THE biggest sale event of the year, Black Friday, is nearly upon us – and it’s not just discounted Christmas presents and cheap tech gear up for grabs.
Lots of travel companies have launched their sales early this year, slashing prices on fantastic holidays from cool cruises and sun- drenched beach escapes to bucket-list adventure tours in exotic lands.
Plus many of these deals cover getaways for the whole of 2024, so that’s your summer holiday sorted.
Sophie Swietochowski picks out six of the best offers available now.
CITY ESCAPE IN LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
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FIRST Choice launched its Black Friday sale yesterday and will be dishing out holiday savings until next Monday.
Travellers can save £100 on bookings of £1,000 or more and £250 on bookings of £2,500 or more for trips departing between January 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025.
Fancy something a little different?
Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana has burst its way on to the travel scene recently thanks to its wild nightlife, cultural hotspots and impressive architecture.
You can bag seven nights’ room-only at the 4H Eurostars uHotel, in the heart of the city, from £519pp, including flights from Gatwick on March 7, 2024.
See firstchoice.co.uk.
NORWEGIAN FJORDS CRUISE
YOU have until December 5 to bag this Celebrity Cruises offer for 75 per cent off the second guest plus up to $600 in onboard credit on nearly all itineraries departing before April 2025.
If you’re after something exceptional for the bucket list then a cruise through Norway’s breathtaking icy fjords is sure to fit the bill.
Once you climb on board the Celebrity Apex you’ll be able to tuck into sesame-scattered tuna tartare in the ship’s fine- dining restaurant before settling down in the theatre for an evening show.
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The seven-night, full-board Norwegian Fjords Cruise costs from £1,291 each, departing Southampton on July 20, 2024 and calling at Bruges, Flam, Geiranger and Bergen.
See celebritycruises.com or call 0344 493 2043.
BEACH GETAWAY, ST LUCIA
IF it’s far-flung luxury you’re after then Destinology is offering up to 40 per cent off glam destinations such as the Maldives & St Lucia until November 27.
Head to the 5H Windjammer Landing resort in St Lucia, which sits right on powdery white sands and is flanked by lush mountains smothered in green trees.
Seven nights’ B&B costs from £1,589pp, including flights from Gatwick and private return airport transfers between August 26, 2024 and September 10, 2024.
The hotel is a haven for watersports fans too with aqua-sailing, kayaking and snorkelling right on your doorstep.
See destinology.co.uk or call 01204 802 084.
HIT THE SLOPES IN SAINT ANTON, AUSTRIA
IGLU Ski has a number of deals right now for solo skiers and those after a chic chalet stay – plus holidaymakers can nab up to £1,000 off breaks in Austria and France.
You will also score free ski hire when you buy a lift pass at the time of booking while those skiing solo will secure money off when booking a single room.
Those after a traditional chalet-style holiday can enjoy seven nights’ B&B at the 4H Pension Tirolerhaus in St Anton from £1,670pp, including the £1,000 saving, departing Stansted on February 10, 2024.
See igluski.com.
SCORE BIG IN THE STATES
LOW-cost Icelandic airline Play is slashing the cost of flights to the US by 35 per cent, starting this Friday until November 28.
It offers flights from Stansted, Glasgow, Liverpool and Dublin to Washington, Boston, Baltimore and New York.
If you're after a bargain break to the Big Apple, this is the place to look. Right now you can bag flights from Stansted to New York from £180 each way - and that's before the discount has even launched. See flyplay.com.
FIVE-STAR FOR A FRACTION IN THE ALGARVE
EUROPEAN getaways don’t get much better in value than this and to top it all, lastminute.com is cutting holiday costs now until December 2 with codes for £100 to £250 off getaways.
If you don’t have many plans and fancy whizzing off next weekend then the holiday provider has a cracking offer on the 5H Sao Rafael Atlantico in Albufeira.
The hotel boasts stunning views of the Algarve coast and Atlantic Ocean.
The Atlantico features simplistic modern rooms that ooze elegance, a glam spa dishing out massages and healing rituals and access to a golden beach.
Dine at the hotel or pop down to Albufeira old town.
Seven nights’ B&B costs from £359pp, including flights from Gatwick on December 2, 2023.
See lastminute.com.
TIGERS AND THE TAJ MAHAL IN INDIA
WHAT could be better than getting a whopping £239pp off the trip of a lifetime?
Escorted tour specialist, Newmarket Holidays, has savings of 15 per cent on all tour itineraries until 2025, as long as you book before December 4.
This 11-day tour takes you to all the big hitters that make up the Golden Triangle – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur – where you’ll marvel at the Taj Mahal.
From £1,359pp, you will bag not just the tour but eight nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast in four and five-star hotels as well as return flights from Heathrow between April 2024 and December 2025.
