Let's Talk Travel: Is Travel Tuesday worth the hype?

As Black Friday and Travel Tuesday approach, the buzz around travel deals and exclusive perks grows louder. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, hoping to score the vacation of your dreams at a bargain price. But the reality is that most of these deals—offering perks like cruise credits, pre-paid gratuities, or specialty dining for two—do not deliver massive savings. In most cases, they amount to maybe a couple of hundred dollars off.

Cruise lines and Resorts are masters of marketing, often shifting their incentives to create the illusion of bigger savings, but the overall cost remains consistent. For instance, one month you might see a promotion offering "Free Pre-Paid Gratuities," while the next month the same cruise might advertise a "Free Specialty Dining Package" or "Up to $300 Onboard Credit." While these perks sound enticing, they’re simply rebranded incentives baked into the cruise price. The base rate rarely changes significantly. They use these tactics to appeal to different travelers’ preferences, but when you break it down, the total value you’re paying stays largely the same.

This is why it’s crucial to evaluate the overall package rather than getting swept up by flashy offers.

If you spot a deal online that seems too good to pass up, give me a call! I can help you figure out just how good that deal really is and whether it aligns with typical pricing. Nine times out of 10, I can match any online offer — and sometimes even beat it with an exclusive promotion. For example, this week, I priced two cruises — one with Royal Caribbean and one with Norwegian Cruise Line — at over $400 less than the cruise lines’ own Black Friday promotions.

The truth is, the best way to save on travel is by booking early. Cruise lines and resorts release their schedules years in advance, with prices often at their lowest when bookings open. As demand grows, so do the rates. My company takes advantage of this by blocking rooms the moment inventory is released. These locked-in prices stay the same, even as the cruise line or resort increases its rates, giving my clients access to exclusive savings that simply can’t be matched later.

While Travel Tuesday promotions may seem enticing, they rarely offer the kind of savings that make a meaningful difference. If you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip for 2025 or 2026, now is the perfect time to get started. Call me today to explore your options and discover how booking early can turn your travel dreams into a reality. Together, we’ll ensure you get the best deal, the best experience, and the peace of mind that comes with planning ahead.