REI skipped out this year and I'm not gonna lie, we almost did, too.
Either I care less or the deals just don't seem as good in years past. But if you're looking to book accommodation for an upcoming trip, these Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales seem to be really good for that. Because having a roof over your head is important.
In an interesting twist, most retailers are starting the sales earlier than before. Partially because I think people are starting to realize how ridiculous the whole thing is.
Meanwhile, we'll be sleeping (at home). And occasionally updating this post. (But mostly sleeping.)
This week
Starwood Hotels & Resorts: Get up to 25% off select hotels. The promotion goes until December 6th, for stays through September 6, 2016. SPG members will also receive an additional 5% off for these bookings.
CheapTickets.com: Use promotion code RIBBON to save 20% on qualifying hotel stays. There is also 10% off all event tickets site wide with promotion code HOLIDAY10.
Black Friday
Amazon: The online retailer is offering 30% off all luggage and travel accessories with code 30BLACKFRI. The deal ends 11/27 at midnight EST.
CheapTickets.com: The first 500 customers to book a qualifying hotel stay between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. EST will save 25 percent using promotion code GIFTWRAP.
Emirates: The airline is offering a 2-for-1 companion deal for all routes from all U.S. destinations until 11/29 starting from $1,099. Trips must begin between January 9, 2016 through May 06, 2016, with all travel completed by May 10, 2016. Be forewarned, it's actually may not be as great as a deal as it seems. For example, fares begin at $1,649 for Ho Chi Minh City (roughly $800 per person). Flights to and from Asia are already regularly in this range during this travel period.
Expedia: Get 75% off select hotels through the Expedia mobile app. In the past there have been some especially good deals, so I'd prep and make sure the phone is on hand starting at 9:00 a.m. PST/ noon EST.
Hotel Tonight: There will be $7/£7 rooms in destinations across the US and UK for stays that night. Most deals will be near malls and outlets but it's great too if the parents have pissed you off a bit too much. It starts at 7 a.m. local time.
Lo & Sons: The boutique travel bag manufacturer is launching a sale, discontinuing some their products up to 30-40% off. Typically, most of their sales usually average around 20-30% off, so it's a chance to pick up some of their bags at some killer savings.
LOT Airlines: Polish airline LOT is offering 20% off all LOT-operated flights with code BLACKFRIDAY. Offer is valid only until Monday, November 30. Valid for travel between January 15, 2016 and March 31, 2016.
Orbitz: Not too much to write home about but there is a 20% hotel promo code (11/23-11/30) using code TRAVELGIFT (2-night minimum).
Volaris: 30% off travel to/from Mexico & the U.S. with promo code VUSH30 for travel between December 1 to April 30th, 2016.
Cyber Monday
Air New Zealand: Take $400 off any round trip fare — any time of the year, to any destination served from the United States. There are some very, very good deals to be had including flights for under $500 to the Cook Islands, a destination that usually costs at least a grand or two.
Air Canada: 15% off flights to Canada, Australia, Asia, South America etc. with promo code 15CYBERMONDAY.
CheapTickets.com: The first 200 customers to use promotion code SHIMMER to book a participating hotel stay will get 22 percent off.
Hotel Tonight: There will be deals starting at $70 in the U.S. and from £99 all weekend in the UK through Cyber Monday.
Hilton: Discounts up to 30% off a stay consisting of two or more consecutive nights for Thursday through Sunday arrivals are available between December 20, 2015 and February 29, 2016. Tuesday and Wednesday stays are not included in the deal. (Only applies to Hilton properties in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean).
Orbitz: In addition to the promo code (see above), there is also a $20 Orbuck Orbitz Rewards join bonus.
Morgan Hotel Group: Get 41% off hotels in London, New York, Miami Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and San Francisco. It's definitely a fine group of hotels, having been to a few of their properties.
Virgin America: Take up to 25% off fares for travel between December 12 and March 2, 2016 with promo code CYBERRIDE. It includes automatic entry for a chance to win a year of free flights and Uber rides.
Rail Europe: Use code EURAILCYBER100 to receive $100 off a booking that includes both an already-on-sale Eurail Pass and any sightseeing product. There are multiple deals on offer here since it's off-peak season.
Travelocity: Offering deals of 50% or more off of domestic and international hotel stays: Las Vegas to Varanasi!
South African Airways: Includes fares to Africa as low as $639 for trips between January 12, 2016 and March 31, 2016. A total steal!
Royal Caribbean: Buy one Caribbean cruise fare, get one fifty percent off.
Intrepid Travel: Discount up to 20% off trips through April 30, 2016 with promo code 20339.