It is that time of year again! Black Friday and Cyber Monday is fast approaching. This year's online sale begins November 21st and runs through December 2nd, at least on Amazon. The format will be much the same with daily sales, lightning sales as well as items that are on sale for the duration of the event. If you've got your eye on something and have been waiting for months for the price to drop you aren't alone.
Some 28% of the population are likely buy something online during this sale period. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, American shoppers tend to focus on grabbing deals on specific categories of products. Here's a rough breakdown of the most commonly purchased items:
Product Category | Approximate Share of Total Online Sales |
Electronics | 40% |
Fashion & Apparel | 20% |
Home Appliances | 15% |
Toys & Games | 10% |
Beauty & Personal Care | 5% |
Fitness & Outdoor Gear | 5% |
Books & Media | 3% |
Gift Cards & Subscriptions | 2% |
Travel Trends
So where does travel fit in? Since the pandemic, there has been a significant rebound in traveler numbers. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals globally reached nearly 80% of pre-pandemic levels by mid-2023.
2024 has seen this trend continue with an estimated 790 million international tourists traveling globally in the first seven months rising approximately 96% of pre-pandemic levels, indicating a near-full recovery. In fact, a survey conducted in early 2024 revealed that 66% of travelers are more interested in travel now than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
What this translates into is that people are hungry for deals on travel gear as well and while most of these items fall into one of the above categories, we've broken down a guide of some of the items you might want to seek out. Following each category we've listed some of our favorite items that are on sale.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Travels Items to Search for Deals On
Luggage and Travel Accessories
Luggage sets, carry-ons, and travel bags see strong sales, especially from popular brands like Samsonite, Tumi, and Away.
Accessories such as packing cubes, travel pillows, passport holders, and luggage tags are often discounted.
Tech organizers and compression bags are also popular as travelers aim to optimize packing.
Carry-on Backpack
We featured this type of bag in our post about airline carry-on and personal item policies. This item counts as a personal item for most of those airlines giving you a ton of valuable space when combined with a regular carry-on. There are numerous versions of this bag out there but the Taygeer featured below is the latest best seller. Currently priced as low as $23.99 you can expect to see even better pricing over the sales period.
Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX Hardside Expandable Luggage 2PC Set
Maybe you are like me and are looking to ditch some worn out old luggage (the broken wheel is driving me batty) and get a new set this holiday shopping season. Samsonite has always been a go to brand for quality gear and they usually have some pretty decent sales on their products.
This set usually retails around $489 these days but surprisingly right now there is a limited time sale for some colors that drops the price to $191.97. I'm not sure even Cyber Monday will see a drop like that so I may be doing a bit of pre BF/CM shopping! If you miss out, don't worry there will be plenty of other deals from Samsonite and others.
Travel Tech and Gadgets
Noise-canceling headphones are must-haves for travelers and see deep discounts. Combined with AirFly bluetooth you can listen to the airlines entertainment without the need for wires.
Portable chargers, power banks, travel adapters, and Bluetooth trackers (e.g., AirTags) are highly sought-after and often see a decent discount.
Home doorbell cameras also see a spike in activity as travelers look to improve their home security while away.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Pixel Buds Pro use Active Noise Cancellation with Silent Seal to adapt to your ear and help block outside sounds, creating a quiet foundation so your music or white noise will let you drown out the ambient airline noises. Last year they dropped to $119 from $199 so expect to see something similar this year. Tip: if you aren't too particular about color consider going for the less popular ones like lemongrass as you may find even deeper discounts there.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
You may have seen it in the news but the FDA recently approved these AirPods as an OTC hearing aid in particular for individuals with less severe hearing loss. Remarkable. They also are fantastic noise canceling ear buds that are perfect for your flight. Apple products are highly sought after on Cyber Monday as they usually feature a pretty decent discount. Last year's Pro 2 dropped from $249 to $199 with the earlier models coming in even lower. Keep an eye out for the savings, I wouldn't be overly surprised to see these go for under $150 this year.
Twelve South AirFly Pro
I love this item. I use it on planes, in gyms, anywhere I want to convert a wired headphone jack to a wireless transmitter. It allows you to wirelessly transmit audio from 3.5 audio jack. AirFly Pro has a battery life of over 25 hours can even be used while charging with the included cable if you are running low on power. Last year saw a price drop of $10 to $44.99 during the sales.
Ring Wired Doorbell Plus (Video Doorbell Pro)
See who's at the door and have two way communication with them even while you area thousands of miles away. Set up motion capture as well to add a level of security and ward of those porch pirates. These are available in both the wired version seen here and now also as a rechargeable battery option. 2023 saw the Ring Pro 2 get a price drop of $100! Now's the time to get it if you've been thinking about it.
Travel Apparel and Gear
Travel-friendly clothing, such as wrinkle-resistant shirts, yoga pants, waterproof jackets, and merino wool layers are often on sale.
Travel shoes, particularly comfortable walking sneakers and water-resistant boots, see increased interest. Compression socks also see an uptick for those who are going on long flights.
CRZ Butterluxe Full Length Yoga Pants
Quite possibly the most prevalent pants worn for travel and general day wear. Leggings, like these, are stretchy, breathable, and provide all-day comfort without feeling restrictive. Many leggings now come with pockets, which are handy for holding essentials like phones or passports. Also popular are Joggers Pants and Cotton Lounge Pants the latter of which are particularly desirable for when the flight is an overnighter. Many of these products see some pretty deep discounts during BF & CM.
Columbia Hiking Shoes
An essential for any intrepid explorers who love to hike, or even just do any large amount of walking around a city. I've made the grave mistake of wearing a cheap pair of shoes once when walking around Manhattan for the day and I paid for it dearly for the entire week after. The ones seen below are the Women's Crestwood Waterproof Hiking Shoe. Not to worry gents, you've got some great options too in both Columbia and Merrell! Discounts on some styles and colors of up to %50 drive some pretty brisk sales through this sale period.
Experiences and Travel Deals
Flight deals, hotel discounts, and vacation packages are frequently offered by travel companies during Cyber Monday.
Gift cards for airlines, Airbnb, and travel platforms like Booking.com are popular choices for holiday gifting.
Theme park tickets, guided tours, and adventure experiences (like hot air balloon rides or zip-lining) also see promotions.
Hotel Comfort Items
Travel size air purifiers and/or humidifiers can transform a stuffy dry hotel room into your private oasis.
Portable electric kettles area a great creature comfort to have in any hotel room.
Small White noise machines can be great for those who area light sleepers
Travel size air fresheners and toilet sprays are also a nice touch to overcome any lingering room odors.
T-magitic Collapsible Kettle
This is hands down one of my favorite travel companions. Hotel rooms often have coffee makers but rarely a proper kettle for making tea or just hot water. Enter this small, collapsible kettle! There is just something comforting about being able to maintain a familiar routine while journeying. This model saw a modest drop at 10% but expect to see better deals this year with up to 35% off.
Pure Travel Humidifier
Hotel air can be so dry, especially when the heating is running nonstop. This can compound any stuffiness you may have acquired on a long flight as airplane air is notoriously dry. That's where the travel humidifier comes to the rescue. It’s a compact little device that helps maintain moisture in the room, keeping the air less harsh on the sinuses. Breathe easier knowing you may be able to get these types of devices for as much as 50% off.
Health & Safety Travel Items
Reusable travel-sized containers, and sanitizing kits (liquids or wipes) remain popular.
Water purification bottles and first-aid kits are frequently bought for outdoor adventures and international trips.
RFID safe bags, wallets and purses are another area to explore sales.
Safety whistles and Door stops/alarms are also a great pick-up especially for those solo female travelers out there.
Pet Travel Items
Pet carriers (airline-approved options for cats and dogs)
Pet travel beds and portable crates
Travel water bowls and portable pet feeders
Travel-friendly pet grooming kits and paw wipes
MidWest Double Door iCrate Dog Crate, Includes Leak-Proof Pan, Floor Protecting Feet
We love this crate and so does our pup. It is her happy place. The two door access is really nice so you can orient it in a room or vehicle much easier and it flattens down for easy carrying. They also have a custom fit bed that is designed for these crates. I bought two of them in different sizes for both home and travel. The larger one I got first and was fortunate to get it on Cyber Monday last year for around %25 off. Woof!
Summary
So there you have it, some ideas on what you might look for during the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you are like me and have been making a list (and checking it twice) over the last few months of travel items that you have been wanting to buy but have put off until the sales start then I wish you good luck in your hunt for those bargains! If you are planning a trip then be sure to check out the flight deals during this period too as sometimes the prices are slashed for certain destinations.
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