Discounts make it easier to treat yourself to gift of travel
Black Friday deals aren’t just limited to department or big box stores, or even your local Best Buy (though of course, they’ll be available there, too).
Even travel companies have gotten in on offering their best bargains, and with the most frugal week of the year approaching, here are some of the best deals coming up, according to this reporter’s inbox.
Here’s what to look out for, and when you need to book to take advantage of what’s on offer.
Amtrak’s Auto Train sale
Tickets on Amtrak’s Auto Train between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida are on sale through Nov. 29 for as little as $29 plus the vehicle fare, typically a few hundred dollars.
Qualifying travel from Sanford to Lorton can take place between Nov. 30 and March 23, excluding Dec. 19-Jan. 2 and Feb. 24-March 1. Meanwhile, qualifying travel from Lorton to Sanford can take place Jan. 16-June 30, excluding Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Feb. 16-18 and 28, March 31 and April 2-8.
As part of the deal, single coach seats are on sale for $29, while single-occupancy roomettes are listed at $229, and single-occupancy rooms are listed at $429. Double-occupancy fares are also on sale.
Hopper’s Travel Deal Tuesday
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving,
Hopper will be offering discounted airfare on participating airlines as well as sales on resort room rates, rental houses and rental cars.
In order to participate, Hopper users should set deal alerts for the trips they hope to book and enable notifications for when promotions become available.
Existing users who refer friends to Hopper can also get up to $2,000 in travel credits from the app.
“On top of already low prices being offered by our travel partners on this day, Hopper will have 60 destinations on sale and exclusive discounts on flights, hotels, rental cars and homes in the app,” a Hopper spokesperson said in a statement. “Last year, Hopper sent nearly 12 million deal notifications on Travel Deal Tuesday, detecting an average of 68 deals per second on this travel holiday – which is 50% more than the average day. Some savvy shoppers saved $300 off domestic flights and over $1,000 on international flights on Travel Deal Tuesday last year, and we expect even bigger discounts this year.”
Booking.com’s Black Friday deals
Booking.com is offering discounts of up to 30% at nearly 900 hotels and resorts in the U.S. and around the globe under its Black Friday sale.
According to a statement from the site, the deals became available on Nov. 17 and will remain posted through Dec. 1, for stays through Dec. 31, 2023.
Starting on Thanksgiving Day, Booking.com will also offer discounts of up to 25% on rental cars. Reservations must be made by Dec. 1 for rentals through 2023.