What Is Travel Tuesday? | HuffPost Life

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Small Business Saturday. There’s no shortage of shopping-oriented days in the aftermath of Thanksgiving.

One that fewer people are familiar with is “Travel Tuesday.” But if you love exploring new places and scoring major discounts, you might want to get acquainted.

So what exactly is Travel Tuesday? How does it work? And what’s the best way to take advantage of the deals? Below, experts break it down.

“Travel Deal Tuesday, also referred to as ‘Travel Tuesday’ is the Tuesday following Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” Hayley Berg, the lead economist at the travel platform Hopper, told HuffPost. “Travel Deal Tuesday is a national shopping event where consumers can expect to see more deals on travel than any other day in the post-Thanksgiving sales period.”

Hopper is actually credited with coining the term back in 2017. The company, which collects thorough travel pricing data, analyzed its historical archive and found that the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is consistently the best day for travel deals around this time.

“The day has grown in popularity so much that last year, the term ‘Travel Tuesday’ saw a 500% increase in searches during the shopping week from 2021 to 2023, according to a McKinsey report,” said Katy Nastro, a travel expert and spokesperson for the flight alert service Going. “This year, we expect it to get even more traction as more travel providers offer limited-time discounts.”

While Cyber Monday and Black Friday bring discounted prices on clothes, electronics, home goods and endless other holiday gift options, Travel Tuesday is your best chance to snag an amazing deal on flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and more vacation fare.

“Last year, Hopper saw more deals on Travel Deal Tuesday than on Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined ― including nearly 83% more deals than Cyber Monday and more than double the deals available on Black Friday with 91% more,” Berg explained.

Your holiday shopping won’t look the same for every recipient on your list, and Travel Tuesday could be the prime time to shop for loved ones who already seem to have everything.

“I’d say Travel Tuesday is part of a shift toward gifting experiences rather than things for the holidays,” said Christie Hudson, a travel expert with Expedia.

And for many people, a trip is the gift that keeps on giving. No matter where you go, you can make memories and learn lessons that last a lifetime.

“Travel isn’t just about seeing new places ― it’s about becoming more connected and understanding how we see the world,” said Jessica Trammell, vice president of marketing for EF Go Ahead Tours.

“Travel Tuesday emerged as our industry’s heartfelt response to the endless cycle of holiday shopping ― a moment to remind people that the most meaningful gifts aren’t wrapped in paper, but experienced through connection, discovery and personal growth. It’s about shifting from purchasing possessions to investing in memories that transform how we see the world.”

If you want to take advantage of the great deals on Travel Tuesday, set aside some time to think about your vacation goals for 2025 or even these last few weeks of 2024.

“You’ll want to plan ahead and know what you’re looking for before the big day,” Hudson said. “Whether it’s a beach retreat, a city escape, or a mountain adventure, having a clear idea of your travel goals will help you filter through the plethora of deals more efficiently.”

She also recommended downloading apps and joining loyalty programs for exclusive discounts and other offers.

“Hopper monitors prices in real-time and notifies you as soon as a good deal is detected,” Berg noted. “Set a flight ‘price watch’ in the Hopper app for the trips you’re eyeing.”

So if you make a list of destinations you’re dreaming of visiting, you can make sure to receive notifications whenever a low flight price pops up.

“If you have a specific airline, hotel brand or car rental company you’re loyal to, you can also visit their website to see if they’re offering special promotions for Travel Deal Tuesday,” Berg added.

In addition to sharing good flight opportunities, Hopper has also partnered with a number of hotels and tourism boards offering discounts on accommodations. But of course, there are many other options for savings and perks.

“If you’ve been thinking about jumpstarting travel plans for next year, or you’re eager to take a holiday vacation, Travel Tuesday is the last day to book with IHG’s exclusive deals,” noted Michael Menis, senior vice president of global marketing at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

The international hotel chain is offering 17% off select stays through April 30 ― 25% off for loyalty program members. Other hospitality groups like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Virgin, Arlo Hotels and more are also running big sales around Travel Tuesday. And there are discounts through online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com.

“Before making a decision, take a moment to read reviews from other travelers, Hudson advised. “This can provide valuable insights into the quality of accommodations, airlines, or packages you’re considering. On the Hotels.com and Expedia apps, you can filter for reviews by traveler, such as couples or family-friendly, to find properties that fit your preferences.”

Although flights and accommodations are a major part of travel, the discounts offered on Travel Tuesday extend to other areas like guided tours, all-inclusive packages and more.

“There will be many great deals offered on Travel Tuesday for our solo portfolio of tours, and they are a great way to meet new people and connect with like-minded travelers,” Trammell noted, highlighting EF Go Ahead Tours’ options for solo travelers. “Whether you’re a solo traveler wanting to meet kindred spirits, a lover of food and wine, or you want to go on safari for the first time, we’ve designed experiences that offer itinerary dates into 2026.”

One of the best ways to take advantage of Travel Tuesday is to be open to a variety of different destinations and times of year so that you have ample options from which to choose. Don’t feel pressured to jump on a deal just because it’s in front of you, however.

“We want people to definitely check out the promotions offered, but be hyper-aware that a lot of what is out there will have restrictions, and some discounts are just OK,” Nastro said.

She recommended triple-checking the terms before hitting the purchase button and paying close attention to refundability blackout dates and additional taxes and fees not included in the discount.

“Also, you may not find the exact hotel, cruise, or tour being discounted, as a lot of promotions are on select destinations within their portfolios,” Nastro added. “If you’re flexible, you can likely score a deal, but don’t lose sleep if the perfect trip you had in mind for summer 2025 isn’t on the list.”

Remember that there are still 364 other days in the year where you have the chance to score discounts and perks thanks to travel-saving apps like Going, Hopper and more.

“And don’t forget, we are entering into one of the cheapest times out of the year to travel,” Nastro said. “January and February already see hefty savings on flights and hotels compared to peak seasons.”