How to bag the best Black Friday travel deals
Looking to save some money on your next getaway? Purchase a Go City® attraction pass during our Black Friday sale to save on admission to A-list attractions in cities across the globe. Our Black Friday sale runs from the 24th to the 28th of November. Following that, our Cyber Monday sales runs shortly after on the 1st December. We've also got the lowdown on how to hunt out the best Black Friday travel deals.
Originally coined to describe the retail bounceback that kicks off directly after Thanksgiving – when shop profits move from red to black – the phrase ‘Black Friday’ has become a catch-all for sales and deals throughout the Christmas shopping season. Some cheeky retailers have been known to start their Black Friday promotions as early as the start of November! But how do you cut through all the hype and buzz to get to the best Black Friday travel deals? And how do you tell a genuine discount from a – how shall we put this – manufactured one? We took a deep dive to find out…
How do I find out about the best Black Friday travel deals?
Want to stay ahead of the crowd and nab the best Black Friday travel deals? It pays to do your homework in advance. Use these three easy tips for the win.
- Sign up to emails and push alerts. Be selective though – the last thing you want is to have to wade through 729 different emails and messages before you get to the good stuff. Don’t skip Go City – our emails get you access to exclusive discounts, travel inspo and the best Black Friday attraction discounts. Did you know you can use our passes on four different continents?
- Keep your eye on social media. Many companies (including Go City, natch) promote Black Friday deals early via Facebook, Instagram and X, as well as giving you a bit of a head start on the crowd if you’re signed up to WhatsApp notifications.
- Start early. Don’t wait until the official Black Friday date to start your research. If you have a handful of potential vacation destinations in mind, it pays to get ahead of the game. Find out which companies operate in your chosen regions and do a bit of research to get an idea of how much these flights, hotels and packages would normally cost. That way, you’ll find it easier to spot the real bargains among the smoke-and-mirror deals.
Where can I find the best Black Friday travel deals?
Not to blow our own trumpet, but Go City is as good a place to start as any. If you’ve already bagged your dream city break in the Black Friday sales, our attraction passes are a no-brainer. We’ve got all the best Black Friday attraction deals, with discounted access to blockbuster bucket-listers in major cities around the world. Planning a romantic weekend in Paris? We’ve got you covered. San Diego sightseeing with the fam? Sorted. Going roaming in Rome? De nada.
Better still: purchase a Go City attraction pass during our Black Friday sale and you’ll save even more than usual, which means more money left over for all those croissants, craft ales and cannoli.
Ok, attraction passes sorted; where can I bag a travel deal to match?
There will be dozens of travel businesses competing for your dollar during Black Friday month. Established online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com are a good place to start as it’s so easy to package flights and hotels together, and you’ll usually get the lowest rates on both. If you’ve been checking in on pricing regularly ahead of the Black Friday sales, you should be able to spot the winners from the duds.
Major airlines like United, Delta, British Airways, Virgin and Jet2 will also be running Black Friday promotions. Sign up for emails to get the jump on the best deals – you can always unsubscribe once you’ve bagged your bargain break.
How will I know if it’s the real deal?
Flight and hotel prices fluctuate wildly across the year based on demand. There are low seasons, high seasons, shoulder seasons and mortgage-a-kidney-school-holiday seasons. A few hints and tips to make sure you’re actually getting a deal on Black Friday…
- Shop around. Just because it comes with a big flashing ‘SALE’ sign doesn’t necessarily mean it's the best deal in the market. Compare the price across multiple booking sites to get a better idea of what’s a bargain and what’s a bum deal.
- Stay savvy. Many providers use inflated ‘before’ prices to make their sale look more significant. Trust your gut and book when the price fits your budget, not just because you’re being told you’re saving 85% (spoiler: you're not).
- Know your travel onions. Use price-tracking websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kayak to find out if the sale price is actually any lower than it was previously.
- Avoid the scammers. If it looks too good to be true… well, it probably is. Don’t hit buy unless you know the travel company is legit, and always make sure ATOL protection is included.
- Understand what you’re buying. The best bargains will usually fall in the off-season. Find out what this means for your chosen destination. It may be fine, but you may also be walking into bad weather and limited facilities.
Good luck in the Black Friday sales!
We hope these tips help you score the Black Friday travel deals of your dreams. Remember: plan ahead, do your research, set yourself a budget and don’t let claims of deep discounts draw you into splurges you might regret later!
Research our range of Go City attraction passes across dozens of cities to decide which one is right for you and your crew. That way, you’ll be ahead of the game when the Black Friday discounts drop!