What’s the only thing better than a holiday? Getting one for half the price - or less.
Getting travel offers when they’re cheap not only leaves more cash in your wallet for souvenirs and ice cream, but also peppers your calendar with exciting trips to look forward to in the months to come. If there’s an antidote to the winter blues, a cheap jolly is it.
Travel sales tend to happen around the end of a season - think August Bank Holiday and January. That said, there is one sale coming up that defies this rule: Black Friday.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday happens the day after the US celebrates Thanksgiving, which always takes place on the fourth Thursday of November. That means this year’s Black Friday bonanza will take place on November 24.
What is Black Friday?
A shopping import from our pals over the pond, Black Friday began as a one-day sale in America. Today it holds global appeal, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not. Little wonder, because the timing, just before the festive shopping period gets underway, couldn’t be more perfect.
Besides physical products, the epic sale extends to a host of services and experiences. While you can get a headstart on New Year’s resolutions with a cut-price gym membership, save on a new broadband package, or treat yourself to a luxury spa day for less, the deals that are really making us sit up straight are the travel ones.
When does Black Friday end?
Most retailers will finish their BF sales on Cyber Monday, this year on November 27, with deals lasting all through the weekend in between.
What kind of travel deals can we expect?
Whether you’re hoping to watch the sunrise in a different time zone or fancy venturing to a new corner of the UK, there are plenty of Black Friday travel offers that will have you scrambling for your plastic.
Last year, among the airlines, British Airways, Virgin, easyJet and Ryanair slashed the cost of thousands of seats on European routes and further afield. BA was particularly impressive with £350 return fares to LA, while easyJet cut the price of package holidays by hundreds.
Trainline gave sustainable travel a helping hand by knocking off the cost of family tickets and £1 fares for kids on Southeastern services, while National Express cut the prices of selected coach routes by a whopping 75 per cent.
And everyone from Booking.com to Marriott Bonvoy and Warner Hotels rolled out red-carpet offers in honour of Black Friday.
We’ve everything crossed for a repeat performance this year.
Are there any travel discounts available now?
With such stiff competition, many retailers have already launched early sales with offers available now. Scroll on for the best of them.
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British Airways
Aching for a holiday? BA has you covered, with great early offers before the official Black Friday deals come in to land.
Right now it's holding a sale on Business Class seats, meaning you can get to the destination of your dreams in premium style. Book a January trip to Europe for £329pp for business flights and three nights in a hotel from £329pp.
Buy now £396.00, British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Whether you're after a spot of R&R or you're thrill-seeking rollercoaster action, Virgin has you covered with early bird deals to Orlando, Florida. Get to the Sunshine State for as little as £430 in May and get summer started earlier.
Buy now £430.00, Virgin Atlantic
easyJet
A weekend break can be just as effective as a long-haul trip, especially if it's one that won't break the bank.
Budget carrier easyJet covers most European hot spots and a little further afield like Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt where you can currently nab seats for as little as £31.64 in December. Alternatively, chase the Northern Lights with December fares to Reykjavik for just - are you sitting down? - £14.99.
The Black Friday offer mean you can also save up to £200 on package deals - good news if you're the type who just has to plan ahead.
Buy now £14.99, easyJet
Tui package holidays
It's Destination Black Friday over at package holiday giant Tui where there are deals across every season, from January 2024 to April 2025, on beach breaks, city trips and voyages out to the lakes and mountains. There's as much as £300 to be saved, bringing down the cost of your next big break and leaving more spending money for souvenirs.
Buy now, Tui
Qantas
Make like the birds and fly south for the winter. Australian carrier Qantas can get you Down Under for less thanks to its raft of juicy flight deals which puts Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and more within reach. Return fares start at £1184; not bad considering you're going halfway across the world. Let the adventure begin!
Buy now £1184.00, Qantas
Eurostar
They may not be calling it a Black Friday sale but it's over the same dates so we're not splitting hairs - a deal's a deal! Eurostar has launched £39 one way tickets to its European destinations, meaning you can enjoy a mini jaunt to Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels and Lille for much less.
Current dates span January to April 2024 (including over Valentine's Day!) so you can book in a trip now and have something to look forward to in the New Year.
Buy now £39.00, Eurostar
National Express
The nationwide coach company has teamed up with Amazon this Black Friday to launch deals that will see 75 per cent swiped off the cost of some coach tickets. Some 11,000 seats will go on sale at 9am from November 24 for Amazon Prime members, allowing folks to get home for as little as £3.90 over the festive season. Alexa, cue Chris Rea.
Buy now £3.90, Amazon
Lastminute.com
There's nothing like getting a holiday in your diary to put a spring in your step. If you're the spontaneous type, make a dash to Lastminute.com where you can find the major flight sales collated in one handy space: think BA, Emirates, Monarch and Wizz Air. Travel to Budapest for £44, Lisbon for £43 or Barcelona for just £42 in November.
Buy now £42.00, Lastminute.com
Secret Escapes
Mourning the end of BST? There's only one thing for it - eject out of London's grey and head to a winter sun destination. Secret Escapes has flight and holiday deals to Thailand, the UAE, Bali and South Africa with as much as 65 per cent wiped off the usual RRP. Now, where did we put our passport?
Buy now, Secret Escapes
GetYourGuide
Crave new experiences? Want to explore fresh horizons? Head to GetYourGuide where you can find tours, experiences and trips in some of the world's most incredible places for a fraction of the price this Black Friday.
There are nearly 180 ideas in the sale, from a day trip to the Grand Canyon to guided tours around FC Bayern Munich and the German city and visits to Dracula's famous castle in Romania. There's as much as 50 per cent to be saved but for a limited time only.
Buy now, GetYourGuide
Spabreaks.com
Escape doesn't have to involve a boarding pass. It can be as simple as booking in a spa break for a little R&R. Spabreaks.com is making the splurge a little less splashy with a 12 per cent discount off all bookings and gift vouchers between November 23 - 26 when you use code BF12.
Buy now, Spabreaks.com
cazenove + loyd
If 2024 is the year you've earmarked for that blow-out holiday, your boat has just come in. Luxury travel firm Cazenove + Loyd is offering £500 in flight credit per couple for bookings made by December 22, making Christmas in foreign climes an enticing prospect. Choose a tailor-made itinerary in South Africa (where it's summer right now) or fly to Colombia for the nine-night Novena celebrations.
Buy now, cazenove + loyd
Turquoise Holidays
In dire need of some winter sun? Stop dreaming and start clicking at Turquoise Holidays where you can book a Maldives holiday at Six Senses Laamu for more than 50 per cent off the usual cost. There are savings of up to £8,000 per family or £6,100 per couple, making paradise tantalisingly within reach. The promotion runs from November 24 - 27.
Buy now, Turquoise Holidays
Booking.com Black Friday deals
Dreaming of waking up in a bed that's not yours? Booking.com is ready to make your dreams come true with deals starting at 30 per cent off on places to stay and up to 25 per cent off attractions.
The event kicks off on November 16 - 29 for bookings taking place within three months of the booking date and before December 31, 2024. Big trips just got a little less spendy.
Buy now, Booking.com
IHG Hotels & Resorts
The globally renowned hotel chain has kicked off its sale season offers in an event its calling Cyber Week. The global sale has deals for all but they get sweeter if you're a IHG One Rewards member, giving you more incentive to join the programme.
The IHG One Rewards mobile app will see some 20 per cent off the cost of global bookings, and potential savings of up to 40 per cent off at 40+ participating all-inclusive Iberostar Beachfront Resorts. Now's the time to kick your long-anticipated trip up a level.
Buy now, IHG
Iberostar hotels and resorts
Wake up to a glorious beach view on your next holiday to Montenegro, Mallorca or Fuerteventura thanks to Iberostar's amazing Black Friday deal. The hotel group is swiping up to 40 per cent off the cost of rooms, helping to give your winter sun break a well-deserved boost.
Buy now, Iberostar
Radisson Hotels
The clock is ticking over at Radisson Hotels where its Park Plaza arm is offering a 25 per cent discount on selected rooms over weekend dates only.
Whether you fancy visiting Christmas markets abroad or want to book in a wellness weekend in the New Year (always a good idea) there are plenty of beds on offer.
Book before November 27 for stays from December 08 until December 31, 2024.
Buy now, Radisson Hotels
Yotel
Make that getaway happen for cheaper than you'd expect this Black Friday thanks to budget hotel group Yotel. The company is offering a whopping 40 per cent off rooms at its branches around the world (there are outposts in Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Istanbul). The catch? You must book by December 3.
Buy now, Yotel
Antler Black Friday deals
Baggage handlers go a little too hard on your case on your last trip? Now's your chance to upgrade your luggage for less.
Antler is holding a 30 per cent off sale for Black Friday. It's live now, and the best bit is that it's sitewide. Available in multiple styles and colourways, there's plenty to choose from but don't wait for the final call. Bags like these won't hang around for long.
Read our review on the Chelsea bag which passes strict on-board luggage restrictions with flying colours.
Buy now, Antler
Trtl Travel
Make every flight feel like you've turned left on the aircraft with travel accessories from Trtl, where the Black Friday sale has marked up to 40 per cent off essentials like compression socks, travel blankets, eye masks and their bestselling travel pillow.
Buy now, Trtl Travel
