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Stack Travel Tuesday Deals With Kudos Boost: Save 60%+ on Flights & Hotels ✈️
July 1, 2025
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What Is Travel Tuesday and Why Should You Care?
Travel Tuesday has become the travel industry's answer to Black Friday, occurring annually on the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving. This shopping event brings significant discounts on flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and vacation packages, but knowing how to navigate these deals effectively can mean the difference between genuine savings and missed opportunities.
While Travel Tuesday promotions can offer substantial value, advertised discounts of 30-50% aren't always straightforward. Travel pricing fluctuates constantly based on demand, seasonality, and route popularity, making it challenging to verify whether you're truly getting a bargain. Additionally, limited availability and booking restrictions can diminish the appeal of flash sales. The good news? The strategies that work on Travel Tuesday, including comparison shopping, flexible booking, and stacking credit card rewards with cashback programs, can help you secure excellent travel deals throughout the entire year.
2025 Travel Tuesday Deals Worth Considering
This year's Travel Tuesday is delivering some standout offers across airlines, hotels, cruises, and experiences. Many deals are already live, so you don't have to wait until Tuesday to start booking. Here are the most compelling offers available now:
Flight & Vacation Package Deals
Hawaiian Airlines is offering one-way flights to Hawaii from California starting at just $99—perfect for winter sun seekers. JetBlue Vacations provides tiered savings up to $1,000 off flight + hotel or cruise packages when you book by December 5 for 2026 travel.
For international travel, Qatar Airways is discounting flights up to 20% through June 2026 to destinations like Vienna, Madrid, and Istanbul, while American Airlines has domestic one-way fares starting at $42.
Major Hotel Booking Platforms
The biggest booking sites are competing aggressively with unprecedented discounts:
Expedia and Hotels.com lead the pack with up to 50% off thousands of hotel stays for 2026 travel, plus flash deals reaching 75% off at select properties. These flash sales move quickly, so act fast if you see one that fits your plans. Plus, you'll earn 8% back at Expedia and Hotels.com when you check out with Kudos as part of our December Flash Boost sale!
Booking.com counters with up to 40% off hotels, cruises, and rental cars for 2026 travel when you book by December 3.
Trip.com (where you'll earn 9% back through Kudos) rounds out the major platforms with competitive rates across international properties.
Hotel Chains & Resorts
Individual hotel brands are offering their own compelling promotions:
Hilton Hotels & Resorts: Up to 25% off bookings made through December 15—a solid discount from one of the world's largest hotel groups spanning economy to luxury properties.
Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas: Up to 35% off stays plus daily breakfast for two included—an excellent value for this iconic resort destination.
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts: Up to 50% off select rooms across their Caribbean, Mexico, and Spain properties—ideal for all-inclusive beach escapes.
Westgate Resorts: 50% off at properties across the U.S., from Florida to Utah—great for domestic family vacations and ski trips.
Art'otel: The boutique brand offers up to 35% off stays when booked by early December for travel through late 2026—perfect for design-conscious travelers seeking unique accommodations.
Cruise Promotions
Cruise lines are rolling out some of this year's most aggressive promotions, with multiple operators offering free passage for additional guests:
Royal Caribbean: Voyages starting at $179 with up to $1,000 off individual staterooms. Third and fourth guests sail free on Caribbean, Alaska, and European itineraries—making this an exceptional value for families or groups.
Princess Cruises: Up to 50% off cruise fares plus up to $800 in additional savings. Third and fourth guests sail free on select sailings, making multi-generational trips significantly more affordable.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Black Friday packages delivering 50% off cruises, bonus onboard credit, complimentary dining or drink packages, and discounts for third and fourth guests.
Viking Cruises: Free international airfare on select 2026–2028 ocean and river voyages when you book by December 31, 2025—a premium offer that can save thousands on luxury expeditions.
HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten): Up to 50% off Antarctica expeditions and Norwegian coastal cruises—adventure travel at nearly half price.
Celebrity Cruises: Take 75% off second guest fares and save up to $1,000 on rooms across nearly all itineraries, from the Caribbean to Europe and Asia.
MSC Cruises: Fares as low as $199 plus up to $1,000 in onboard credit, with kids sailing free—excellent for budget-conscious families.
CruiseDirect: Up to 60% off during their Cyber Week Sale, plus onboard credit and discounted Wi-Fi across multiple cruise lines.
Experience & Tour Packages
Tour operators are offering substantial discounts on guided adventures:
G Adventures: Up to 30% off small-group trips with local guides during their Cyber Sale, including popular routes like the seven-day Paris to Rome journey featuring picnics and pizza.
Trafalgar: Over $3,000 in savings on guided tours throughout Europe, North America, and New Zealand through December 4. Daily spotlight deals offer buy-one-get-one-50%-off on select 2026 itineraries.
Contiki: Save over $800 on international excursions designed for travelers ages 18–35 across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
EF Ultimate Break: Up to $1,000 off group trips for 18–35 year olds with just $99 down during their ongoing Cyber Sale.
Tour Radar: Up to 70% off organized tours and adventures, from Nile River cruises to European culinary expeditions.
Pro tip: These deals typically have limited availability and specific travel windows. Some are flash sales that could disappear within hours. Before committing to any offer, verify the travel dates work for your schedule, understand cancellation policies, and check what's included in the base price versus optional add-ons.
Essential Travel Tuesday Strategies for Cheaper Flights
1. Compare Multiple Airlines and Booking Platforms
Never settle for the first price you see. Comprehensive comparison shopping is your strongest tool for finding genuine deals. Flight comparison tools aggregate options from multiple carriers, allowing you to:
- Filter by specific airlines or alliance partners
- Compare different cabin classes and routing options
- View how prices change across different travel dates
- Identify which airlines include baggage in their base fares
Pay particular attention to ultra-low-cost carriers, which may display attractive headline prices but charge separately for carry-on bags, seat selection, and other services. Calculate the total cost including all fees before committing to a booking.
2. Embrace Flexible Travel Planning
Flexibility remains the most powerful advantage for budget-conscious travelers. Small adjustments to your plans can unlock significant savings:
Date flexibility: Traveling mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday) typically costs less than weekend departures. Shoulder seasons offer the best balance of good weather and lower prices.
Destination flexibility: If your primary goal is a beach vacation or ski trip rather than a specific location, comparing similar destinations can reveal dramatically different price points.
Airport flexibility: Major metropolitan areas often have multiple airports. Checking alternate departure or arrival points can uncover cheaper routing options.
The principle is straightforward: the more flexible your requirements, the more opportunities you'll have to save money.
3. Evaluate Both One-Way and Round-Trip Options
While round-trip bookings are frequently less expensive than two one-way tickets, this isn't universally true. Always compare both options, as booking separate one-way flights provides advantages:
- Freedom to fly different airlines in each direction
- Ability to take advantage of carrier-specific sales
- More options for timing and routing
For multi-city trips, consider open-jaw routing where you return from a different airport than your original destination. This strategy can reduce both costs and backtracking.
Stack Kudos Boost for Even More Travel Rewards
Before we dive into credit card strategies, here's a powerful way to multiply your travel savings: Kudos Boost lets you earn additional cashback on top of your credit card rewards at major travel booking sites. No trade-offs, no complications. Just extra money back.
December Flash Boost: Elevated Travel Rewards Through Dec 31
Right now through December 31st, we're offering boosted rates on major travel merchants with our Flash Boost sale:
Flight & Hotel Booking Sites:
- Trip.com: 5% → 9% back (maximum rewards on flights and accommodations)
- Expedia: 3.5% → 8% back (your winter vacation just got cheaper)
- Hotels.com: 4% → 8% back (double what you'd normally earn on hotel stays)
- Booking.com: 2% → 4% back (worldwide accommodations with boosted returns)
- Vrbo: 2% → 4% back (family gatherings deserve family-sized rewards)
- Choice Hotels: 1% → 2% back (reliable stays, reliable rewards)
These Boost rates stack with whatever your credit card already earns. For example, if you're using a card that earns 3X points on travel, you'll get both your 3X points and the Kudos Boost cashback. It's like getting rewarded twice for the same purchase.
How to activate Kudos Boost in 60 seconds:
- Install the free Kudos browser extension (Chrome, Safari, or Edge) or mobile app (iOS)
- Shop at any of our 15,000+ partner stores
- Click "Activate Boost" at checkout when prompted
- Cash out once you hit 1,000 points ($10) for Amazon gift cards
The December Flash Boost rates expire December 31st at midnight, so any holiday or early 2026 travel you book before then earns these elevated rates.
Maximizing Travel Savings with the Right Credit Cards
Strategic credit card use extends your savings well beyond Travel Tuesday. Here's how the right cards amplify your travel budget:
Earning and Redeeming Travel Rewards
Travel rewards credit cards transform everyday spending into future trips. When you accumulate points or miles, you can book flights by paying only taxes and fees, which typically amount to just $5.60 each way for domestic travel on most U.S. programs.
Premium travel cards offer flexibility through multiple redemption options:
- Transfer points to airline and hotel partners for maximum value
- Book travel through card portals at fixed redemption rates
- Use points to offset travel purchases on your statement
The most versatile travel cards let you choose your redemption strategy based on which option provides the best value for your specific trip.
Eliminating Common Travel Fees
Airline fees add up quickly, but co-branded credit cards effectively eliminate many of these charges:
Checked baggage fees: Major airline cards typically waive fees for the first checked bag for the primary cardholder and, in many cases, traveling companions. Since checked bag fees run $30-35 per bag each way, this benefit alone can justify a card's annual fee after just one or two trips.
Priority boarding and other perks: Many airline cards also include benefits like priority boarding, in-flight purchase discounts, and companion certificates.
These benefits apply only when flying with the specific airline, so they're most valuable if you have a preferred carrier or live near a hub for that airline.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance Protection
Premium travel credit cards provide extensive insurance coverage that eliminates the need to purchase travel insurance separately:
- Trip delay insurance: Reimbursement for meals and accommodations when trips are delayed
- Lost or delayed baggage coverage: Compensation for essential purchases if your luggage doesn't arrive with you
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Protection when you need to cancel or cut short your trip
- Rental car coverage: Primary or secondary insurance for rental vehicles
- Emergency medical and evacuation: Critical coverage when traveling internationally
Understanding your card's specific coverage is essential, as benefits vary significantly between cards. Review your benefits guide before traveling to know exactly what protections you have.
Year-Round Travel Savings Tips
Travel Tuesday deals are valuable, but smart travelers save money on every trip:
Book strategically: Airlines typically release the most competitive fares on Tuesday afternoons. Set fare alerts for your desired routes to monitor price trends.
Consider mistake fares carefully: While incredibly cheap mistake fares occasionally appear, airlines aren't always obligated to honor them. Decide whether the risk of cancellation is worth your time.
Stack rewards programs: Combine credit card rewards with airline loyalty programs, hotel points, and shopping portals to multiply your earning potential on every purchase.
Watch for flash sales: Major carriers regularly run limited-time promotions outside of Travel Tuesday. Following airlines and booking platforms on social media helps you catch these deals.
Making the Most of Your Travel Budget
Travel Tuesday presents excellent opportunities for budget-conscious travelers, but the fundamental strategies for securing great travel deals remain consistent throughout the year. Focus on:
- Thorough comparison shopping across multiple airlines and booking platforms
- Maintaining flexibility in your travel dates, destinations, and routing
- Using travel rewards credit cards strategically to earn points and access valuable benefits
- Understanding the full cost of travel, including fees and insurance
By combining these approaches, you'll consistently find better deals whether you're booking during Travel Tuesday or planning a last-minute summer getaway.
Start Stacking Your Travel Rewards Today
Whether you're booking this year's standout Travel Tuesday deals (like those $99 Hawaii flights or 50% off Expedia hotels) or planning your next vacation, combining the right credit cards with Kudos Boost gives you maximum savings. With December Flash Boost rates up to 9% back on travel bookings (on top of your credit card rewards and any Travel Tuesday discounts), there's never been a better time to start.
Take action now:
- Download our Free Browser Extension or Mobile App
- Book Travel Tuesday deals through Expedia, Hotels.com, or Booking.com with Boost activated
- Let Kudos automatically recommend your best credit card at checkout
- Watch your rewards stack higher than ever before (Travel Tuesday sale + Kudos Boost + card rewards)
Travel Tuesday's best offers won't last long, and December Flash Boost rates expire December 31st. The combination of all three means you could save over 60% on your next trip.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
Turn your online shopping into even more rewards
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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