Travelsmart
TORONTO — Made-in-Canada promotions for Black Friday and Cyber Monday are rampant this weekend, especially in the travel industry. Some like Transat’s Black Friday Week deals include travel agent incentives as well.
Just a few years ago Black Friday and its online cousin, Cyber Monday, were relatively unknown in Canada, and that’s especially true for travel. Any Canadians who did know about Black Friday associated it with U.S. shopping mall melees, crazed shoppers and the race to grab a discounted flat screen TV.
Fast forward to 2016 and there are now so many online travel deals out there – from Canadian tour operators especially – that frazzled and overwhelmed clients may appreciate a heads-up about the best deals from their trusted travel agent.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best Black Friday/Cyber Monday travel deals out there:
Globus, Cosmos and sister company Monograms have a Black Friday flash sale to Europe. Travellers will receive $100 off the land price of any vacation of six or more days on any 2017 trip booked Nov. 25 –Nov. 29. This offer is combinable with all other offers currently in the market. In all, the bonus will apply to all 89 Globus and 63 Cosmos tours, 44 of Monograms’ packaged independent vacations, and 10 of the Faith-based Journeys offered by Globus and Cosmos. Repeat customers are entitled to a further 5% discount. Clients who book their flights to coincide with tour start and end dates and all companies will also get complimentary airport transfers in Europe. Find out more at agentlingo.ca.
Sunwing has added even more deals to its ‘Orange is the New Black’ Friday Sale this weekend. Clients can save up to 70% or more on packages to over 800 resorts if they book by Nov. 27. See sunwing.ca.
Trafalgar’s Black Friday Weekend Sale runs Nov. 25 – 28 at trafalgar.com. The company is offering 18 of its most popular 2017 Europe and Britain trips at up to 15% off the land portion, for select departure dates. Trips must be booked and paid in full by Nov. 28. Trips on sale include Grand European, Spanish Wonder and Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Transat’s Black Friday Week deals, applicable through November 28, 2016, come with savings worth up to 50% on all-inclusive sun packages as well as discounts on packages, guided tours and cruise packages in Europe. Transat’s Black Friday Week also offers low prices on flights to the South, Florida, Europe and many Canadian cities. From Nov. 25 – 28 Transat is also giving travel agents five times more Bonbon rewards (25$) on South, Florida and cruise package bookings. See transat.com, airtransat.com or Get Connected.
Club Med’s Black Friday Flash Sale is its “best offer of the winter”, according to the all-inclusive pioneer. Through Nov. 29 clients can save up to 55% on a wide selection of resorts, including in Mexico, D.R., Florida, the Bahamas and more. Silver, Gold and Platinum Great Members get an additional 10% discount by booking a Deluxe Room or a Suite. Travel dates are Nov. 26, 2016 – June 17, 2017.
Warwick Hotels and Resorts got a jumpstart on its 2016 Cyber Sale, on now through Cyber Monday (Nov. 28) at 11:59 p.m. EST. The five-day event offers up to 50% off best available rates. The travel deadline is March 31, 2017. Participating properties include the newly opened Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas as well as urban hotels in New York, San Francisco, Brussels and Paris. See warwickhotels.com/global-offers/warwick-cyber-sale/.
Norwegian Cruise Line has a combined Black Friday Bonus and Cyber Monday Special with deals including a US$50 per person deposit on all sailings fleetwide in Studio, inside, oceanview, balcony, and min-suite staterooms. The sale continues through Nov. 30. Clients can also take advantage of Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion, with a choice of five free offers with new cruise vacation bookings.
Cunard’s Black Tie Friday and Cyber Monday promotions for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, on now through Nov. 28, range from free upgrades from Inside to Balcony to 50% off fares for third and fourth guests and reduced deposits, now $100 (deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable). Itineraries include Transatlantic Crossings and Mediterranean voyages with fares from $999. See cunard.com.
The Jamaica Tourist Board is encouraging travellers to skip Black Friday shopping in favour of planning a Jamaican vacation. Participating hotels and villas offering Cyber Monday discounts and credits for 2017 travel include Sunset at the Palms, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Villas by Linda Smith and Rondel Village. The JTB’s website is visitjamaica.com.
With G Adventures’ four-day Cyber Sale clients can save up to 35% on a variety of tours with departures through to March 31, 2017. Bookings must be made between Nov. 25 (12 a.m. EST) and Nov. 28 (11:59 p.m. EST). Discounted offerings include 35% off ‘Mekong River Experience – Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City’; 25% off ‘Galapagos — South & Central Islands aboard the Estrella del Mar’; 25% off ‘Costa Rica Quest’; 35% off ‘Ganges River Experience’; and 30% off ‘Masai & Tanzania Camping Safari’. See gadventures.com/cyber-sale.
The Hiltons of Hawaii – with 14 properties on the Hawaiian Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai – are offering a four-day cyber sale starting at noon on Nov. 25 and ending at 11:59 p.m. EST. on Nov. 28. Guests who book during this time will receive 30% off best available rates on stays from Jan. 1 – June 30, 2017. See www.hiltonhawaii.com/CyberSale2016.
Clients can ‘Sail Soon’ or ‘Sail Later’ with Princess Cruises’ Cyber Sale. Guests who ‘Sail Soon’ can save up to US$1,000 per stateroom, while those who ‘Sail Later’ get free stateroom location upgrades, free gratuities and up to $300 onboard spending money per stateroom. Princess’ Cyber Sale is available through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Nov. 30. Additional details about the Cyber Sale can be found at princess.com/sale.
Contiki Canada’s Black Friday sale goes all the way through Nov. 30 and offers additional discounts worth up to 30% off some 17 Last Minute Deals spanning the globe, from Europe and Asia to Latin America and the South Pacific. Available trips include ‘Big Indochina Adventure’ (all 2017 departures save up to $1,188); ‘European Quest’ (Dec. 22, 2016 departure only; save up to $1,049); and ‘Reefs and Rainforests’ (with a start in Cairns; all 2017 departures save up to $982). For more details visit www.contiki.com/blackfriday.
One&Only Resorts will be participating in a Black Friday promotion available online Nov. 25 – 28. The discount will be progressive, offering up to 35% off, depending on the length of stay. See oneandonlyresorts.com.
Topdeck Travel’s Black Friday sale, Nov. 25 – 28, promises discounts worth up to 70% off. Highlights of the sale include Topdeck’s Sydney Discovery trip and Tropical Discovery trip for £100 for the first 15 people that book; 50% off epic ski trips in Japan; 30% off all North America trips; 30% off all Europe Winter trips; 30% off all Asia trips; and 30% off all Middle East trips. See topdeck.travel/blackfriday.
Any time a country or region imposes any sort of visa stipulation – even if it’s a waiver – the travel industry sighs a collective groan, knowing the obstacles and headaches to come.
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