Ditching stuff for experiences is the vibe right now and we’re here for it this Black Friday (25 Nov). A fabulous holiday or weekend break is more exciting (and memorable) than a discounted item on Amazon, so we’ve pulled together all the best travel deals around to save you time (and money). Happy holidays! 

HOLIDAYS 

If your heart’s set on a long-haul escape this winter, Blue Bay Travel is dropping discounts like they’re hot for its ‘Blue Friday’ (see what they did there?). A £1999pp seven-night all-inclusive stay at the Rihiveli Maldives Resort including flights (a 54 per cent saving) caught our eye, plus you can save another £100 by quoting BLUEFRIDAY100 when you book. Or how about a week at Casuarina Resort in Mauritius for £999pp? It’s a 40 per cent saving, all-inclusive, includes flights and you can get an additional £50 off using quote BLUEFRIDAY50. Almost cheaper than our weekly heating bill right now tbh.

If you’re dreaming of the Caribbean, the lush island of St Lucia has put together some great deals with five tour operators offering up to 50 per cent off holidays booked this week. We’re particularly loving the idea of a week at Windjammer Landing from £969pp including flights, bed and breakfast (a 50 per cent saving if you book by 29 Nov).

Travel discount-lovers’ favourite Secret Escapes has already kicked off its Black Friday bonanza, though there are still more bargains to be had, including free upgrades (18-20 Nov), flash sale (21-24 Nov) and a four-day mega price drop (25-28 Nov). Simply sign up and get scrolling.

Mystery holiday provider srprs.me is slashing £50 off all trips worth £250+ from 25-30 Nov, so if you’ve never booked a surprise destination before this could be a good time to try – no, you don’t know where you’re going until you turn up at the airport, yes they do give you packing hints (it’s fun, trust us). 

This year easyJet Holidays is running Orange Fridays, offering travellers up to £200 off packages to certain destinations on the website each Friday during Nov, revealing the promo code and destination every Thursday via social media. They’ve already covered Spain and the Algarve, where next? Follow @easyjet to find out. 

If you fancy taking to the water next year on a private boat, check out Le Boat’s Black Friday sale (21-28 Nov), which includes 25 per cent off self-drive boats in nine countries, including the UK, France and Canada. For example, a seven-night self-catered stay on the Canal du Midi, starting and finishing at Le Boat’s base in Port Cassafières, on board a Clipper sleeping six, is priced from £1,267 (down from £1,689).

There’s up to 50 per cent off some getaways at Turquoise Holidays. Destinations we’re finding particularly irresistible are the Indian Ocean escapes, including a seven-night stay at Constance Moofushi in the Maldives from £2999pp (a saving of £4200 per couple) and seven nights at Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius from £1449pp (a saving of £1400 per couple!). Offer runs form 25-28 Nov.  

Fancy jetting off on safari this winter? If so, Go2Africa is a winner with plenty of tempting Black Friday offers, like a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ six-night safari to Botswana, or a 35 per cent discount for stays at new Wallow Lodge in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls National Park. Prices plummet between 21 Nov-5 Dec. 

*Sound the klaxon* Up to 70 per cent off holidays to the Maldives! That’s right, Coco Collection has gone, frankly, crazy and is offering 50 per cent off bookings to Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu for bookings made between 25-28 Nov. What’s more, the first five customers to book will get 70 per cent off – so rise early on the 25th and use your BLACKFRIDAY booking code at checkout. 

If seeing the pyramids is a priority on your bucket list, check out Trafalgar’s 15 per cent sale on its 12-day Wonders of Ancient Egypt adventure, which involves a price drop of £438 from £2924pp to £2485pp for Black Friday.

And lastminute.com is saluting Black Friday with discount codes and money off its Dynamic Package Holidays, including £100 off a minimum spend of £1000 and £200 off a minimum spend of £2500. Psst…if you want all the best deals early, subscribe to its newsletter and receive a discount code via email on 18 Nov – regular customers will have to wait until 21 Nov to see the flash sales and mega deals. 

FLIGHTS & TRAINS 

WIZZ Air, are offering new Black Friday deals every day this week, for example on 23 Nov there’s  20 per cent off selected flights, departing before or on 31 March 2023, with destinations including Tenerife, Reykajavik, Rome and Lisbon.

Great savings to be had with Icelandic airline Play, which is knocking 35 per cent off flights to Iceland and 40 per cent off trips to New York if you book between 24-29 Nov – aurora borealis and skating in Central Park here we come! 

Mon dieu, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is holding its first ever Black Friday sale this year. If you’re keen to cross the channel, you’ll need to create a free account before 20 Nov, after which you’ll be able to access all the delectable discounts on tickets (some as low as £48 return) available between 25-28 Nov. 

Set your alarm because easyJet is running a flash sale with 15 per cent off selected flights to Spain on Black Friday and they will go quicker than Usain Bolt in a 100-metre sprint. 

CRUISE 

Celebrity Cruises is launching a whopper Black Friday campaign this year, which includes tempting offers like a 75 per cent saving on a second guest booking and up to $800 to spend on board. For example, a seven-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette through the Norwegian Fjords next year would cost guest one £2,066 but guest two just £523 (cue major squabbles about who to take!). A big plus is that these discounts will apply to cruises through until 2025, which definitely floats our boat. Book by 5 Dec. 

HOTELS 

We heart booking.com’s 30 per cent discount on places to stay, plus a cheeky 25 per cent off car hire too. The offer runs from 17 Nov-1 Dec and a real bonus is that bookings are valid for stays until 31 Dec 2023, so you can make big savings on a holiday next summer, whether that’s an apartment in Paris or an Algarve eco retreat. 

citizenM hotel chain, which has properties in Europe, Asia and the UK, is also offering a 30 per cent discount plus a free welcome drink as part of its Black Friday campaign, running from now until 29 Nov. Check out its hotel in New York’s Bowery District, which has rooms with great city views and walls filled with art, definitely one to consider for a long weekend. 

Treat yourself to a stay at gorgeous Gallery Hotel Art in Florence – it’s in the heart of the action and has a top notch Asian-Mediterranean Fusion Bar and Restaurant. Book between 25-28 Nov and you’ll receive up to a 40 per cent discount, valid for stays until 15 March 2023. 

UK GETAWAYS 

Want to holiday for less closer to home? No problem as Habitat Escapes is offering £100 off stays of seven nights of more at Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds and Silverlake in Dorset, simply use code BF100 when booking.

City break bargain hunters, there’s 20 per cent off all room bookings made between 23-29 Nov at Resident Hotels, which include some choice locations like London’s Victoria, Soho and Kensington.

Or perhaps you’re seeking somewhere more tranquil, like Minster Mill in the Cotswolds near Blenheim Palace and Bicester Village (great for a bit of discount shopping!), which is slashing stays from £190pn to £135pn if you book by 25 Nov.

Cosy up in a cabin for less by taking advantage of the 10 per cent discount on offer at Malting Farm in Essex. Book a two-night stay before 1 Dec using code BLACKFRIDAY22, then look forward to hanging out with family and friends next year in the cabins which sleep from four to six.

WINTER HOLIDAYS

An all-inclusive ski holiday with a 20 per cent discount on top? Sounds good to us! Ski Solutions is offering a week at ski-in, ski-out Club Med Val Thorens from £1140pp, a saving of £201pp and including accommodation, lift passes, ski tuition and all meals and drinks. Bargain.  

Or how about a week’s ski holiday in Canada for £1880pp, including flights, transfers and accommodation?  It’s a 19 per cent saving of £450 and you’ll be staying at the far from shabby Panorama Upper Village Condos.