Travel Deals For Black Friday And Beyond

Summer is over and travel is seasonally slow. Meanwhile, some Americans are reluctant to travel overseas because of the ongoing war in the Middle East. But travel vendors are tempting the hesitant with Black Friday deals to extraordinary destinations.

Black Friday? Cyber Monday? The travel search engine Kayak says they have travel deals right now. Destinations that were pricey over the summer offer some of the best deals on airfare you’ll find in November, saving “on average between 36-41%” on flights. Kayak says you can save 41% on flights to Athens, Prague 37%, and Amsterdam and Rome 36% over summer pricing. Indeed, we did find a Norse Atlantic flight from NY JFK to Athens via London for $163, although it takes 18 hours and has loads of caveats.

KAYAK considered flight destinations with the greatest decrease in airfare from July 2023 to November 2023. Searches considered were for July 1-10, 2023, for travel between July 1, 2023 – Oct. 31, 2023, vs. searches between Nov. 1 – 10, 2023 for travel between Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 28, 2024. Part of this is seasonal, part is the effect of too many planes and too few passengers. Lower prices and fewer people at top destinations in Europe is a powerful Black Friday combination.

Swan Hellenic calls its journeys “cultural expedition cruses.” You could be searching for the mighty polar bear in the frozen Arctic, uncovering the ancient mysteries of the Mediterranean, falling for the charm of the Middle East, or taking on the planet’s last frontier in Antarctica.

For example, it offers a “Mysteries of Carthage and the Moors” cruise from Lisbon to Palermo 08/10/2024 for 11 days for a price of $4,499 USD. But book your Swan Hellenic cultural expedition before December 4th, 2023, and save up to 50%.

Swan Hellenic says you’ll experience this “the ultimate bucket list adventure” aboard their boutique, 5-star expedition ships “in the company of eminent experts and like-minded companions.” Extras like onboard beverages, meals, lectures, gratuities and more are reportedly included. Pick a cruise you like, put in your name, email and phone number, and find out how much you’ll save off list price.

For Black Friday, Expedia is pushing Membership Deals. As a member, you save 30% or more on select hotels when you book by Nov 29 and travel by the end of 2024.

In Las Vegas, The STRAT Hotel has a Member Price of 51% off. The room price is normally $57 but with the Expedia Membership Deal, it’s just $28. However, this deal isn’t quite as good as it looks. The actual per night total is $154 including taxes and fees, such as the notorious resort fee.

Similarly, if you’re going to New York and want to stay in luxury in Greenwich Village, PUBLIC, a 4-star Ian Schrager hotelis just $258 a night, down from $369. But again, the total works out to $680 per night including taxes and fees.

It’s a bit easier to understand what Southwest Vacations is offering with it Black Friday deals. With BLACKFRIDAYDEAL500, you save $500, with BLACKFRIDAYDEAL250, you save $250 on its Southwest Airlines based vacations. For Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as Hawaii, Southwest says you’ll:

· Save $300 on packages $500–$999

· Save $400 on packages $1,000–$1,499

· Save $500 on packages $1,500 or more

You’ll need to book 11/21/2023–12/4/2023 by 6:00 p.m. CT. Travel dates are from 11/22/2023–8/4/2024. One-day advance purchase is required. Restrictions, exclusions, and blackout dates may apply to hotel offers.

JetBlue Vacations is offering a similar package savings of uimump to $750 off flight + hotel and flight + cruise packages. One difference—you can reserve with a deposit of only $99 per person. You’ll need to book by 11/29.

• $50 off packages $1,000+ with code UNWRAP50
• $200 off packages $3,000+ with code UNWRAP200
• $400 off packages $5,000+ with code UNWRAP400
• $750 off packages $8,000+ with code UNWRAP750

Minimum spend and terms apply. The deal is for travel 12/5/23 through 10/15/24. Deposits are per person. All deposits are non-refundable. The rest of your trip must be paid 30 days prior to departure.

Tour Radar is offering up to 70% off on Asian tours in what it calls “Udon-believable deals, un-phogettable adventures.” (Their phrasing, not mine.) Trips include climbing iconic Mt. Fuji in Japan, cycling through lush rice paddies in Vietnam and boating through Khao Sok National Park in Thailand.

One deal is the Cultural Nepal Bhutan Tour with India, a 17-day journey through India, Nepal and Bhutan. Tour Radar says the tour price has been reduced from $6,195 to $1,859, ($109 a day), a savings of $4,336.

A 12-day trip through Vietnam and Cambodia was reduced from $1,958 to $753, although you’ll have to add back $449 in local payments.

Or you can switch continents and take The Inca Journey through Peru. The trip includes Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, and Macho Picchu. On Black Friday you’ll save 30%, trimming the price from $2,649 to $1,854.

If you’d rather head to Las Vegas, MGM Rewards is offering Black Friday savings. You’ll need to join the MGM Rewards program, which is free.

The deals include Luxor (with up to one complimentary night), Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and other hotels. Discounts include up to 15% off or in the case of the Luxor, potentially one complimentary night. However, “For offers including complimentary nights, you may be charged a daily resort fee (which includes select resort amenities) and applicable tax.” And of course the deals are subject to terms and conditions. Book your stay online by November 30, 2023, for travel now through October 31, 2024.

If sunshine is your desire, you can save up to 50% and escape to the shores of Manasota Key in southwest Florida with its Black Friday – Cyber Monday Sale. Travelers can save up to 50% on a trip to Manasota Key Resort between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27, 2023, for stays through Nov. 27, 2024, with the promo code BF50.

Potential tropical hideaways at Manasota Key Resort include cottages, private bungalows and elegant suites. The resort is nestled between the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the mangrove forests of Lemon Bay. This offer is valid on stays 3 nights or longer and is based on availability. Full terms and conditions are here.