2025 Black Friday Travel Deals — The Best Ways to Book Flights and Hotels for Less

You know how some people always seem to be jetting off somewhere new while the rest of us are left wondering how they’re pulling it off? 

The truth is, a lot of those trips aren’t as expensive as they look.

Over the past few years, Black Friday and its travel-focused cousins have become some of the best times to book affordable vacations. 

Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and booking platforms all roll out Thanksgiving promotions designed to fill planes and rooms before the end of the year, and the savings can be significant if you know what to look for.

This guide walks you through how Black Friday travel deals work in 2025, what tools help you find the real bargains, where the pitfalls are, and strategies that consistently deliver lower prices. 

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to approach the season like a pro traveler and how to stretch those savings into even more trips.

Ready? Let’s go!

The New Black Friday Travel Timeline

Black Friday has grown into a whole travel deal season, not just one chaotic shopping day. It usually starts on Black Friday itself, spills into Cyber Monday, and wraps up on Travel Tuesday, which has quietly become one of the best days for scoring vacation bargains.

Airlines typically release discounted international and domestic fares, sometimes offering 30–50% off published rates or upgrades to premium economy for the price of standard economy. 

Hotels jump in with member-only discounts that can reach 25–35% off. Cruise lines and tour operators add their own limited-time incentives, such as free cabin upgrades or onboard credit.

Even car rental companies take part, making it possible to save on every stage of your trip.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

The biggest mistake travelers make during Black Friday? Jumping at the first flashy discount without considering whether it’s actually useful.

A trip to Korea during the wrong season or a non-refundable room during uncertain travel plans can quickly turn a “deal” into frustration.

Here’s what works well before the sales hit:

• Choose three target destinations. Having options prevents you from feeling pressured into booking something that doesn’t fit.

• Stay flexible on dates. Being able to leave midweek or adjust by a couple of days opens up far better pricing.

• Know the baseline prices. Spend twenty minutes researching normal rates now. That way, you’ll recognize whether “70% off” is genuine or just inflated marketing.

• Check the rules. Blackout dates, cancellation policies, and hidden fees matter as much as the headline discount. Always look into the fine print just to be safe. 

The Tools That Consistently Work

Plenty of websites promise to help you score cheap flights and hotel rooms. A handful, however, stand out because they make tracking and comparing deals easier.

Google Flights remains a favorite for its clean layout and reliable alerts. You can track a specific route, like New York to London, or simply watch how fares shift over an entire month. When prices dip below average, you’ll get a notification in your inbox.

KAYAK Price Alerts are another strong option. They add context with price histories and even predictions — such as whether it’s smarter to book now or wait. Those alerts can catch brief drops that disappear within hours.

Skyscanner is especially useful for international routes and budget carriers that don’t always appear elsewhere. Its “whole month” view makes it easy to spot the cheapest travel days when you’re flexible.

The Hopper app takes a slightly different approach, using predictive models to suggest the best time to book. While not flawless, it often points travelers in the right direction and can save the trouble of constant monitoring.

Each of these platforms is free to use, and setting up alerts now ensures you won’t miss the sudden discounts that pop up during Black Friday week.

You can also manually check prices for destinations, hotels, airline prices, and more on various websites like Booking.com, Trip.com, Expedia, Klook, or Agoda, depending on where you'll be heading.

How Credit Cards Multiply Savings

One of the most overlooked ways to maximize Black Friday travel deals is by stacking them with the right credit card. You’re already saving money upfront, and then you earn points or miles on top of that.

A solid travel rewards card often comes with perks like no foreign transaction fees, built-in travel insurance, and statement credits for travel purchases. Some even offer bonus categories when you book through their portals.

Think about it, if you score a discounted $600 flight and your card gives you triple points on travel, you’re not just saving money, you’re earning rewards toward your next trip. 

And remember: rewards work best if you pay balances in full; otherwise, interest wipes out any benefit.

If you need help finding the best travel credit cards you can sign up for, check out this article where I spill all my top choices.

Hotel and Vacation Rental Discounts

Hotels are often just as aggressive as airlines during Black Friday.

Large chains launch sales across hundreds of properties, while booking platforms like Expedia or Booking.com highlight “member pricing” that can save 25–30% or more. Signing up for a free account is usually all that’s required to unlock those rates.

Direct booking can sometimes be the smarter play, though. Hotels may add perks like free breakfast, parking, or late checkout that tip the scales in their favor, even if the rate is slightly higher.

For group travels or longer trips, it’s worth calling properties directly to see if they’ll negotiate.

Vacation rentals also get competitive. 

Airbnb and Vrbo have run promotions in past years, often discounting longer stays. For families or groups splitting costs, these sales can make spacious accommodations, like in expensive areas like Los Angeles, cheaper than two or three hotel rooms.

Flight Deal Strategy

Airline flash sales are the Black Friday wild cards. Some carriers release discounts early in the week, while others wait until Friday morning. The deepest discounts, like transatlantic flights under $400, are often flash sales lasting only 24 to 48 hours.

The trick is to be prepared:

• Save your payment details ahead of time so you don’t lose a deal while fumbling with your credit card.

• Subscribe to airline newsletters — many carriers send their best deals to subscribers before the public sees them.

• Don’t ignore premium cabins. During Black Friday, business class upgrades can sometimes cost less than economy tickets do at other times of the year.

  
  

Packages and All-Inclusive Options

Black Friday is also prime time for bundled deals.

Tour operators, cruise lines, and resorts package flights, hotels, and activities at rates that can be lower than booking each separately.

All-inclusive resorts in destinations like Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe often run promotions where the entire package — meals, drinks, and entertainment included — costs little more than what you’d normally pay for just the flight.

For travelers who prefer convenience and predictable costs, these offers can be the most stress-free way to take advantage of the season.

Cruise companies join in with their own incentives, such as onboard credits or free cabin upgrades. If you’ve been curious about cruising, Black Friday is one of the most cost-effective times to test the waters.

Maximizing Savings with Smart Habits

Beyond the deals themselves, a few strategies consistently stretch travel budgets further:

• Flexibility pays off. Shifting your departure by even two or three days can dramatically change the price. Tuesday and Wednesday departures are often cheapest.

• Stay connected. Subscribing to newsletters from airlines and hotels may clutter your inbox, but those emails often carry exclusive deals before they hit websites.

• Follow social media. Flash sales are frequently posted first on Instagram or X (Twitter), sometimes with codes not shared elsewhere.

• Think in groups. Hotels and vacation rentals often sweeten the deal for multi-room or group bookings, so don’t hesitate to ask.

These aren’t tricks so much as habits. Travelers who consistently check alerts, stay flexible, and act quickly tend to be the ones sharing those enviable vacation photos.

The Caveats and Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Not every “deal” is as good as it looks. Here’s something most people don’t know: the biggest traps often hide in the fine print.

• Blackout dates: Popular times like Christmas or spring break are often excluded.

• Hidden costs: Budget carriers may add baggage, seat selection, and other fees. Hotels can tack on resort fees not shown upfront.

• Non-refundable policies: The cheapest fares and rooms usually come with strict rules. Flexibility costs more but can save stress later.

• Limited supply: The headline fare may apply to only a handful of seats. Once they’re gone, so is the deal.

• Inflated discounts: Some “original prices” are padded to make savings look bigger. Knowing baseline costs helps you spot this instantly.

Your Action Plan

Here’s a straightforward roadmap:

1. Set alerts for your top destinations across multiple platforms.

2. Research regular prices now so you know a real bargain when you see it.

3. Sign up for loyalty programs and newsletters to unlock member-only deals.

4. Have payment details saved before the sales begin.

5. Check alerts daily from Black Friday through Travel Tuesday.

6. When you see a deal that works with your budget and schedule, act quickly.

When Black Friday weekend hits, check your alerts first thing each morning. Keep your payment info ready, and if a deal lines up with your budget and dates, grab it before it disappears.

Ready to finally book that trip you’ve been putting off? With the right prep, this could be the year you stop scrolling and start packing.

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Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for being part of the Traveling Women community, and happy deal hunting!