Black Friday may have come and gone in a blur of hype and half-empty fare buckets, but the bargains have not entirely fled the scene. This week, Ian McIntosh’s Weekly Travel Deals rounds up what is actually worth a second look: China Southern’s sharp fares out of Adelaide, hotel discounts across Australia and New Zealand, cruise steals in the Mediterranean and beyond, and a few trade-only gems for those in the know. As always, read the fine print, call your favourite travel agent, and treat these offers as an invitation to start planning the next escape rather than a reason to panic-book at midnight.
Not much is happening this week after the Black Friday deals – or were they? According to the experts, the airline specials didn’t overwhelm due to limited availability.
CHINA SOUTHERN has returned to Adelaide Airport – and to celebrate, if you are planning a 2026 escape to China, you can now score direct flights from $971.
BEST WESTERN has a deal for Rewards Members. Save up to 25% on a two-night stay at select Best Western hotels across Australia and New Zealand. This offer ends December 16 2025.
ACCOMMODATION:
ADINA BARRACK PLAZA in the heart of Perth’s CBD has completed a $4 million refurbishment. To celebrate, its Getaway Package includes a bottle of wine, late checkout and rates from $209.
FROM LAST WEEK:
MALAYSIA AIRLINES Black Friday deals include up to 20% off selected flights to destinations like Singapore, Krabi, and Tokyo, along with up to 25% off children’s fares. Enrich members can get an extra 5% off, and there are also savings on Golden Lounge access and seat selection.
CELESTYAL has unveiled a new snap sale offering savings of up to 70% on 113 sailings departing between December 2025 and October 2027. Sailings in Greece and the Mediterranean include 16 departures of the seven-night ‘Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia cruise, sailing round-trip from Athens.
ACCOR is the choice if you are heading to NZ – Stay two+ nights and enjoy up to 20% off across more than 30 hotels.
FIREFLY – sister airline to Malaysia Airlines – invites you to discover more of Southeast Asia. From $599 return, connect seamlessly to destinations including Krabi, Cebu and Siem Reap via Kuala Lumpur.
TRADE ONLY: The Travel Industry Club has updated Oceania cruise deals and released new rates. Have a look at Sydney to Bali, 14 nights, departing February 8.
Interline Travel has released 2026 rates for Coral Expeditions – Kimberley’s cruise line. Coral Adventurer carries a maximum of 120 passengers,
Remember, conditions always apply to these specials. Check airline prices from your capital city. I recommend you use a travel agent, and travel insurance is essential. Finally, I make mistakes like all of us. Check websites to confirm details. Want to join our mailing list? Send a request to [email protected]. Ian McIntosh is Australia’s senior traveller. Remember, we have no commercial relationship with any operator.
by Ian McIntosh – (c) 2025
Read Time: 2 minutes.
About the Writer
Veteran journalist and publisher Ian McIntosh has spent a lifetime exploring the world and sharing its wonders. As the founder of Travelnews Australia, his nationally distributed, full-colour travel trade publication earned the esteemed Telstra Business Award.
Though now retired, Ian remains a passionate globetrotter with a soft spot for small-ship cruising and discovering good-value hotels across Europe. His most recent adventure involved a rather enthusiastic Thai elephant named Bo, who promptly deposited him into a pond. A true storyteller at heart, Ian continues to travel with humour, curiosity, and an unwavering love for the road less travelled.
