If you’re dreaming about your next holiday and you’d like to get more mileage from your money, you might want to make a note to start searching on Tuesday. And in particular, you may want to set an alarm for 3rd December – this year’s ‘Travel Tuesday’.
On this day, airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and other travel service providers will be slashing their prices and offering all manner of one-day travel discounts, and if you’re smart about it – and quick! – you might be able to snap up the deal of a lifetime. So what exactly is Travel Tuesday? Here’s everything you need to know.
The cheapest day to travel
Tuesday is commonly seen as one of the best days to book a holiday because airline and travel sales often start on Monday nights or Tuesday mornings. Plus, there tend to be fewer people actively searching for holidays on Tuesdays compared to weekends, giving you a higher chance of finding a decent bargain. TUI, for example, holds TUI Tuesday sales each week.
Flights tend to be cheapest on a Tuesday, too – although this certainly isn’t always the case. A study that looked at flights from Manchester to Barcelona from May to November found that, typically, Tuesday was the cheapest day to fly, with flights averaging £42.33. Thursday flights cost the most at £72.80, which makes sense given the popularity of long weekends.
However, flight prices and package holidays see huge fluctuations nowadays, and much depends on when you’d like to go away. Certain dates and times of year see increased demand, bumping up prices no matter what day you fly on. So, in general, flexibility is your friend when it comes to getting the cheapest travel deals throughout the year.
The ‘Travel Tuesday’ phenomenon
But there’s one particular Tuesday where you’re guaranteed slashed prices. You’ve probably heard of Black Friday, the day after the US Thanksgiving, where brick-and-mortar retailers offer all kinds of deals and discounts. You might’ve also heard of Cyber Monday, the online equivalent. There’s also Small Business Saturday, which encourages people to shop at small, local businesses. Now, the tourism industry is the latest sector to create their own shopping extravaganza: Travel Tuesday.
In the UK, not as many of us have heard of Travel Tuesday but, just like Black Friday, it’s quickly catching on. The phenomenon began in 2017 in North America, when travel providers first started pushing the promotion. Searches for ‘Travel Tuesday’ dropped during the pandemic but, post-pandemic, people were once again searching for travel bargains, and searches rose more than 500% from 2021 to 2023. While searches are still highest among US consumers, interest is also rising in the UK and the rest of Europe – which is good news for us.
Last year, airline bookings among US holidaymakers rocketed by more than 60% on Travel Tuesday, and cruises by over 50%. Anticipating that Travel Tuesday will become just as big a phenomenon over here, numerous UK travel providers are expected to slash their prices on 3rd December. Last year, RyanAir offered discounted flights to several European destinations, while Virgin Holidays extended their Cyber Monday sale for an extra day, with customers saving up to £200.
But it isn’t just airlines that are offering one-day deals and discounts. Hotel groups are getting in on the action too. Last year, the Hyatt hotel group offered members 20% on Travel Tuesday, while the Marriott hotel group also offered 20% discounts. Iberostar Beachfront Resorts went one better, offering 40%.
If you’re thinking about booking a cruise – often notoriously expensive holidays – you might be best off waiting until Travel Tuesday to book. Last year, Royal Caribbean offered up to $750 off cruises, and Virgin Voyages offered 30% off all cruises booked before the end of December. And, with awareness of Travel Tuesday rising quickly, this year promises even more travel companies joining the fun.
Getting the best deals
So, if you’re keen to grab a deal this Travel Tuesday, a little preparation can go a long way. Firstly, it’s always a good idea to start looking for deals the day before. As this is Cyber Monday, there are already discounted prices on many online purchases including travel, so if you see something that interests you, it’s worth checking back the next day to see if the price has dropped even further.
Secondly, it’s smart to activate price alerts. If you have your eye set on a specific destination or travel date, you can set price alerts to catch the best deals as soon as they’re available. Sites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak all have price alert capabilities, where they’ll continuously monitor prices and send you an alert when prices drop. You might want to sign up for emails from your favourite travel providers, too, so you’re notified when discounts pop up.
It’s also helpful to stay flexible with your travel dates, where possible – as having flexible dates significantly increases your chances of finding the best deals. And, once you’ve found a deal you like, try not to get carried away and buy it before you’ve read the small print! Consider more than just the flight cost; are checked bags, amenities, carry-ons, and in-flight meals included? Are there any hidden costs?
If you’re keen to get a travel deal but are unsure where to go, you might want to check out the destinations that other UK travellers are looking at on Travel Tuesday. According to Skyscanner, the top countries searched during Travel Tuesday are Spain, Italy, India, the United States, France, and Portugal. The top cities searched are Dubai, Bangkok, New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Dublin, and Malaga.
Remember that many of these deals sell out quickly, particularly the really great ones, so you want to be ready to jump on it!
Final thoughts…
Research shows that, following the pandemic, travel has become a top priority. More of us than ever yearn to travel and see the world…yet rising costs can make this difficult.
That’s why taking advantage of travel deals is such a good idea. Following the success of Black Friday, marketers have realised that consumers are placing more value on experience, not things – and we’re prepared to part with our money for the holiday of a lifetime.
As more and more UK-based companies wake up to the benefits of Travel Tuesday, even more deals and discounts will be available this year. So if you’re dreaming of a holiday but not sure you can afford it, hopefully, Travel Tuesday can change your mind.
Are you hoping to find a travel deal on Travel Tuesday? We’d love to hear about your travel plans in the comments below.