hotel packages, while Hyatt offered 25% off at over 800 hotels worldwide. With so many deals available, it can be overwhelming to find the right one, but with a bit of research and flexibility, travellers can take advantage of these annual sales events to plan their dream vacations.

Black Friday flight deals

Black Friday is one of the best times to bag a bargain on flights, with airlines offering discounts on both domestic and international routes.

Domestic Deals

American Airlines offered round-trip fares under $200 to various destinations across the US for Black Friday 2024. This included flights from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale, St. Maarten, and West Palm Beach, and from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

For Black Friday 2025, Priceline is offering a week of deals, including 30% off packages in select Mexico and Caribbean resorts, and 25% off hotels in New Orleans, Boston, Houston, and Las Vegas.

Low-cost carrier Breeze offered a $29 fare sale from November 29 to December 1, 2024, for flights from Charleston to New Haven, Cincinnati, and West Palm Beach, and from New Orleans to Orlando and Fort Myers. These flights were available for travel between December 4, 2024, and May 22, 2025, with some blackout periods.

International Deals

For those looking to travel further afield, there are also some great international flight deals on Black Friday.

In 2024, Aer Lingus offered discounted flights from North America to Europe, with one-way fares as low as $208 for travel between January 7 and April 10, 2025. Air Canada offered 25% off base fares on flights within Canada and to and from the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Singapore Airlines offered 15-20% discounts on flights between New York and Singapore, and between Los Angeles and Tokyo and Bangkok. TAP Air Portugal also offered slashed routes to European destinations such as Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, and Copenhagen, with round-trip tickets in the $400 range.

Tips for Finding the Best Black Friday Flight Deals

• Sign up for email lists and follow travel brands on social media to stay in the loop about upcoming deals.
• Set price alerts for your dream trips so you can be notified of any price drops.
• Compare historical pricing to ensure that a deal is truly offering a discount.
• Use online shopping portals to earn extra points, miles, or cash back on your bookings.
• Take advantage of credit card offers and loyalty programs to maximize your savings.

Black Friday hotel deals

Black Friday is a great time to grab a bargain on hotel stays, with many brands offering promotions and discounts.

In 2024, for example, Barcelo offered up to 40% off hotel bookings in destinations such as the Riviera Maya, Aruba, Punta Cana, Cancun, and Cozumel, with an extra 15% off with a promotional code. Similarly, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts UK offered 30% off hotel stays in the UK and Spain, with bookings available until March 2025.

Other hotel brands that have offered Black Friday deals in the past include Hilton, World of Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Virgin Hotels, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and The Standard Hotels. These deals typically include discounts of up to 25% on nightly rates, with some brands offering additional perks such as free breakfast or resort credits.

It's worth noting that some of the best Black Friday hotel deals may be exclusive to members of loyalty programs or rewards clubs. For example, in previous years, Marriott rewards members could get 20% off stays at participating resorts. So, if you're looking to take advantage of Black Friday hotel deals, it may be worth signing up for loyalty programs with your favourite hotel brands.

To find the best Black Friday hotel deals, it's recommended to follow hotel brands on social media, subscribe to their email newsletters, and keep an eye on booking sites and airfare sites, which often flag price drops and special promotions.

Black Friday cruise deals

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to score discounted cruise fares, bundled packages, onboard credit, and more.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers some of the biggest Black Friday cruise deals, advertising them as their "biggest sale ever". While specific deals may vary, previous Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales have included up to $800 off per stateroom and 75% off second-guest cruise fares.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are also some of their biggest offers of the year. In 2024, they offered 75% off second-guest cruise fares, with additional guests in the stateroom sailing for free on select Bahamas and Caribbean sailings.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offered 40% off cruises during their 2024 Black Friday promotion, which included free drink and Wi-Fi packages and a $500 onboard credit.

Holland America Line

In 2024, Holland America Line offered up to 25% off sailings during their Black Friday sale.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, an ultra-luxury cruise line, offered savings of up to 40% on select 2025 voyages during their 2024 Cyber Monday sale. The offer also included up to $1,000 of onboard credit per suite.

Other Cruise Lines

Many other cruise lines offer Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, including Windstar Cruises, Silversea, Seabourn, Virgin Voyages, Celestyal Cruises, Oceania Cruises, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), Azamara, Princess Cruises, Quark Expeditions, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Black Friday luggage deals

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to score deals on luggage, with discounts of up to 82%. Many luggage brands and retailers offer promotions during this time, including Away, Beis, Samsonite, Monos, Macy's, and Nordstrom Rack. Here are some tips to help you navigate Black Friday luggage deals:

• Follow brands and retailers on social media and sign up for their newsletters to stay informed about the latest deals.
• Compare prices and check historical pricing to ensure you're getting a genuine discount.
• Be prepared to act quickly as some deals may be limited in quantity or duration.
• Some brands and retailers extend their Black Friday sales beyond the official date, so keep an eye out for additional savings opportunities.

Now, let's take a look at some specific Black Friday luggage deals that were offered in previous years:

• Macy's offered up to 75% off on items like the Kenneth Cole Reaction Leather Travel Duffel Bag and 62% off the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Carry-on Suitcase.
• Nordstrom Rack had discounts of up to 81% off on luggage sets and suitcases from brands like Tumi, Travelpro, and Calpak. For example, the Travelpro Rollmaster Lite Expandable Large Checked Suitcase was available for $120, a significant discount from its usual price of $460.
• Target offered up to 80% off on luggage sets and suitcases, such as the Skonyon 3-piece Hardside Spinner Luggage Set for $148 and the A.Saks Expandable Carry-on Wheeled Duffel for $100.
• Walmart had deals of up to 82% off on luggage sets, weekenders, and travel accessories. One notable deal was the Travelhouse Hardside 4-piece Luggage Set for $140, a savings of $360.
• Samsonite offered discounts of up to 44% sitewide, including deals on popular luggage sets and suitcases like the Voltage DLX 2-piece Luggage Set and the Freeform Medium Spinner Suitcase.
• Away, a brand that rarely marks down its products, hosted one of its biggest sales ever during Black Friday, with 25% off everything. This included discounts on popular items like the Everywhere Bag, the Bigger Carry-on Flex, and the Outdoor 70-liter duffel.
• Beis, a favourite among Travel + Leisure editors, offered 30% off all products. This included deals on top-sellers like The Weekender, the Carry-on Roller Suitcase, and the Medium Check-in Roller Suitcase.
• Monos, a Canadian luggage brand, had deals on some of its best-selling items, such as the Carry-on Pro Suitcase and the Check-in Medium Suitcase.
• Calpak, a Southern California-based brand, offered discounts of up to 60% on luggage sets, rolling duffel bags, and carry-on suitcases. One standout deal was the Evry Starter Bundle Luggage Set for $354, a significant savings from its usual price of $545.

Black Friday vacation deals

Black Friday is a great time to bag a bargain on a vacation, whether you're looking for a sunny beach break, a city escape, or an adventure to a far-flung destination.

Hotels

You can find some great hotel deals on Black Friday, with many brands offering discounts of up to 50% or more on stays. For example, in 2024, The Standard Hotels offered 30% off stays in several major cities worldwide, while Sandals Resorts gave guests up to a $1500 credit and up to 65% off bookings at select properties.

Flights

If you're looking to snap up a cheap flight, Black Friday is definitely worth checking out. In the past, airlines like JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have offered promo codes for $100 off flights, and you may even find one-way flights for as little as $20. For Black Friday 2024, Aer Lingus offered flights between North America and Europe for as low as $208 one way.

Packages

It's not just individual bookings that are discounted on Black Friday. You can also find deals on vacation packages, which can include flights, hotels, and even extras like tours or car rentals. In previous years, JetBlue Vacations offered up to $750 off flight and hotel packages, while REI took 20% off trips to destinations like the Great Smoky Mountains and Bryce Canyon.

Cruises

If a cruise is more your style, you're in luck! Cruise lines often offer significant discounts on Black Friday. For example, in 2024, Azamara gave travelers up to $4000 off cruise bookings, while MSC Cruises offered up to 40% off cruises, with drinks and Wi-Fi included.

So, if you're looking to book a vacation, it's worth keeping an eye out for Black Friday deals. With a bit of planning and flexibility, you can save hundreds of dollars on your next trip.

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