Best travel deals Dec. 2023: Frontier’s unlimited pass is still $499 for the year, plus tons of cheap cruises

UPDATE: Dec. 20, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EST This post is updated weekly with the latest travel deals on flights, cruises, theme park tickets, hotels, and more.

We all follow those people on Instagram who are somehow always on vacation. We don’t know their life story, but we’d be willing to bet they didn’t pay full price for that excursion — they just planned strategically. We’re keeping track of the best flight, train, luggage, and hotel deals below to help you do the same. Now get outta here.

Flights

Why we like it

Frontier isn’t done breaking the internet with its All You Can Fly passes. After a handful of super cheap seasonal passes that unlocked unlimited flights over a span of six months or so, Frontier has finally given the deal treatment to its annual unlimited pass. For a one-time payment of $499 — the same sale price the summer pass saw for months — you can fly as much as you want to both domestic and international Frontier destinations for an entire year, starting May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025. Be sure to read the fine print before snagging any of the tickets.

More flight deals

• JetBlue — save up to $300 on flight and cruise bundles

• Priceline — save 20% or more on top all-inclusive destinations when you bundle a flight and hotel

• Southwest — one-way fares as low as $39 through Dec. 18

Trains, cruises, and rental cars

Why we like it

If you and a friend need a sign to book that cruise you’ve been talking about taking since last year, Norwegian Cruise Line’s current deal is it. With it, booking your own cruise ticket unlocks a free fare for a second guest — and ideally, you two would split the cost of the first ticket for a roundabout 50% off deal. The Greek Islands, Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Seychelles, Northern Europe, and Alaska are all options available between four and 17 days. You’ll also save with an unlimited open bar, free specialty dining, and more.

More train, cruise, and rental car deals

• American Airlines — save up to 35% on rental car base rates and save up to $5,400 per stateroom when you book an Oceania cruise

• Amtrak — save up to 60% on eight tickets to various destinations, up to 20% on Northeast trips, up to 15% on California and Virginia trips, and more

• Carnival — save up to 35% on cruise rates plus up to $50 in onboard credits and reduced deposits per person

• Celebrity Cruises — save 75% on a second guest’s fare

• Priceline — book a cruise with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and more and get up to $2,000 to spend at sea

• Princess Cruises — save 40% on fares and third and fourth guests for free, plus free upgrades

• Royal Caribbean — save 30% on all cruise fares plus free kids’ fares

Theme park deals

Why we like it

Vacation doesn’t feel like vacation when you’re trying to cram a theme park’s full glory into a few short days. You can double the length of your two-day trip for free when you purchase single-park tickets for two days (as long as they’re consecutive). That’s four days for the price of two, so you can really take your time between Universal and Islands of Adventure — or even devote a whole day to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You could even use your savings to pay for an upgrade to include access to Volcano Bay.

More experience deals

• Busch Gardens — get a single-day ticket for as low as $79.99 or save 40% on two-park tickets at Tampa or save up to 50% on date-specific tickets at Williamsburg

• Hersheypark — save more than 50% on date-specific one-day tickets including Christmas Candylane trips

Hotels

Why we like it

Quick weekend excursions are society’s sanity staples — but sometimes, you deserve more. If you didn’t get to take that long trip this summer, Kimpton’s extended “Stay Longer and Save” promo is your nudge to get away before 2024. Through Dec. 31, you can save between 15% and 20% on stays three nights or longer at a ton of stylish participating Kimpton locations across the U.S.

If a one or two-night trip is in the cards, however, you can also save up to 20% off the best flexible rate when you book at least seven days in advance.

Mashable Deals

More hotel deals

• B Hotels and Resorts Orlando — save up to 25% on stays of two or more nights when booked by Dec. 20

• Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen — stay three nights and get a fourth night free plus a $100 resort credit per stay, or save 25% on any rate when you book by Dec. 31

• The Grove Resort & Waterpark Orlando — save 15% when you stay at least three nights

• Hamilton Princess and Beach Club Bermuda — save 15% on two nights, 20% off three or four nights, or 25% on five or more nights when you book by March 24, 2024, and stay before April 30, 2024

• Hampton Inn — save up to 17% on the Best Available Rate when you book at least seven days in advance

• JetBlue — save up to 20% on hotels if you have a JetBlue flight, save up to $300 on Nassau packages, or get a fourth night free when you book four nights at the Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood

• Marriott Bonvoy — save up to 20% on hotel and flight bundles to select destinations

• Priceline — save up to 15% on thousands of hotels and 40% on select Florida hotels, plus save up to $625 when you bundle your hotel and flight

• Sonesta — save up to 25% when you book before Feb. 29 with code WINTER24 or save up to 30% on your stay of two nights or longer with code SAVEMORE

• Walt Disney World — save up to 20% on stays most Sunday to Thursday nights from Jan. 9 through Feb. 22, 2024 or 25% on most nights from Feb. 25 through March 24, 2024

• Wyndham — Wyndham Rewards members can save 15% or more on stays of two nights or more

Luggage

Why we like it

Viral sustainable brand Solgaard is currently holding its biggest sale of the year, slashing up to 25% off hardside luggage (complete with integrated USB charging ports), weekender bags, and backpacks, including the genius Carry-On Closet that you’ve probably seen in an ad on TV. Purchases over $199 come with a free Lifekit Versa organizer (a $55 value).

Solgaard’s claim to fame is its portfolio of eco-friendly materials like Shore-Tex, a fabric made from ocean-bound plastic, from which each of its products are made. Since conception, Solgaard and its partners have diverted more than one million pounds of plastic from the ocean.

More luggage deals

• American Tourister — save up to 45% on select styles plus an extra 15% off any set with code EXTRA15

• Away — 20% off select suitcases

• Bagail — save 20% packing cubes in select colors plus an extra 20% with Amazon Prime

• Calpak — save up to 45% on select best sellers plus get a free $10 gift card with orders over $75

• Delsey — save up to 40% on select luggage sets, backpacks, carry-on duffels, and more

• Herschel — save 30% sitewide

• Kohl’s — save up to 60% on suitcases from Kenneth Cole Reaction, London Fog, Rockland, and more plus take an extra 20% off select merchandise with code GOSAVE20

• Macy’s — save up to 60% on Bric’s Milano, DKNY, Jansport, and more

• Mark & Graham — save up to 40% on select personalized totes, handbags, travel pouches, and more plus an extra 20% off clearance with code EXTRA20

• Samsonite — save up to 43% on select styles plus an extra 10% off any set with code DLS10

• TravelPro — save up to 25% sitewide

• Tumi — save up to 20% on select styles

• Walmart — save up to 60% on hardside luggage sets from Jetstream, Reebok, Sunbee, and more