Each November, while shoppers queue for televisions and toasters, travellers of finer taste refresh booking sites with the same zeal. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday have become the world’s annual passport sale, the rare moment when five-star sanctuaries quietly hang “discount” signs behind their marble receptions.
This year, the offerings are particularly lavish. From the vine-draped hills of Mendoza to the over-water villas of the Maldives, luxury resorts are trimming rates with all the precision of a maître d’ slicing prosciutto. And, unlike the chaotic high-street variety, this sale promises serenity rather than stampedes.
Wine, wellness and Argentinian grace
At the foothills of the Andes, SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, conceived by Argentina’s first female winemaker, Susana Balbo, is offering 30 per cent off stays of two nights or more. Valid for travel between June and September 2026, the promotion invites guests into a world where Malbec meets mindfulness.
Here, wellness rituals borrow from the elements, cuisine flirts with high design, and guests can wander across to the neighbouring Balbo bodega for private tastings guided by those who actually bottled the dream. The deal runs 28 November – 2 December, booked directly through the hotel’s site. As Balbo herself notes, “We wanted to create a retreat that embodies Argentina’s soul, generous, bold, and beautifully aged.”
Mexican splendour, family in tow
Across the equator, Mexico’s Velas Resorts are treating Cyber Week as an art form. Between 28 November and 1 December 2025, their acclaimed properties stretching from Los Cabos to the Riviera Maya will offer up to 25 per cent off nightly rates plus a cavalcade of extras: free kids’ stays, half-price teens, spa credits, and even hydrotherapy sessions that could make Poseidon jealous.
At Grand Velas Los Cabos, guests receive 10-20 per cent off, free stays for children, and discounted airport transfers. Over at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, each adult receives a US$50 spa credit per night and a complimentary lifestyle photography session, because even memories deserve good lighting.
Meanwhile, Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta, a serene adults-only enclave, pairs its 20 per cent discount with 25 per cent off green fees and a complimentary dinner for two at its sister property. Those who prefer boutique intimacy can head to Mar del Cabo, where discounts soar to 40 per cent and half-off transfers sweeten the deal. Details: blackfriday.velasresorts.com.
Turks and Caicos turn tropical temptation.
Further north-east, Sailrock South Caicos is inviting guests to experience “barefoot luxury” at near-bare prices. Its two-week Cyber Sale (24 November – 8 December 2025) slices up to 40 per cent off room nights, including the coveted Peninsula Villas. The savings extend well into 2026, with added resort credits worth US$100 to US$500, depending on villa type.
Think of it as the Caribbean’s polite way of saying, “You deserve another sundowner.”
Maldivian bliss – redefined and reduced
If ever there was a word that didn’t belong beside “discount”, it’s Maldives, yet here we are. Sun Siyam Resorts is embracing Cyber Season with up to 45 per cent off across its five archipelagic jewels, from Siyam World to Vilu Reef.
Book between 1 November and 1 December 2025, and you could find yourself breakfasting atop a floating tray before upgrading (free of charge) to a villa with a private slide into turquoise perfection.
At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, a week-long stay earns round-trip seaplane transfers and “buy one, get one free” spa treatments — a phrase travellers rarely hear south of the equator. Iru Fushi entices families with free waterskiing for kids and complimentary transfers for extended stays, while Vilu Reef adds a 60-minute couples’ massage, bubbly on arrival, and dinner dine-around privileges.
Even Sri Lanka’s Sun Siyam Pasikudah joins the celebration, tossing in spa discounts, champagne dinners, and complimentary cycling, proving that indulgence and exercise can, occasionally, coexist.
A key swap for the jet-set
For travellers who prefer a marble foyer of their own, HomeExchange Collection is knocking 30 per cent off its annual membership (usually US$1,000) from Black Friday through Travel Tuesday using code HECACCESS30.
The private network connects luxury homeowners keen to trade keys rather than bills, all under the watchful eye of a dedicated concierge team. Whether it’s a Parisian penthouse or a Byron Bay beach house, members enjoy authentic stays steeped in local character and the smug glow of a saving well made.
Visit homeexchange-collection.com to apply the discount before 2 December.
Run Rome, not the other way round.
In Italy, archaeologist and art historian Isabella Calidonna laces up her trainers for a limited-edition Hidden Rome Running Tour 2026 Black Friday Edition. From 26 November to 10 December 2025, small groups (two to seven runners) can jog through secret ruins and sleepy piazzas at sunrise for a total of €110, regardless of group size.
Ordinarily, participants would pay up to €80 each, making this sprint through history one of the season’s most enlightened bargains. Bookings: archeorunning.com. As Calidonna quips, “There’s no better way to see the Eternal City than before it wakes up and before the traffic.”
The verdict: champagne taste, sparkling value
Taken together, these offers show how the luxury sector now dances elegantly with digital retail’s rowdier sibling, the flash sale. What began as a shopper’s scramble for electronics has evolved into a curated invitation to the world’s best suites, spas, and sands.
Still, the advice from seasoned travellers stands firm: read the fine print, note the blackout dates, and book directly wherever possible, not just for peace of mind, but because quite often the resort sommelier answers faster than an algorithm.
So, as the season of “add to cart” descends, one might wisely swap the online basket for a beach hammock. After all, you can’t drink rosé in your inbox.
By Soo James – (c) 2025
Read Time: 5 minutes
About the Writer
There’s nothing predictable about Soo James, and that’s precisely her charm. Of Malaysian descent, she set down academic roots at the University of New South Wales, majoring in Arts, before veering off into the unlikeliest of places: IT. It mightn’t sound romantic, but somewhere between data strings and deadlines, Soo found a fascination with how people and words connect.
What began as a curiosity soon turned into a craft. Over time, her writing slipped effortlessly into travel blogs and lifestyle features, each piece marked by her dry wit and a mind that notices the small, telling details others might miss. She writes with a traveller’s eye and a local’s heart, grounded, observant, and quietly amused by the world’s contradictions. Today, at Global Travel Media, Soo’s words do what travel should always do: take readers somewhere new, even if only for a few minutes.
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