The days after Thanksgiving are synonymous with mega deals. You know Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but the trinity is not complete without Travel Tuesday. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday get all the hype for great deals on retail items, Travel Tuesday offers some of the best discounts you’ll find all year for flights, hotels, vacation packages and more. If you’re hoping to save money on upcoming trips, here are some tips for making the most of Travel Tuesday.
How to take advantage of deals on Travel Tuesday
Do a little research first
Yes, time is of the essence. Still, it pays to do your research in advance. Decide where you might want to go on your next vacation and have a few destinations in mind. Sign up for email alerts from airlines, hotels, and travel booking sites to get notices about upcoming sales. This will help you jump on the best deals quickly when they go live on Tuesday.
Be flexible with travel dates and destinations
The best Travel Tuesday discounts are likely to be for off-peak travel times when demand is lower. Being flexible with your dates and travel destinations will open up more money-saving opportunities. January through March tend to be the cheapest months for Caribbean getaways, for example. Trying open-jaw routing for flights or exploring nearby alternative cities can also help you save.
Use fare comparison tools
Don’t simply rely on one travel provider for deals. Comparison shop between airline websites, Expedia, Priceline, and more on Travel Tuesday to make sure you’re finding the best offers. Discounts can vary greatly from one site to the next, even when researching the exact same trip. Set price drop alerts and pounce when you see a fare that meets your budget. I recommend this Chrome extension that searches every airline booking site for the cheapest flights.
Consider package deals
Online travel agencies often offer additional Travel Tuesday price drops when you bundle your flights and hotel. Compared to booking these travel components separately, packages can offer substantial savings. So keep your eye out for bundle deals that provide upgraded accommodations, free Wi-Fi, spa credits and other perks.
Use travel rewards
Quit hoarding your travel points. If you have points from credit card reward programs sitting around, check to see if they can be transferred to your airline partner of choice. When you want to redeem your transferable credit card points on flights, you can purchase them through the travel site specific to the bank (like Amex Travel), or you can transfer your points directly into your frequent flyer program and book flights based on that program’s award rates.
With advance planning and smart strategy, Travel Tuesday makes booking your next vacation much more affordable. For more, check out Lifehacker’s resident deals expert Daniel Oropeza’s favorite websites for all the best travel deals.
