Deals

Shop for Black Friday/Cyber Monday Travel Deals

(Courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta, via Flickr Commons)

It’s that time of year again.

Thanksgiving, with all the food and travel that’s associated with it. And Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Buy Stuff ads galore.

Here at Stuck at The Airport, the shopping team is a bit overwhelmed with all the travel deals and alleged travel deals in our inbox. But we’ve pulled out some offers that look enticing and a few we’re going to try to nab ourselves.

Here are a few to get you started. And here’s to a safe Thanksgiving travel week. Let us know what you spot in the airports along your journey.

DEAL TO CHECK OUT

HOTELS

Red Roof is once again offering a week-long Black Friday flash sale, starting on Monday, November 20. 

Travelers who make a reservation at any Red Roof Inn®, Red Roof PLUS+, HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof, or The Red Collection property from November 20 through November 28, 2023, and stay between November 20, 2023, through February 29, 2024, will save 20% off their stay. Sale details on www.redroof.com now.

Aqua-Aston Hospitality, which manages 25+ hotels and resorts across the Hawaiian Islands is offering 20% off at Aqua-Aston Hospitality’s properties on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island. Sale dates: November 21 — 28, 2023. Stay dates: November 21, 2023 — December 20, 2024. Book online at aquaaston.com during the booking window, use code CYBERSALE

For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will be offering a 30% off best available rate promotion valid for bookings made from Friday, November 24 at 12:01 a.m. EST through Tuesday, November 28th at 11:59 p.m. EST for stays through June 30th, 2024. The promo code will be: CYBER23. 

Heading to Portland, Oregon?  One our favorite hotels, The Nines, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a $299 deal. Each Sunday from now through January 2024, the Nines will offer $299 bookings: $99 for the room and $200 Food and Beverage credit to be used at the hotel’s, on-site restaurants, Urban Farmer and Departure. (They’ll also add a $30  ‘destination fee,’ but it’s still a great deal). Book here.

Most of the YOTEL properties around the world are participating in a Black Friday sales that offers 40% off stays booked by December 3 for stays through September 2024. Book here.  YOTELS not participating: YOTEL San Francisco, YOTELIAR London Gatwick, YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport (airside), YOTELAIR Paris Charles de Gaulle, and YOTEL AIR Amsterdam Schiphol. Blackout dates apply.

CARS, CARS, CARS

As we head into one of the busiest travel seasons, Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar are promising discounts on all vehicles for Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Details: Hertz (30%), Dollar (20%), Thrifty (15%).

AIRLINES

Air Tahiti Nui is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month and offering its first-ever Tiare Pass. 250 passes that cost $1525 each will be available during a 25-hour flash, November 25 from 9 a.m. PST to November 26 at 10 a.m. PST.

The $1,525 price includes a round-trip from the US to each destination the airline serves and is valid for travel between December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024 (included: one checked bag, onboard meal, and all taxes and fees.) The airline has flights that depart from Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA) and flies Paris, Tahiti, Tokyo, and New Zealand.

NOTE: The Air Tahiti Nui sale is only bookable by calling the airline’s reservation team directly during the sale period. Find that phone # here.

LUGGAGE

ROAM is offering $100 off its fun, customizable hard-side luggage from now through November 27. Build your discounted ROAM luggage deal here.

We’ll keep sifting the emails for more travel deals for Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Travel deals for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday

Toys, clothes, electronic gear, gadgets.

It will all be ‘on sale’ during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

But what if you want a deal on travel? They’ll have that too. And more deals are promised for Travel Tuesday.

Better yet, many of the deals are already out there.

Here’s a list of some of the more interesting offers that have already come our way. We’ll add more as they arrive.

Hotel Deals

Viceroy Hotels & Resorts

All Locations. Up to 35% Off at Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. Book: Saturday, 11/12/22 – Sunday, 12/4/22.

2022 Viceroy Cyber Sale 

(Viceroy DISCOVERY loyalty program members will receive early access to Cyber deals).

Red Roof

Already an economical place to stay, here are 17 Red Roof properties that will be offering a special 25% Black Friday / Cyber Monday discount. 

Omni Hotels

BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY DEALS

Omni Hotels & Resorts will be offering a More Merry For Less Promotion offering savings of up to 40% on select Omni Hotels & Resorts.   

BOOKING DATES: November 22, 2022 – December 4, 2022·    

STAY DATES: November 22, 2022 – February 26, 2023

AIRLINES

Hawaiian Airlines

Beginning November 23, Hawaiian Airlines will share several offers, including HawaiianMiles and HawaiianMiles partner promotions, gift card deals, and special Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales on select Hawaiian Airlines flights, including those between North America and Hawai‘i and within the Hawaiian Islands. All offers will be available on HawaiianAirlines.com.

We”ll add more as they come in.

Travel Deals for Black Friday

Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Travel Deal Tuesday Travel Deals Back with a Vengeance

(This is a slightly different version of a story we prepared for NBC News)

The pandemic put a ground hold on travel for much of the past 18 months. But with global travel restrictions lifting and holiday retail sales expected to shatter previous records, the travel industry is already rolling out Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for those whose holiday shopping lists include experiences, reunions with friends and family, and bucket list adventures.

“Sweaters are nice but what people really want this holiday season is a warm embrace from family and friends,” says Mike Daher, vice-chair, U.S. transportation, hospitality, and services non-attest leader for Deloitte.

With 42% of Americans planning to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, Daher doesn’t anticipate travel sites, airlines, hotels, or other attractions extending many promotions and discounts for travel during the holiday season. But that doesn’t mean eager travelers won’t be looking for bargains now and into the new year.

Where are the Deals?

“Although holiday travel demand is expected to reach 2019 levels, travelers are still very hungry for deals as a result of widespread consumer inflation,” says Brett Keller, Chief Executive Officer at Priceline. “So Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are now even more important than ever as consumers are looking for ways to save money.”

As they did last year, many companies are kicking off their sales early. Flexibility is still the watchword. But while some properties are offering their best deals, others may be pulling back a bit from last year’s fire sale offers.

The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel on the top floors of the historic former Meier & Frank department store building in downtown Portland, is offering its deepest discounts ever. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, rates for king rooms, regularly $289, can be booked for $199, while the Presidential Suite can be had for $1999 instead of $4299 for stays between December 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

“We want travelers back in Portland so they can see how we’re thriving,” said Kasey Connor, the Nines’ Director of Sales & Marketing. “A great deal can be the determining factor for any traveler on the hunt, so we pulled out our best one yet.”

The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia has more than 30 hotel and villa deals for Cyber Monday, a dozen more than last year, conveniently gathered in one place. Discounts at some properties may be slightly less in percentage than last year, but there are still extremely generous deals, says Colette McDermott, Marketing Manager, Saint Lucia Tourism Association. For example, the Ti Kaye Resort is offering 55% off 2022 dates plus perks such as hotel credits and spa discounts.

Get ready to shop

Finding the best travel deal during the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday shopping frenzy can be stressful. Experts recommend working up a wish list of destinations and travel times and doing some homework on current prices, so you’ll recognize the deals.

Sign up for the newsletters and frequent travel programs of airlines, hotels, destinations, and online travel agencies such as Expedia, Booking.com, Priceline, etc. to get early bird offers, which often come with extra discounts. (You can always unsubscribe later). Check to see if the destination you want to visit has a Black Friday/Cyber Monday landing page gathering up all the deals in one place. Myrtle Beach, S.C. has one, Orlando has one, and others will too. Also, before you hit ‘buy’ on any booking, check the cancellation and change rules, which may be more restrictive than last year.

And don’t forget Travel Deal Tuesday, on November 30. It is a growing ‘holiday’ when many travel brands roll out bonus deals and offers. Based on its analysis of historical pricing data, booking travel app Hopper found that the Tuesday following Thanksgiving has consistently offered the most significant volume of deals that week.

You’ll find many deals already available for booking. Some do not go live until Black Friday. But here are some to get you started.

Hotels

National Park visits surged during the pandemic and still top many travelers’ wish lists. Xanterra, which owns or operates lodges in Yellowstone, Zion, Glacier, Death Valley, and Grand Canyon South Rim will offer a “Book Your Bucket List” sale through Tuesday, November 30. (Stay dates vary by site).

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, with 27 properties in 16 countries, will be offering up to 50% off the best available rates at its urban properties and up to 30% off at its resort properties, exceeding last year’s discounts. Book November 26 (Black Friday) to November 30 (Travel Tuesday) for stays through June 30, 2022. Use promo code CYBER21.

Viceroy Hotels & Resorts discounts will be up to 35% off across the brand with flexible cancellations. “We believe it is still important to offer flexible cancellations to encourage travel and offer guests peace of mind when traveling with us,” said Jane O’Shea, Viceroy’s VP of Sales.

Graduate Hotels, with locations in 30 university towns in the US, plus Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, plans a Cyber Monday Sale with discounts of up to 50% off. Book by December 3 for stays through March 31, 2022. (Link goes live Nov 29).

Virgin Hotels, with properties in New Orleans, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, and Las Vegas will launch a Black Friday sale with 25% off on stays between November 26, 2021, and December 31, 2022. (Booking window Nov 26 through January 2, 2022). As a bonus, anyone booking during the sale will automatically be entered for a chance to win a free upgrade to each property’s penthouse suite.

Planes and trains

Amtrak usually rolls out a generous Black Friday deal, so be on the lookout for that. Many airlines will likely join in on Black Friday as well. Alaska Airlines traditionally offers one of its largest sales of the year on Black Friday. And Turkish Airlines is lining up its “Friday Flyday” offer with discounts networkwide available for booking on November 26.

Cruises and Tours

Hurtigruten will be offering 50% off most of its expedition cruise line destinations online through November 30. The cruise line has also lowered its deposit requirement to 10% (from 20%) for the sale.

Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s new adults-only cruise line, is offering 20% off voyages on Black Friday/Cyber Monday for both Scarlet Lady’s Caribbean voyages and Valiant Lady’s European voyages. Booking window through November 29 for various sail windows.

And tour operators such as luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent, and EF Ultimate Break, which offers Gen Z- and millennial-tailored group travel experiences will be offering Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals on adventures through 2022 and beyond.

Holiday Travel Deals to Grab Now

Even if you’re not traveling just yet, you can shop for future travel.

(This is an updated version of a story we prepared for NBC News)

A gift-season mantra the past few years has been “skip the things; give experiences and trips instead.”

But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most travel adventures have been put on hold.

Does that mean you should ignore the travel and hospitality-related deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year and stick to sales on slippers and sweatpants instead?

Definitely not. Studies show that thinking about and planning trips makes people happier. And that happiness may get a boost from the deals many travel companies offer during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday this season.

Many companies are expanding the purchase window. Others are loosening restrictions on how and when deals can be used.

If you decide to shop for travel during this Black Friday/Cyber Friday/Travel Tuesday season, experts recommend joining frequent travel programs and signing up for email alerts for brands and destinations you are interested in. Many deals are offered to club members early and often include a bonus member discount. You can always unsubscribe later.

And while many deals may seem to be more generous than usual, be sure to check for blackout dates, cancelation rules, and other conditions.

Some deals to get you started

Amtrak has rolled out its “Track Friday Sale.” Book November 27 through November 30 to get 50% off on coach fares nationwide for travel from December 8, 2020 – April 30, 2021. In past years the discount has been 30%, so this looks like a great deal.

Many cruise lines, which have been hard hit by season-long cancellations, are offering deals as well. Hurtigruten for example is offering savings up to 50% off per person on select 2021 and 2022 itineraries to destinations that include Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Antarctica, and more.

Attractions and destinations

Orlando has a web site dedicated to Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals at theme parks, attractions, resorts, and shopping. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has a long list of Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals available to book now.

LEGOLAND New York Resort, set to open in New York’s Hudson Valley in 2021, is offering a Black Friday deal (November 26 – December 1) offering 60% off retail on an unlimited admission pass good for a decade and including a wide array of other perks.  

Hotels

Many travel booking sites, hotel brands, and destinations are offering site-wide discounts on stays.

Hotwire’s Cyber Super Sale offers 12% off Hot Rate hotel bookings made in the app with the code BF12 at checkout from Friday, November 27 to Monday, November 30.  

Priceline is offering more than $5 million in travel deal email alerts and flash sales through December 1 to its VIP members (signing up is free) and giving 1000 lucky VIPS a coupon for 99% off hotel Express Deals.

Red Roof guests can save 40% off bookings made November 27 through November 30 for stays through January 31, 2021.

The Cyber Sale from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants offers 25% off Best Flexible Rates booked through December 7 for stays through September 7, 2021. The boutique brand will also donate $5 per night to charitable partner No Kid Hungry.

Members of the ALL-Accor Live Limitless loyalty program will be able to find deals up to 40% off accommodations + 2x Reward Points. This is for stays at select Fairmont, 21c Museum Hotels, Sofitel, Swissotel, and sbe properties around the world from November 26-30, 2020 for stays December 7 to March 14, 2021.

And Provenance Hotels’ 13 boutique hotels from Boston to Seattle, New Orleans, Nashville, Palm Springs, and Portland, OR is offering fully changeable rates starting at $59 per night through November 30 for stays December 1, 2020 through December 2021.

Late-breaking Black Friday travel deals

It can be a bit overwhelming, but if you’ve got places you want to go in the coming months you can save some serious cash by buying plane tickets and hotel stays during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday.

You’ll find a long list of offers already underway in my CNBC Black Friday/Cyber Monday story from last weekend. But here are some deals that were embargoed until now.

Check back; I’ve got a few more travel deals still under embargo and will update this list as new deals come in.            

Train deal

Amtrak’s fourth annual “Track Friday Sale” runs Friday, Nov. 29 through Monday, Dec. 2, with savings up to 35% on select routes nationwide for travel between Dec. 9 and April 30.

There are additional deals for the Acela, Northeast Regional and many popular routes beginning Jan. 6 through Apr. 30. 

To book see: Amtrak.com/trackfridaysale or the Amtrak app. All fares will be automatically discounted. No discount code is needed.

Airlines

Alaska Airlines is having a big sale on Friday, November 29 ONLY across its network, with some fares as low as $29 one-way for travel between January 7 and March 11, 2020.

Also, throughout Black Friday, Alaska is hosting five giveaways on Twitter using the hashtag #AlaskaHappyHour.  Follow that hashtag for a chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to Alaska Airlines destinations across the country.

If you miss the Friday sale, Alaska will also have deals during its annual three-day Cyber Monday sale starting Dec.2nd.

Cathay Pacific’s Black Friday includes deals that are as high as 75% off to a range of destinations from US cities like LA, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago to destinations the Asia-Pacific Region, including Bali, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. The sale runs through December 3 and applies to flights from January 1, 2020 through May 15, 2020.

Delta Air Lines has Black Friday deals on a long list of routes bookable through December 1. Travel dates vary by route.

Hawaiian Airlines is offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday special fares starting on Friday and Monday, respectively, for select U.S. Mainland, international and Neighbor Island flights. Look for Neighbor Island deals and flight deals to other destinations.

Through December 1, Qatar Airways has a Black Friday offer that includes up to $300 off round-trip Business Class fares from the United States to select destinations. Use the promo code: FLYDAY

More to come…