What is Travel Tuesday and what to buy on Travel Tuesday?

You’ve just closed the Black Friday window, or maybe you’ve browsed some Cyber Monday deals and think the discounts are over. But the fun isn’t over yet: for those dreaming of a trip, Travel Tuesday is here. In 2025, this day falls on Tuesday, December 2 and represents a new opportunity for those looking to book holidays, weekend getaways, or getaways at discounted rates.

It’s like a "second wave" of deals: airlines, hotels, tour operators, and OTAs (online booking agencies) are preparing to launch flash deals on flights, stays, vacation packages, and related services, trying to fill empty seats and unsold rooms during a time of year when demand tends to decline.

If you’re flexible—with dates, destinations, or even multiple destinations in mind—Travel Tuesday can turn into a real opportunity: the key is to move quickly, compare prices, and grab the right deal before it disappears. But how does it really work, and why is there a day dedicated to this occasion?

What is Travel Tuesday and where does this day dedicated to travel discounts come from

Travel Tuesday has relatively recent, yet significant, origins: the idea was born in 2017 thanks to Hopper, a well-known flight and hotel booking platform.

By analyzing historical and average prices, Hopper realized that the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (i.e., immediately after Black Friday and Cyber Monday) was the best day to offer travel deals. Hence the birth of Travel Tuesday as "travel day."

So, once again, it all started in the US. Originally, it was an almost exclusively American phenomenon—since Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Europe—but over time, thanks to the globalization of tourism and the spread of online bookings, the initiative began to gain attention in Europe.

What makes Travel Tuesday particularly effective is its structure: for just one day (or slightly more), rates are lowered on a wide range of services—from flights to hotels, vacation packages, cruises, car rentals, and experiences. That day often represents the time when the supply of vacancies and available rooms is highest, and companies try to fill the gap with attractive rates.

Over the years, the event has become consolidated: it’s no longer a passing fad, but a regular event eagerly awaited by many, a true "occasion" for those who want to plan a trip, whether last-minute or well in advance.

When is Travel Tuesday?

As mentioned, for 2025, Travel Tuesday is set for Tuesday, December 2nd. For non-Americans, the rule is that it is celebrated on the Tuesday following Black Friday (and Cyber Monday).

Generally, the offer window lasts about 24 hours, although in some cases, some promotions may start a few hours early or continue for a short period after the official deadline.

The main reason for concentrating everything into a single day is strategic. After the surge in bookings generated by Black Friday and Cyber Monday, travel demand naturally tends to slow down: and what better time for companies and hotels to offer customers what’s left and unlikely to be booked? These aren’t waste items, but last-minute bargains, ideal even for those who, willingly or unwillingly, are always late.

To increase your chances of success, it’s helpful to start with a few ideas in mind: destinations, alternative dates, flexibility with airports or time periods. Having a payment method ready and perhaps an active account on a booking portal can make all the difference in being ready at the "zero moment."

What’s best to buy on Travel Tuesday?

The beauty of Travel Tuesday is its variety: it’s not just about flights, but a broad and varied opportunity for those who want to travel. Flights, hotels, packages, experiences: for those who are ready, it can be the ideal time to lock in great rates for future trips as well.

Flights

This is probably the highlight of the event. During Travel Tuesday, many airlines offer discounted fares on domestic, European, and intercontinental routes. Reduced fares, last-minute offers, "unknown" or low-demand routes: if you’re flexible on dates and airports, you might find some very interesting deals. Recent campaigns—by airlines and OTAs—have seen significant price reductions, with discounts of up to 35-40% for many routes in 2025.

To increase your chances of success, it’s worth saving some routes in advance on search engines or dedicated apps and having a clear travel plan: destination, alternative dates, and possible different departure airport. The best deals often disappear quickly, especially since they’re limited.

Hotels and accommodations

It’s not just flights: hotels, apartments, resorts, and other accommodations are also participating in Travel Tuesday by lowering prices for low/mid-season dates or periods when demand is typically weaker. Discounted rates, standard rooms or upgrades, or offers for multiple nights: it can be a great time to lock in a stay, perhaps planning a vacation months ahead.

Travel Packages and Experiences

True value often comes from combining multiple elements: flight + hotel, perhaps with car rental or transfers included, or with vacation packages that already include accommodation, transfers, and local experiences. This type of offer can make the overall price more affordable than a "do-it-yourself" booking made during high season.

Travel Tuesday also offers plenty of promotions on additional services or "alternative vacations": cruises, guided tours, car rentals, and special experiences. If you’re looking for something more structured or unusual, these types of discounts are worth checking out. Some offers can offer significant savings, but be careful: as always, read the terms and conditions (dates, availability, cancellations).

How to best prepare to take advantage of Travel Tuesday

Organization and speed are essential. Here’s how to increase your chances, including some of the tips we’ve already covered.

• Plan some ideas in advance: destinations, periods, alternative dates: having a "Plan B" helps if your first choice sells out.
• Activate price alerts on apps or search engines: they give you an indication of whether a seemingly discounted rate is actually better than the average.
• Prepare your payment method and documents in advance: many offers disappear within hours, so be quick.
• Check the conditions carefully: rigid dates, inflexible cancellations, extra fees, baggage, additional services, as any of these can affect the actual cost.
• Consider complete packages or combinations (flight + hotel, experiences, rentals, etc.): it’s often more cost-effective than booking separately.

On the other hand, there are some mistakes to avoid, especially if you rush or over-enthusiastically. In fact, even if the potential is high, you need to proceed with caution. Some offers may simply be "pure marketing": inflated initial prices, inflexible dates, stringent cancellation or change conditions. In some cases, what seemed like a bargain can turn out to be inflexible or more expensive than expected.

Another common mistake? Booking without any flexibility on dates or airports, or without a clear plan. This significantly increases the likelihood of incurring extra costs—baggage, transfers, taxes, services. It’s best to prepare in advance, be rational, and always compare the offer with average seasonal rates.

Finally: don’t limit yourself to flights. Sometimes the real "deals" are hotels, complete packages, or experiences. Take the time to explore all the options, perhaps comparing them with several competing sites. Just like when you buy any other product online.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Cos’è il Travel Tuesday e cosa comprare nel martedì dedicato ai viaggi