Thursday Getaway: Deals for a last-minute New Year’s Eve trip

Welcome to Thursday Getaway, our weekly roundup of last-minute travel deals on flights, hotels, luggage and more. We're scouting the best discounts ahead of the weekend, whether you're ready to travel tomorrow or sometime in the near future. Keep up with all our travel coverage here.

With winter weather already wreaking havoc on Christmas weekend travel plans, you may be reticent to even think about getting away to celebrate the New Year. Nearly 2,000 flights in and out of the United States have already been canceled, as a "bomb cyclone" develops near the Great Lakes.

For those who are watching and waiting to see how the weather pans out next week, we've put together a handy list of deals that you can save and tap last-minute in the event of clearer skies to ring in the new year, including the 10 cheapest cities where you can travel during the holiday weekend.

Here are a few extra travel deals if you find yourself planning a trip:

Flight deals

Expedia

If your ideal New Year’s Eve involves fresh powder, you’ve only got a few days left to snag 15% off member pricing on popular ski destinations from Expedia. The sale ends on Christmas Day, so book your escape to the slopes now. 

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor has slashed prices by 50% on its Reco local experts, who can help plan and book your trip, be it this weekend or in 2023. Plug in your destination and let these guides do the rest for just $100.

Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix, known for its personalized boxes of clothing and accessories, wants you to have party clothes for New Year’s Eve no matter what, even if your luggage gets lost. Thanks to a new Travel Style Insurance program, the company is sending a limited number of $500 promo codes or free expedited boxes of clothes to folks in a jam, whether they’re a member or not.

To apply, send a copy of your lost baggage form to Travel-Style-Insurance@stitchfix.com through Dec. 31.

CLEAR Plus

Cut to the front of the airport security line on your way to your New Year’s destination: Right now, Kayak is offering a free three-month trial of the CLEAR Plus membership, which is “a faster way to verify your identity so you don’t have to wait in crowded lines to have your ID checked,” according to the website. (It’s different from TSA PreCheck, which “expedites the physical screening process,” the team adds.) "Members use CLEAR's network of dedicated lanes to verify their identity with their eyes or fingers, replacing the need to take out their wallet and driver's license," the team explained in a recent press release. Nab the trial for the holiday season; the annual fee is $189. 

Hotel deals

Hotels.com

Through Christmas Eve, the hotel booking site is offering up to 30% off hotels for the holidays, making a last-minute New Year’s Eve escape possible to destinations ranging from Las Vegas to New York City.

Booking.com

Find “Late Escape” deals on a variety of hotels from this online travel agency, with savings of 15% or more on properties in destinations like Paris, Houston and Cancun through Jan. 3.

Priceline

The booking platform’s “Season of Savings” continues this week with up to 40% off Florida hotels. If you envision kicking off 2023 with your toes in the sand, check out the deals on beachside rooms.

Caesars Entertainment

This hotel portfolio includes popular hotels in Vegas and Lake Tahoe, among other destinations, and it's dishing out discounts up to 30% on select properties when you book stays three nights or longer. Use promo code LONG3 until Jan. 31, 2023, valid for stays through March 2. 

NYC Hotel Week

Is your first trip in 2023 to the Big Apple? The city’s hotels are offering up to 23% off stays from Jan. 3 to Feb. 12 as part of the annual NYC Hotel Week. Participating properties include Margaritaville Resort Times Square, NoMo Soho, Walker Hotel Tribeca and more.

Atlantis Paradise Island

This collection of Bahamas hotels is hosting early access Dec. 25-31 to its January sale, with 25% off stays of five nights or more plus $500 resort credits for select properties. 

Luggage deals

Amazon

If you just got your luggage out of storage and can’t find your packing cubes, Amazon has plenty of holiday deals on packing solutions, from suitcases and backpacks to cross-body bags, passport holders and more.

Monos

The minimalist luggage brand is holding a "Spend to Save" sale Dec. 9-25 where shoppers can get $75 back on purchases of $500 or $150 on carts totaling $800.