What is Travel Tuesday, and how can you score the best deals?

Maybe you’re finally buying a big-ticket item on Black Fridaylike that red light therapy mask or particularly plush robe. Or perhaps you’re simply perusing Amazon for the best Cyber Monday sales so you can stock up on everything from AirTags to moisturizer.

But if your ultimate goal in 2027 is to take more trips, you may also want to shop around for cheap flights and vacation packages on Travel Tuesday (Dec. 1, 2026), a shopping event when travel companies promote discounts on flights, hotels, vacation packages and more.

From cheaper international flights to discounts on vacation packages, Travel Tuesday can save you money on your next trip — if you know what to look for. Below is a breakdown of the types of discounts you can expect, plus expert intel on how to identify a great deal from a just-OK one.

What is Travel Tuesday, and when is it?

The term Travel Tuesday was coined by Hopper in 2017, when the company compared historical flight data and saw that airlines reduced their rates on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The reason airlines were incentivized to offer cheaper airfare on this date, according to Hopper, was that fewer people were booking: many already had their holiday travel plans in place, but hadn’t yet booked the following year’s travel.

“Travel providers were already dropping prices on that Tuesday to try to drum up interest, fill more hotel rooms and fill more seats in a plane,” Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, tells Yahoo Travel. “What our team did is brand the day ‘Travel Deal Tuesday’ and tried to raise awareness of the fact that it was a really great day to get deals.”

Today, Travel Tuesday is known for travel-related sales from airlines, hotel chains and more. Now, people use Travel Tuesday as a way to find discounts, and “travel providers add their own offers and extra deals to really sweeten the day for travelers,” Berg says.

This year, Travel Tuesday falls on Dec. 1.

What types of deals are available on Travel Tuesday?

Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators and even rental car sites all offer reduced rates for Travel Tuesday. We’ll share the best of them as soon as we get word (sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the list).

Though you can use this shopping event to score cheaper travel months into the future, “we do see a lot of travelers get good deals on very last-minute Christmas or New Year’s trips,” Berg says. Those travelers, she adds, are “usually very flexible on where they’re going,” allowing them to jump on the best price.

How can I book Travel Tuesday deals?

You can book Travel Tuesday discounts directly online, including on airline or hotel websites. Make sure to check your email — you might find a promotion you can put toward your next trip. If you’re loyal to a particular airline, cruise line or hotel chain, sign up for their newsletters now.

How can I tell if I’m getting a good deal?

One important thing to keep in mind: You may not always get the price simply because it’s Travel Tuesday. If you’re looking for the best possible rate, Berg says that Hopper recommends that travelers “start watching the trips that they’re interested in before Travel Tuesday,” so you can compare these prices to the ones you see on Travel Tuesday.

Sally FrenchNerdWallet Travel Expert and cohost of Smart Travel Podcastsays that just because Travel Tuesday is coming up, it doesn’t mean you should wait if you do see a great price for, say, a flight that fits into your upcoming travel plans.

“Waiting until Travel Tuesday means that the seat on the plane for the specific date and time you want might already be gone,” she explains. “They can’t just run more planes the way a store can order more physical products.”

It’s also important to know that many discounts, such as 30% off a hotel stay, are typically limited to certain dates, and often don’t include associated taxes and fees.

While it’s easy to get excited about a great price, Berg says it’s important to read the fine print when you’re booking. For example, you should know what happens if you cancel an airline fare booked through a Travel Tuesday promotion. Will you be able to get your money back if your plans change, or receive a travel credit? If not, you may want to proceed with caution.

“You don’t want to spend the money, and then maybe something comes up, and you lose the value of that trip,” she says.

Do I have to wait until Travel Tuesday to shop for deals?

“Relying on a sale that hasn’t happened yet isn’t always the best strategy,” Derek Cann, a flight expert at flight deal app Goingtells Yahoo Travel.

In fact, many travel providers will start rolling out deals well before that, with offers pegged to Black Friday or Cyber Monday instead. An airline, for example, could certainly offer Cyber Monday travel deals, but Travel Tuesday features special promotions and savings across the industry.

“If a sale appears,” Cann says, “travelers should compare the final price with fares they’ve already researched, as an advertised percentage-off promotion doesn’t necessarily mean the flight is cheaper.”

The same is true for hotels, cruises and other travel experiences. With that said, travelers can expect deals to keep popping up through the end of the year. Sandals Resorts, for example, has already announced a Black Friday sale that will be available on Nov. 3 and include $750 flight credits and up to 65% off qualifying stays.

The key is to start watching for sales now, and if you find the right one for your travel plans, don’t feel obligated to wait until Travel Tuesday.

Can I use points or miles on Travel Tuesday deals?

It depends on the offer, but some airlines, for example, have offered flights for fewer points or miles during past Travel Tuesday promotions. (Again, compare your flight prices ahead of time so you don’t just assume you’re getting the best price.)

If you do find a Travel Tuesday opportunity you can use points or miles for, it’s still a good idea to compare the cash price, especially when you take into account any taxes or associated fees for paying in miles. Use sites like Point.Me or PointsYeah to compare award-flight options and how many points or miles they require.

“Travel Tuesday also tends to offer cash savings, but don’t overlook other deals for spending on points and miles,” French says. “In fact, there are an impressive number of credit card transfer bonuses available right now — many of which expire on Oct. 31. These are deals where your credit card points become worth more when you transfer them to the specific airline or hotel brand. If you plan to travel with one of the brands offering one of those transfer bonuses, then that’s also an excellent way to save.”