Here's Everything We Know About 2020 Black Friday Travel Deals so Far
Wondering what savings are in store for this year? Click here for our Black Friday travel 2021 guide, and learn about the discounts you can expect on flights, hotels, and more.
Black Friday is the prime time of year for buying electronics, as well as scoring cold-weather clothing. However, if you're looking for a chance to get away, it can also be a great time to book Black Friday travel deals in 2020.
Throughout the holiday season, you can find excellent savings on Black Friday cruise deals, Black Friday airline deals, Black Friday hotel deals, and even full-blown Black Friday vacation deals. Whether you want to stick close to home or take a big international trip, there's sure to be a discount for every type of traveler.
Click here to see our latest Black Friday travel deals.
Check Coronavirus Travel Restrictions Before You Book!
With many areas still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, you should check for travel restrictions before you book a Black Friday airline deal. In fact, whether you're looking at a road trip, planning to fly across the country, or booking an international vacation, make sure you adhere to the CDC guidelines. If you're going to have to quarantine for two weeks at your destination, is your trip still going to be worth it? If not, it's better to put off that vacation for now.
The CDC is updating its site with travel restriction information, but you can also check online travel agencies (OTAs) for updated info. Sites like Kayak note restrictions for both domestic and international destinations.
5 Tips for Booking Black Friday Travel Deals
1. Shop Carriers and Online Travel Agencies
You can take a few measures to ensure your Black Friday travel deal shopping proceeds smoothly. For one, check both individual carriers and online travel agencies, such as Expedia. "If it's a sale, these prices will often trickle down to the various OTAs," DealNews travel expert Will Lardinois notes. "Coupons will most likely require booking through the carriers themselves."
2. Be Flexible With Your Travel Plans
Everyone we interviewed stressed that remaining flexible with your plans will ensure you get the best Black Friday travel deals. "We often find the best prices for airfare and hotels by moving around the travel dates," Lardinois says, adding that weekends are typically the most expensive days to travel. "Flying and vacationing during the middle of the week tends to yield the best possible prices."
3. Do Your Research Ahead of Time
Lardinois also recommends conducting price research before Black Friday arrives. Keep an eye on DealNews in the lead-up to Black Friday for insight on what travel offers will be available. That said, the really great vacation deals will sell out quickly. He says to "assume that these offers will not last long."
4. Do Airlines Have Black Friday Sales? Yes!
If you're trying to determine the best time to leave for a Black Friday airline deal, know that it depends on where you're flying. "In general, if you're getting away for a weekend, you should plan to depart on Saturday for domestic flights, and depart on Thursday for international flights," notes Hayley Berg, economist for the travel app Hopper.
5. Check Out Multiple Airports
Berg also says that being open to alternative airports can help you get the best rates. "Be flexible with airports if you are flying out of or into an area with multiple airports," she advises. "There may be a fantastic deal to another airport in the area that you're missing out on."
Julie Ramhold is a consumer savings expert who has spent more than 10 years helping shoppers save on Home & Garden and Smart Home purchases, from yard prep tools to smart home gadgets like Roborock robot vacuums. She knows the retail calendar inside and out — tracking everything from Lowe's SpringFest mulch sales on Scotts Nature Scapes to Black Friday deals on DeWalt power tools, Greenworks lawn equipment, and Costco's seasonal Kirkland Signature offers — and pays close attention to how Lowe's, Costco, and Wayfair run their sales, helping readers get the most out of loyalty programs like MyLowe's Rewards and Wayfair Rewards.
Julie's savings expertise has been featured in AARP, The Washington Post, and CNBC, among others, and she's shared her insights on Good Morning America. When she's not tracking deals, she's usually crocheting or catching up on the latest K-drama.
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