How to get the best Black Friday travel deals. Image: iStock
The term ‘Black Friday’ was coined in the 1960s when police officers were frustrated with traffic and congestion caused by holiday shoppers taking advantage of discount prices.
Retailers have, however, rebranded this day to show their profits from the high number of sales and bring in the ‘black’ financially.
The shopping craze, which has gained popularity worldwide over the years, boasts great discounts for a short period of time – including Black Friday travel deals.
If you’re shopping around for the perfect travel packages over Black Friday, here are six tips to ensure you get the right package:
Going into a sale without doing your research is never wise and as Black Friday is already quite a rush, facing it armed with all the facts is best.
With Covid-19 and the ‘new normal’ in mind, do your research on the destination you want to travel to. Find out what its vaccination entry requirements are, as well as the health and safety protocols.
When it comes to holiday packages, signing up to email lists of the travel brands you’re keen to explore might be a good idea.
Take the time to follow them on social media too. That will ensure you’re one of the firsts to know of any upcoming offers.
As with any purchase, having a budget is very important. With Black Friday, there is often an air of panic-buying which may tempt you to throw caution to the wind.
But, knowing what you want and how much you are willing to spend on it will prevent post-shopping buyer’s remorse.
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Travel operators like Club Med, C Mauritius, Lux Resorts and others offer all-inclusive packages that include accommodation, food, beverages and all activities and entertainment.
It’s a great option, as everything you need for an amazing holiday is included in the price, without any hidden costs afterward.
These kinds of travel deals are perfect for travel any time of the year; and of course, taking advantage of it over the festive season will ensure you have one of the best Christmas and New Year holidays ever.
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Don’t let all the advertisements and specials work on your nerves.
There might be the temptation to book that holiday on Black Friday itself, but the Black Friday deals don’t necessarily all end on Black Friday.
There is no need to make your purchase on the very day. Most brands continue offering discounts for a few days, if not weeks thereafter, so don’t give in to panic buying.
After the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent changes people have had to make to their holiday plans, this is an important tip to take note of.
Before you get caught up in the amount of savings you could make on specific Black Friday travel deals, take time to read the fine print of the terms and conditions.
Should you not be able to travel, you need to be aware of their refunds and cancellation policies.
When it comes to flights, websites can detect previous visits and browsing patterns from your cookies.
Therefore, with data points and internal records, they have an idea of how interested you are in the flight, which always results in higher amounts being quoted due to higher demand.
To navigate around this dynamic pricing, take time to clear your cookies or use an incognito window to privately browse before you book a flight.
With these tips, you should be able to shop for Black Friday travel deals without a care in the world, while also planning an amazing holiday with the people you love and missed over the past two years.
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