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This Fourth of July, travelers have a couple of flash sales to jump on, including 35 percent off round-trip tickets to Europe through Icelandic airline Play and equally impressive discounts on all Celebrity Cruises. In the Bahamas, Atlantis Paradise Island resorts are throwing in a free night on stays of four nights or longer to embrace the Independence Day spirit. At this point in the summer, you might be envying your jet-setting friends’ social media posts and wanting to keep up, or planning ahead for post-Labor Day trips—whatever your motivation for wanting a getaway, you’ve got plenty of savings to tap into as you build out an itinerary.
If you have kids to think about, bring them on vacay for free with Holland America Line cruises, or get $700 off their ticket to board a Rocky Mountaineer train through the American Southwest. If you don’t have kids to think about, some of our favorite international resorts and spas are throwing in plenty of resort and flight credits right now, and travel company Indus is offering great rates on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the United Arab Emirates. Whatever vibe you’re looking for with your next getaway, there’s no need to sweat—these summer travel deals are here to help. (Looking to upgrade your travel gear? We have deals on luggage, clothes, and outdoor supplies rounded up here.)
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Alex Erdekian.
Flight deals
Get 35 percent off round-trip flights to Europe with a Fourth of July flash sale
Blink and you’ll miss it, but from July 3 through July 7, Play is helping Americans get out of dodge and explore Europe on a budget with 35 percent off round-trip flights from select East Coast airports (BIW, BOS, SWF, and IAD) to major European hot spots. Travel to Glasgow, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg between September 1, 2023, and October 31, 2023, or to Iceland, Copenhagen, London, Dublin, and Amsterdam between September 1, 2023, and December 15, 2023. Use promo code PLAY4JULY at checkout to redeem.
Cut costs big time with Frontier Airlines’ shockingly cheap one-way flight sales
Summer and autumn flight sales are in full swing at Frontier Airlines, where travelers can currently snag one-way flights as cheap as $25 between select locations on select dates. This option works best if you’re flexible with dates and destinations—you won’t have a lot of wiggle room with these deals. If you’re feeling restless, on a budget, and eager to get out of town, consider Frontier for an affordable start to your getaway.
Grab cheap one-way flights with Hawaiian Airlines’ sale
It’s easier than ever to say aloha to a Hawaiian getaway thanks to Hawaiian Airlines’ current sale, which offers discounted rates on one-way trips to several popular islands from West Coast cities. Flights start as low as $119 for basic economy between numerous California and Hawaii cities, and select flights from Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Austin, Boston, Las Vegas, and New York also make appearances in the sale. Travel dates currently run from August through October.
Save up to 30 percent on vacation packages with Spirit Airlines
The budget airline is making it a cinch to save big not just on airfare, but hotels and more with its vacation packages, which are currently up to 30 percent off when travelers book flights, hotels, or rental cars together. Several of the top deals offer trips to Las Vegas and Cancun from cities such as Chicago, Houston, and New Orleans, starting at shockingly low prices that include flight and hotel. In addition, international destinations, including Mexico and the Dominican Republic, are also on the table.
Save up to 40 percent on hotel stays in Etihad Airways’ Stopover Package
Stopover packages are a great way to add another destination to your journey without spending too much extra cash. Travelers who want to experience Abu Dhabi can take advantage of Etihad Airways’ discounted Stopover Packages, which currently include 40 percent off two- or four-night hotel stays in top properties, or a free stay in select three- or four-star hotels. The offer also comes with discounts on restaurants and other experiences, as well as amenities like 24-hour check-in and buffet breakfast. Travelers must make bookings at least three days in advance before arriving in Abu Dhabi.
Train deals
Save $700 on children’s bookings for a scenic train tour through the Southwest
Bring your kids on a journey through the scenic American Southwest with Rocky Mountaineer’s family pricing promotion, which applies to bookings for July and August. The eligible train tour is called the Rockies to the Red Rocks, a three-night trip that takes passengers from Denver, Colorado, to Moab, Utah. Children—anyone 17 and under—can get $700 off their tickets so long as they’re sharing a room with a parent or guardian. Read up on the promotion and call to apply the discount at booking.
Ride out Amtrak’s range of ongoing sales
Amtrak is offering some good longer-lasting deals. Tickets on the Downeaster train, which runs five round-trips between Boston and Maine each day, are now eligible for a buy one, get one half-off deal. The special discount runs through December 2023, so you have plenty of time to enlist a travel buddy—just book at least three days in advance. More details on the discount here.
Riders can also enjoy up to 20 percent in savings on train rides booked at least seven days in advance, trimming costs on a variety of routes that range from coast-to-coast with no change fees. Plus, on most journeys, seniors save 10 percent on ticket costs—that means people 65 and over for qualifying domestic trips and ages 60 and up on cross-border expeditions. In addition to all that, Amtrak recently sweetened the savings on its children’s discount, so little ones between 2 and 12 years old may travel for 50 percent off with an accompanying adult.
Tour deals
Take up to $400 off an international tour with EF Go Ahead Tours’ semi-annual Sale
Whether you’re planning travel for this fall or looking ahead to 2024 and 2025, you’re eligible for savings on several international tours. EF Go Ahead Tours has themed tour options that span just about every European region and a few other continents (Australia and New Zealand anyone?). All you have to do to save is scroll through the many, many tour options and pick your experience before July 5, when the promotion ends. Unlike many other travel deals, this one has endless dates and destinations to browse.
Consider an affordable Dubai and Abu Dhabi tour package that includes airfare, accommodations, and more
Seven nights’ accommodation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, daily breakfast, activities and transfers, and airfare from the US—all for under $1,100 if you play your cards right—is a pretty impressive deal and is the latest offering from tour operator Indus Travels. With a starting price of $1,049 for select dates in September (other dates between July and November are available at a range of prices, plenty of which are still a great value) the newly announced Magical Dubai itinerary starts in Dubai and ends in Abu Dhabi; the rate does not include a daily tourist tax of about $5.
Hotel deals
Act on a Bahamian resort company’s Independence Day sale to get one night free
Atlantis Paradise Island is running a brief Independence Day sale at all four of its Bahamas properties, which applies to bookings of four nights or more any time between now and November 20. On those eligible bookings, the fourth night comes free—and the reservation will include a daily $25 resort credit. All you have to do is book before July 11.
Find discounted room rates at Freehand Hotels in New York, LA, and Chicago
Boutique hospitality company Freehand Hotels just announced its “Maximum Fun at a Minimum Price” special, meaning room rates are low through the entire month of July. Private rooms (including solos, kings, queens, and triples) start at just $129, and quad rooms (meaning four separate beds) start at $149 at Freehand’s New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago locations only. There’s limited availability, so don’t wait too long to get plans in order, but the promotion technically runs through July 31 and applies to stays through the end of August, so you have a little wiggle room.
Save 30 percent, if not more, on hotels with the Expedia Summer Sale
Expedia always offers enticing deals for last-minute bookers, but in these high-temp months, savings are even hotter. Expedia’s summertime sale means getting 30 percent or more off on select stays booked through August 19, 2023. Right now, we’re eyeing 35 percent off at Zoetry Montego Bay in Jamaica, 30 percent off at Hotel AKA Brickell in Miami, and 30 percent off at Eaton in Washington, D.C.
Make up for part of those flight costs with perks at a new Cabo resort
Corazón Resort and Spa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, is drawing people in right now with its Sea, Sun & Savings deal, offering credits on credits to help guests afford the full experience. Bookings come with a daily $75 credit for food and beverages, a $150 massage credit, a $50 credit for a rooftop tequila tasting, and $100 to spend at Cabolectric, a sustainable activity company most notable for its electric surfing equipment.
Get pampered with spa and flight perks at Sandals and Beaches resorts
This summer, in honor of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts are hosting a Rhythm & Blues Caribbean sale that includes a $500 credit toward airfare for trips lasting seven nights or longer (or, a $250 credit toward airfare for five- or six-night stays), plus a $150 spa credit on stays at least five nights long. The bookings just need to be made before July 27, and travel can take place any time through New Year’s Eve.
Save 15 percent or more on spontaneous bookings with Booking.com
Booking.com loves a getaway deal, which comes in handy when you’re letting your wallet determine your next vacation. The site promises at least—not “up to”—15 percent off qualifying hotels of all price ranges, which are sorted by destination on the site to help guide you to a decision.
Stay longer, save bigger at Omni Hotels this summer
The longer you stay, the more savings you’ll rack up with Omni Hotels & Resorts’ Longer Days, Longer Stays promotion, running now through September 28 and eligible for trips during the same time frame. The enticing package means that a one-night stay equals 10 percent off, two nights equals 15 percent off, and three nights or longer equals up to 20 percent off the cost of the booking. Countless Omni properties in every corner of the United States are participating, giving you full control over where you venture. The question now is… how do you choose?
Celebrate the 120th anniversary of NYC’s Kixby Hotel
To celebrate its 120th birthday, the Kixby Hotel, one of the longest standing hotels in New York, has launched its 120 Days of Summer package, which applies every Friday this summer. The deal is chock-full of savings with a numerical nod to the hotel’s longevity, with $120 rates for lux king or queen room categories; $1.20 drinks and burgers at on-site restaurants; and $120 worth of in-room goodies. The deal runs through August (reserve at least two days in advance) and availability is limited; use code 120 to check available dates.
Earn 20 percent off nightly rates and a $100 daily resort credit at Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos
This butler-serviced villa resort in Providenciales is welcoming families this summer with 20 percent off the best available rate, plus a $100 nightly resort credit (and a gift for kiddos under 12), for travelers who book before September 30 for trips through December 18, 2023. Activities on tap for kids and teens this summer include bone fishing excursions, sailing lessons, and private cooking classes.
Get a sweet, suite deal at Mondrian Los Angeles
Level up your LA vacay with discounted suites at Mondrian Los Angeles—they’re currently 20 percent off and also come with a $25 daily in-room dining credit and guaranteed late check out of 1 p.m. (early check-in is based upon availability; the deal also is subject to availability, and blackout dates may apply). The suites offer travelers a spiffy home base right in the heart of West Hollywood, and the property’s dreamy rooftop pool is a perfect way to wind down after a day of sightseeing and celeb spotting.
Cruise deals
Kids cruise free in parties of three or four with Holland America Line
Family vacations with Holland America are extra affordable in 2023 and 2024 with the cruise line’s limited-time Kids Cruise Free booking deal. The special offer provides free travel to destinations like Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean for up to two kids, if they’re booked as the third and/or fourth guests in the party. As far as Holland America is concerned, anyone 18 and under qualifies as a kid, so you can bring your teens along for the journey just as well.
Jump on a Mediterranean cruise sale starting at $399 for seven nights
Through September 8, Costa Cruises is taking some serious dollars off its Mediterranean cruises, offering a variety of 8- to 15-day itineraries. The two most affordable options start at $399: One departs from Savona, Italy, and the other from Civitavecchia, Italy (outside of Rome). The various itineraries on sale offer range, with many centered around Italy, Spain, and France, and others stopping through ports in Greece, Croatia, and Turkey.
Get huge July 4th savings on all Celebrity Cruises, or sail to Galapagos Islands
Between June 29 and July 6, Celebrity Cruises is hosting a buy one, get one 75 percent off Fourth of July sale for most itineraries between July 2023 and April 2025. If you’re shipping out in a group of four, you can also book a stateroom and enjoy an $800 credit to spend on-board—splurge a little on a Veranda Stateroom or nicer and receive an additional $50 in credit as a bonus.
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