Festive Season Sales and Travel Offers: How to Find the Best Deals and Save Money

The Festive Season is one of India’s busiest travel periods, with Diwali holidays, family reunions and long weekends driving demand for flights, hotels and holiday packages. To attract customers, airlines, hotels and online travel platforms frequently introduce seasonal promotions, bank discounts, cashback deals and special reward programmes.

However, an attractive discount does not necessarily mean you are getting the best deal. Hidden fees, restrictive booking conditions, limited refund options and minimum-spend requirements can reduce the actual savings.

With a little planning, travellers can make more informed booking decisions, use existing rewards and take advantage of festive promotions without overspending.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Karthik Venkataraman, CPRO at Vernost, and Bernard Corraya, general manager at Wego India, shared insights into making the most of festive offers. Here are the key strategies to consider before booking your next trip or shopping during the seasonal sales.

1. Plan Your Purchases and Set a Budget

Before browsing festive sales, identify what you genuinely need and decide how much you can afford to spend. Make a list of planned purchases, travel requirements and other expected expenses.

Having a budget helps you distinguish useful discounts from offers that encourage unnecessary spending. It also makes it easier to compare competing deals without being distracted by countdown timers or promotional messages.

For travel bookings, estimate the overall cost of your journey, including accommodation, transport, meals and other expenses. This provides a more realistic picture of affordability than looking at the advertised flight or hotel price alone.

2. Stay Flexible With Travel Dates and Destinations

Travelling during peak festive dates can be expensive because demand for flights and accommodation often increases around major holidays.

If your schedule allows, consider travelling a day or two earlier or later than your original plan. Even a small adjustment to your departure or return date may reveal more affordable options.

You can also compare alternative destinations that offer a similar experience at a lower overall cost. For example, if your preferred holiday location has expensive accommodation during Diwali, another destination with comparable attractions may fit your budget better.

Flexibility does not guarantee lower prices, but it gives you more options when comparing available fares and hotel rates.

3. Check Your Reward Points Before Spending More

Unused reward points can help reduce the cost of festive shopping and travel. Many consumers accumulate points through bank cards, airline loyalty programmes, hotel memberships and retail rewards without regularly checking their balances.

Karthik Venkataraman recommends reviewing these balances before making fresh purchases.

Festive promotions may also introduce bonus-point campaigns or special redemption opportunities. Depending on the programme, accumulated points could help cover part of a flight, hotel stay or eligible purchase.

Before redeeming them, check their expiry dates, applicable restrictions and redemption value. Using points simply because they are available may not always offer the best value.

4. Use Price Alerts to Track Flight Fares

Flight prices can fluctuate depending on demand, seat availability and booking patterns. Checking the same route manually every day can be time-consuming, particularly when planning a trip several weeks in advance.

Bernard Corraya of Wego India highlights the importance of monitoring fares when looking for suitable travel deals.

Price alerts available on travel platforms can help travellers track changes in fares for selected routes. Instead of repeatedly searching for the same flight, you can receive notifications when prices change, depending on the platform’s features.

However, a lower fare does not automatically mean a better booking. Compare baggage allowances, cancellation conditions, departure times and other charges before making a decision.

5. Maximise Bank Offers and Promotional Discounts

Festive sales frequently feature bank card discounts, instant payment offers, cashback promotions and coupon codes.

These offers can reduce the cost of eligible purchases, but the advertised discount may depend on specific conditions. Some promotions require a minimum transaction value, apply only to selected cards or limit the maximum discount available.

Before completing a transaction, check the following:

• Minimum spend: Confirm whether your purchase meets the eligibility threshold.

• Discount cap: Check the maximum amount you can save.

• Eligible payment methods: Verify whether your card or digital wallet qualifies.

• Offer validity: Ensure the promotion is still active.

• Exclusions: Review whether particular products, routes or bookings are excluded.

Compare the final payable amount after applying the offer rather than relying solely on the headline discount.

6. Combine Reward Points With Money

Some loyalty programmes allow customers to pay for a booking or purchase using a combination of reward points and cash.

This option can be useful when you do not have enough points to cover the entire cost of a flight, hotel stay or other eligible expense.

Before choosing a points-and-money payment option, compare it with the cost of paying entirely in cash. Check how much value you receive for the points used and whether the booking qualifies for additional rewards.

The aim is to make your existing rewards work harder without spending more than necessary.

7. Choose the Right Payment Method

The payment method you select can influence the final cost of a festive purchase or travel booking.

Credit and debit card promotions, digital wallet cashback and instant discounts may offer additional savings. Some payment methods may also provide reward points or other benefits on eligible transactions.

However, compare the available options carefully. A payment method with an attractive promotional offer may not necessarily provide the greatest overall value if it involves additional fees or conditions.

Check the eligibility requirements, cashback limits, minimum transaction amounts and validity period before paying.

If you use a credit card, consider your ability to repay the balance on time. Interest charges can outweigh the savings from a festive discount.

8. Compare the Total Cost of Flights and Hotels

When booking festive travel, avoid making decisions based solely on the first price displayed in search results.

The final amount may include taxes, convenience fees, baggage charges, seat-selection costs or other extras. Hotel bookings may also involve additional charges, depending on the property and reservation conditions.

Compare the total price across reliable booking platforms and review what each option includes.

For flights, consider baggage allowances, departure and arrival times, layovers and cancellation rules. For hotels, check the location, included meals, taxes and refund conditions.

A slightly more expensive booking may provide better overall value if it includes essential services or offers greater flexibility.

9. Read Expiry Dates, Refund Rules and Offer Terms

Reward points and promotional discounts often come with conditions that can affect their usefulness.

Some points expire after a specified period, while certain promotional codes are valid only for selected dates or booking categories. Refunds and cancellations may also be subject to restrictions.

Before confirming a booking, review the terms carefully.

Pay particular attention to cancellation deadlines, refund eligibility, rescheduling charges and whether promotional discounts remain valid if you modify your reservation.

Understanding these conditions in advance can help you avoid unexpected expenses if your travel plans change.

10. Book Through Trusted Platforms and Avoid Fraudulent Offers

Festive sales can attract fraudulent advertisements, misleading promotions and suspicious booking links. Deals advertised at unusually low prices may encourage travellers to share payment information on unverified websites.

To protect yourself, book through established travel platforms, official airline websites or verified hotel booking channels.

Avoid clicking suspicious links received through unsolicited messages or social media advertisements. Check the website address carefully before entering personal or payment information.

Never share one-time passwords (OTPs), card security codes or other confidential banking details with someone claiming to help you complete a booking.

If an offer appears unusually generous, verify it independently before making a payment.

11. Combine Loyalty Rewards, Payment Offers and Travel Deals Strategically

Using several benefits together may improve the value of a festive purchase, provided the relevant terms allow it.

For example, an eligible booking might qualify for a promotional discount and a payment-related benefit while also allowing the customer to redeem existing reward points. However, not all offers can be combined, so check the applicable conditions before relying on multiple discounts.

Karthik Venkataraman emphasised that consumers increasingly look for value that extends beyond a single transaction.

“Today’s consumers want more than a one-time discount. They want value that adds up across every purchase, booking and payment. Loyalty rewards, smart payments and travel offers work best when used together, and with a little planning, the festive season can deliver benefits that last well beyond the celebrations,” he said.

The key is to compare the final cost, understand the restrictions and use benefits that genuinely suit your needs.

How to Make the Most of Festive Offers: Key Takeaways

Getting better value during the festive season does not necessarily mean finding the biggest advertised discount. It requires comparing prices, understanding offer conditions and planning purchases around your actual needs.

Travellers can improve their chances of finding suitable deals by staying flexible with dates, tracking flight prices, checking reward balances and comparing the complete cost of bookings.

Before paying, review bank offers, cashback limits, cancellation policies and expiry dates. Use trusted booking platforms and follow basic payment-security practices to protect your money and personal information.

With careful planning, festive promotions can help reduce travel and shopping expenses while making it easier to manage your holiday budget.