I know you’ve heard about Black Friday, but what about Travel Tuesday? It’s the big discount day for travel sales. This year it lands of December 3rd and preparing now can get you the best deals on all your bucket list destinations. Airlines, hotels, and travel agencies offer significant discounts, making it the perfect opportunity to book your next adventure. I put together a quick list of ways to get ahead of the travel deals.
Tips to Maximize Your Savings on Travel Tuesday
- Do Your Homework
- Research your desired destinations and airlines in advance. Knowing the average prices for flights and accommodations will help you recognize a good deal when you see one. Make a list of preferred destinations, travel dates, and airlines to streamline your search.
- Subscribe to newsletters and alerts from airlines, travel agencies, and deal sites. Many companies send out early notifications of their best deals, giving you a head start on the competition.
- Use Price Comparison Tools
- Utilize price comparison websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak to compare deals across multiple airlines and booking platforms. These tools can help you find the best prices and track price drops.
- Did you know you can leave the destination empty when searching Google Flights (just enter your desired dates and departure airport) and it will show you great deals out of your airport to regional destinations. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
- Be Flexible
- Flexibility with your travel dates and destinations can significantly increase your chances of snagging a great deal. Consider traveling during off-peak seasons or to less popular destinations to maximize savings.
- Check Social Media
- Follow airlines, hotels, and travel deal websites on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Companies often announce flash sales and exclusive deals on their social channels. I have a few accounts that I like following for travel deal reminders and helpful tips, one of them is PointsPat (on instagram).
- Use Reward Points and Miles
- Do you have a saved up sum of rewards points with a travel credit card? (Chase, Capital One, etc) Some loyalty programs offer additional discounts or bonuses for bookings made on this day.
- You can transfer your points directly to the airline or hotel chain that you wish to book and often get more money per point than if you book directly through the credit card travel portal. It pays to compare
- Book Directly with Providers
- I usually like to book directly with the hotel or airline that I am traveling with. I feel like it usually spurs better customer service should anything go wrong during travel. I am joined almost all the loyalty programs and they usually provide additional perks, such as free cancellations, upgrades, or extra points.
- Read the Fine Print
- Make sure to read the terms and conditions of any deal before booking. Pay attention to cancellation policies, blackout dates, and additional fees to avoid any unpleasant surprises later.
- Act Fast
- Once you find a deal that fits your budget and travel plans, don’t hesitate. Travel Tuesday deals are known to disappear quickly, so it’s essential to act fast to secure your booking.
From everything that I have learned, it seems hotels and cruises offer the biggest discounts on Travel Tuesday. It can feel tricky to find the best deal, especially when there are so many different “travel hacks” to consider when searching for and purchasing big ticket trips.
