Jet Setting With Me | Luxury Travel Hacks and Tips for Unique Traveling Experiences and Dream Destinations

133. Black Friday Travel Deals 2025: Insider Tips to Shop Smart & Save Big

• Michele Schwartz

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Want luxury travel perks without paying full price? In this episode, I’m sharing insider tips to help you shop smart and score big during Black Friday Travel Deals 2025. You’ll learn how to prep like a pro before the sales drop, which luxury travel items and experiences are actually worth snagging, and how to avoid common pitfalls that leave most travelers overpaying or missing out altogether.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Michele on IG: @jetsettingwithmichele or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MMTinsiders

Contact Michele to plan your next vacation: www.makinmemoriestravel.co/contact, michele@makinmemoriestravel.co, or schedule a 15 minute consult: https://tidycal.com/texasmfs/15-minute-meeting

This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Hello jet setters.  Michele. Here with Making Memories Travel, your personal memory maker and your wanderlust instigator. Get ready. Are you ready now? Because today's episode is your ultimate Black Friday survival and success guide. I have tailored it just for travel lovers like us who want to spend smart travel extra AF and unlock deals that most people don't even know exist. For example, I was recently in Mexico at the ALGV Ascend Conference. ALGV stands for ALG Vacations and it's a travel and vacation division of Apple Leisure Group which is now owned by Hyatt.


 

None of that means anything to you, but it's a tour operator and it packages travel experiences around the world. And I was one of only 750 top advisors who was invited to attend the Ascend conference. As I said, it was in Cancun, Mexico and there I got early access to Black Friday specials with a code that was only for people who attended that conference. ALGV is my go to for booking Hyatt all inclusive resorts, European hotel stays. And now they added exciting adventures to Japan. Plus thanks to my College of Disney Knowledge certification, that is correct. I took the class. It's like 12 hours online.


 

I regularly receive insider only offers like the current one. Yes, current still running, which is 50% off of the normal deposit required for your Disney cruise. So if having a Disney cruise experience is on your holiday wish list for 2026, then now the time to book it and keep that 50% off of your deposit so that you can bank it because you should have your money as long as possible, not Disney. These exclusive deals let me secure savings for you that most travelers and many travel advisors simply don't have access to. So today I'm going to share how to prepare thoughtfully and navigate this retail marathon with ease and discover exclusive travel savings from my very front row seat at industry conferences and other professional associations. Are you ready to snag these travel must haves? Okay, let's do it. Black Friday is no longer just about snagging the hottest gadgets of TVs. In fact, it's no longer even just Friday.


 

It pretty much started for me anyway around October 25th, like not even until Halloween on my birthday. And for us luxury travelers, the quote unquote Black Friday season has become a strategic launch pad to elevate every aspect of our journeys. State of the art luggage, bespoke cruise packages. It's the time when high end travel gear and luggage drop some price. Exclusive vacation offers reveal themselves. But here is the truth and Actually, it goes for all of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, the whole week. Starting to shop without a plan is a fast way to miss out or get stuck with deals that don't deliver the difference between a wise purchase and a regretful impulse. Who doesn't have a bunch of those lying on the floor of her office asking for a friend? It lies entirely in good preparation.


 

My grandmother always used to say, it is not a bargain if you don't need it or it doesn't fit. So knowing when to act, where to look, and what truly adds value separates us savvy jet setters from the overwhelmed shopper next door. So how do you prepare like a pro? Well, that's what I'm here for. Start by clarifying your travel goals. What's your dream trip? I may have mentioned that in 2026 my dream trip is going to Japan for a family vacation. So I'm going to be making my list with that dream trip in mind. What gear is going to elevate your packing game? I have already invested in lots of gear for my packing game and in fact I have a previous episode for that which I will list in the show Notes Once your priorities are set, create that organized wish list and start tracking prices now. Knowledge is power.


 

I sign up for sales alerts from reputable travel suppliers and all the specialists you know. I am plugged into the best insider resources. I mean, come on. Most importantly, establish a clear budget. Okay, that is for Mr. Jetsetting with me because I cannot be relied upon to do that on my own. And keep it in mind amid the sales frenzy. This ensures that every purchase is purposeful and adds to your luxury experience.


 

And it doesn't clutter your closet or blow your bank account. Here are some must watch categories. High tech travel essentials like noise canceling headphones, portable chargers and smart luggage tech. You won't be able to turn an airport into a Zen zone, but you might be able to relax just slightly more Packing Perfection Think those luxury travel cubes that I'm always talking about here. Chic yet functional duffels with compartments. Travel accessories designed to blend style and packing efficiency. Again, check out my previous episode on how to pack and Carry on efficiently. I swear the angels were singing when I learned how to do that.


 

Pack and a carry on only travel, fashion and comfort. Things like cashmere wraps, convertible totes. Those luxe travel scarves that transition effortlessly from the plane to the conference registration day to evening. And then of course, exclusive experiences and getaways. Things like the cruises, boutique resorts curated adventure packages where your insider advantage that means you listen to me unlocks perks and upgrades that are not open to everyone. And because I know busy jetsetters want to shop with confidence, I keep a carefully curated Amazon storefront stocked with trusted travel essentials that frequently go on sale during Black Friday. It is your effortless shortcut to packing like a pro without digging through overwhelming options. The link to that is definitely in the show notes One of my biggest prep secrets is creating a detailed wish list and setting up price alerts.


 

Usually I use Google for that. It helps not just for gear, but also for travel deals. As I said, my family and I already know we want to visit Japan next year. I've decided I want to do it as a cruise. So as soon as cruise lines release their Black Friday specials like two weeks ago, I am ready. I find the perfect itinerary. I have all of our passport info on hand so that I can jump on placing the deposits the moment the deals drop. But it's not just about speed.


 

I have to double check the cancellation and refund policies because savvy travelers know some of the best Black Friday rates, especially from lines like Princess and Virgin Voyages and come with non refundable deposits. So ensuring we have the right travel protection is key to protecting our investment and maintaining peace of mind. That's especially important because a I don't know how many people are coming with us to Japan and b there's no way I'll be able to get everyone's vacation schedules and check the date before it expires. So I'm going to jump on it, put a deposit down, have everyone that I think might come's passport on hand and do it. But also checking those important things like the cancellation and refund policies and travel protection. So here are some insider tactics. Timing is everything. So even if Black Friday officially falls on Black Friday, savvy deals have already started.


 

And yes, we just talked about how they're going to extend well into Cyber Monday and pretty much until the Christmas shopping season. Flash sales, midnight specials. They're going to require focus and quick fingers. So like me, use those alerts and those calendars to be ready when the clock strikes deal time. Vet each deal ruthlessly. Another great tip from Mr. Setting with me Again, take my advice. Do as I say, not as I do.


 

Don't get dazzled by the shiny price tags. Study what's included cancellation policies, restrictions and reviews. A quote unquote great deal is nothing without any substance. Stick to your budget with discipline. Yes, another one we can attribute to Mr. Setting with me. Say yes to purchases that enhance your trip or your lifestyle and say no to unnecessary impulse buys that don't align with your travel vision. Yikes.


 

I love a good impulse buy. And when you spot the perfect exclusive travel offer, lock it in immediately. Limited availability is real. There are only so many rooms, cabins, airline seats, train seats, you name it where discounts apply. So hesitation can definitely cost you with a preferred cabin location, a particular view at that resort or or an upgrade. So I can help you access these deals and here's how. This is the real bonus of being part of my Makin Memories Travel family. You are not doing this alone.


 

My role goes beyond booking. I am your travel designer, your concierge, your if you will imagineer turning exclusive agent only Black Friday specials into tangible offers that are that are tailored just for you. You may notice on my socials I never advertise a specific travel special. That is because I am only going to offer it to you if it fits into your particular trip that we are planning. Ready to tap into these off the radar deals? Here is where your action comes in. You have to visit my website contact page and then we can get started together. We will make sure that you don't just dream of your next location and experience. You're going to live it better and smarter and less expensive than ever before.


 

Okay jet setters, thank you for spending this time with me. I hope this episode is your toolkit for turning Black Friday into a launch pad for extraordinary journeys. In fact, if you DM me into my Instagram with the word toolkit I can send you this in the form of an outline and a little sneak peek for next week. With the holidays upon us, my very next episode is going to tackle how to stay calm, cool and collected during the busiest week of travel with all the sass and the smarts that you have come to expect from me. How to Not Be a Karen in the height of Holiday travel. You will not want to miss that next week. As always, subscribe, share and follow for more insider tips and luxury travel magic. Until next time, make every journey a memory worth savoring.



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Michele Schwartz

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