Why 'dead weeks' are the best time of year to travel
The weeks after Thanksgiving might be the best time of year to travel. Prices are low, the weather is often mild and attractions are uncrowded.
Travel expert and TV personality Samantha Brown recently posted a Reel on Instagram stating as much, saying, “The Monday after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of what is known as a dead week. ... It represents a huge lull in travel, so things like airfare and hotels are 50% off their summer peak price highs.”
In an email interview with TPG following her video, Brown expanded, saying, “Dead Weeks begin the Monday after Thanksgiving and can run up to two weeks following the holiday. The week is especially ‘dead’ when Thanksgiving falls earlier in the calendar, like it did in 2022 when it was on the 24th.”
“Looking at the first two weeks of December, there is a definite opportunity for cheaper fares, a ‘mini shoulder season’ between Thanksgiving and the uptick that happens for Christmas,” an Expedia spokesperson shared. “For example, a roundtrip ticket from NYC to Paris starts around $620 this week and climbs to over $1,000 starting on the 17th.”
However, they added that travelers are increasingly coming home the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving weekend to avoid crowds and the high prices associated with returning on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so airports remain busy the first half of that week.
Accommodations are also cheaper then. According to Vrbo, occupancy levels and average daily rates on vacation rentals drop during the first two weeks of December.
Even using points and miles can get you better deals during these periods — dead weeks are one instance where dynamic award pricing can work in your favor because demand and prices are low.
A festive and affordable time to go to Europe
These dead weeks are an ideal time for travel to Europe. There are basically no crowds, it’s not very cold yet and prices are cheap, yet things are fun and festive thanks to the start of the holiday season.
“Europe in winter can be really magical because you’re not worrying about the excessive crowds you’ll experience during the summer months with high heat AND high prices. It’s a lot more relaxing,” Brown told TPG. “Right now, people are fixated on the Christmas markets, and they are very busy in places like Munich, Cologne, and Vienna, but even Portugal has Christmas markets which are low key and are favorites amongst the locals.”
Related: The 15 best Christmas markets in Europe
Brown adds that saving money in secondary cities beyond Paris and London is particularly easy. She especially loves Vienna and Budapest, Hungary, this time of year.
“People complain that it gets dark early, but these cities are magical at night with their monuments all lit up,” she told TPG. “Vienna has so many former palaces-turned-museums to tuck into if it gets too cold. [In Budapest], the baths are a must for a soak; even in frigid temperatures, the hot water has a medicinal effect.”
Of course, deals aren’t just found in Europe. Rates are often cheaper in Mexico, the Caribbean and South America in the weeks after hurricane season wraps up in late November and before peak holiday travel in late December.
Brown also suggests Southeast Asia this time of year for savings.
“In countries like Vietnam and Cambodia," she said, "winter is their high season, and the cities are always busy, but the dollar goes a lot further.”
The dead months of January and February
Reading this at home and feeling a bit of FOMO? Luckily, the weeks following Thanksgiving aren’t the only dead weeks of the year. Ski destinations and beach resorts withstanding, January and February are basically dead months outside of the MLK Day and Presidents Day long weekends.
“Hotels.com coined the term 'cold shoulder season' to describe those overlooked weeks when hotel rates plunge,” Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, said of the weeks right after the New Year.
Vacation rentals also see a big dip in January, when average daily rates plummet the week of Jan. 5 after New Year’s and peak during the long weekend of MLK Day, according to Vrbo data. Then, vacation rental rates drop again before the February holidays during the week of Jan. 26 for 2025.
Even notoriously expensive cities experience dead weeks.
“New York City knows how to capitalize on the huge lull in travel during off-weeks,” Brown said, pointing out that New York City offers deals on dining and accommodations in early 2025 during Restaurant Week and Hotel Week, which are both held from Jan. 21 to Feb. 9.
Another lull in the fall
Another dead week happens right after Labor Day when school typically starts in September. According to 2024 data from Expedia, airfare tickets cost about $100 less than peak summer prices the week following Labor Day.
Related: Shoulder season goes mainstream
It’s not just airfare and hotels seeing price drops. Cruises also have deals during dead weeks. For example, cruising in the Mediterranean and Hawaii is at its cheapest in the fall after school starts, particularly in November.
Bottom line
The first two weeks of December are known as the dead weeks of the travel year. This sweet spot immediately after Thanksgiving and before Christmas provides a lull in demand for travel, so there are plenty of deals to be found — and destinations are less crowded.
Even if you missed out on this year, there are several other dead weeks in the travel calendar that occur in the fall and later in winter.
Time to start planning ahead.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.