If you thought Black Friday was an American day of deals, then you’d be partially right.
The US national days of retail sales may have originated in the US, but just like Halloween (did you see the costumes and candy available earlier this month!), Australians have adopted the tradition this year with our very own set of bargains and sales.
Retailers have discounted their fashion items, while the travel industry has hopped on board with their own set of sales that are expected to send shoppers and travellers into a frenzy (hopefully, not the kind of frenzy that results in stampedes and hour-long register lines).
AirAsia may not have called its $189 fares from Sydney to Beijing a Black Friday deal, but it certainly feels like it with the one-way offer only available for purchase today, while Royal Caribbean has jumped on the special day with a Black Friday $80 a day cruise deal.
Here’s a breakdown of the some of the best Black Friday travel deals we could find:
Cruise from $80 a day
“Take me on a trip I’d like to go some day” and please let it cost just $80 a day with Royal Caribbean!
The cruise line has joined the Black Friday frenzy with cruise fares starting at just $799 per person or $80 a day for an interior stateroom on a 10-night South Pacific voyage onboard Explorer of the Seas.
The ship departs Sydney on 4 February 2017 for a roundtrip sailing to Noumea, Mare and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, and Vila and Mystery Island in Vanuatu.
If you don’t fancy that cruise, how about an eight-night Tasmania voyage departing 9 February 2017 on Ovation of the Seas. Guests will pay just $1,299 per person for an interior stateroom during the Black Friday Sale for this unforgettable cruise, which overnights in beautiful Hobart and visits vibrant Adelaide before returning to Sydney.
The offers are available until Monday.
Fly to Beijing from $180
Image: Vogel / Shutterstock.com
Far out, my new iPad was like double the cost of AirAsia’s one-way fare sale from Sydney or Melbourne to Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi’an or Chongqing from just $189.
From Perth, travellers can book a one-way flight to Beijing from $189, Chongqing from $199, Chengdu and Xi’an from $219, Hangzhou from $229 and Shanghai from $249.
The offer is only available until 3am 26 November 2016 for travel from 1 January 2017 to 31 March 2017.
Save 20% on an Asia tour
This may not be a Black Friday specific deal, but it’s still worth mentioning.
STA Travel is offering under 35s the chance to tour Asia with Contiki and save 20 percent on select departures.
The offer is available on Contiki Asia trips over seven days and lasts until 15 December on departures ranging from 1 April 2017 to 1 April 2018.
There are limited spaces left on a great range of trips – so choose a trip and choose the departure date. Get in quick!
Up to 35% off a variety of tours
G Adventures is tapping into both Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales with savings between 15 and 35 percent on a variety of tours departing through to 31 March, 2017
For example, travellers can book an eight-day Mekong River Experience – Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City trip from just $1,527 per person, or a seven day South & Central Islands Galapagos cruise from $2,362, or best of all, a nine-day Costa Rica Quest, taking in highlights of Costa Rica from just $900 per person.
Bookings must be made between Friday, 25 November, 2016 (16:00 EST) and Tuesday, November 29, 2016 (5:59am EST).
