Thanksgiving is the one week when nearly everyone is traveling somewhere. Planes fill up, airport lots overflow and the only available rental car is a van built for a family of nine. The trick is not finding a magic deal. It’s booking in the right order and keeping the little savings opportunities from slipping away.
You can earn Cash Back on a lot of these steps through Rakuten, which partners with over 3,500 stores, including dozens of travel sites. Joining is completely free, which is a small (very small!) price to pay for a service that has paid out over $4.6 billion to more than 17 million members.
A Booking Order That Works
Think of your trip planning in layers of priority, with the hardest-to-replace pieces first.
|
Priority |
What to book |
Why |
|
1 |
Flights |
Seats on the busiest days go first and prices rarely drop close to the holiday |
|
2 |
Lodging |
Popular towns and family-friendly rentals fill up early |
|
3 |
Rental car |
Inventory is tight during holiday weeks; pick a free-cancellation rate if you can |
|
4 |
Airport parking |
Lots near terminals sell out; reserving ahead saves a headache |
|
5 |
Activities |
Tours and tickets are the easiest to adjust late |
Start With Flights
The big booking sites are the place to begin. Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets let you compare flights and add a hotel or car in the same search. CheapOair focuses on airfare, and its Rakuten page lists Cash Back on completed bookings.
Watch out for exclusions. Hotels.com does not earn Cash Back on airfare, for example, and using a coupon code may void your Cash Back at Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets.
Travel days matter too. The days right before and right after Thanksgiving tend to be the busiest, while the holiday itself is often calmer. If your schedule is flexible, compare a few departure days and look at the total trip price rather than the headline fare.
Where to Stay
Staying with family is the ultimate budget-friendly move, but not everyone has the spare room. If you need a hotel or a vacation rental, these Rakuten partners are worth comparing:
- Priceline for hotels and Express Deals
- Booking.com for a wide mix of hotels and apartments
- Hotels.com for its One Key rewards program
- Vrbo for whole-home rentals when the whole family is traveling together
A home rental can be a more economical choice than booking several hotel rooms, once you count shared meals and space for everyone. Make sure to read the cancellation policy closely, though, since some rentals change their terms during holiday time.
Getting Around
Holiday rental cars go quickly (as in, they get booked fast, not that they drive fast!). Avis, Budget, Thrifty and Sixt are all Rakuten partners, and Turo is an option for car sharing.
Driving to the airport instead? Rakuten’s parking partners include The Parking Spot, SpotHero and Airport Parking Reservations, so you can earn Cash Back while your car waits patiently for your return.
Sale Timing at a Glance
Travel deals don’t necessarily follow the same exact calendar, so treat this as a general guide and not a set-in-stone rule.
|
When |
What tends to happen |
How to use it |
|
Several weeks before Thanksgiving |
Flight and rental inventory tightens |
Book flights and cars now rather than waiting for a price drop |
|
Black Friday and Cyber Monday week |
Travel sites often run promotions for later trips |
Check the Black Friday page for each store on Rakuten |
|
Right after Thanksgiving |
Interest turns toward December trips |
Look at holiday travel for Christmas and New Year’s |
Loyalty Programs That Can Help
|
Program |
Where |
Why it matters |
|
One Key |
Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo |
Rewards across a family of travel brands |
|
Genius |
Booking.com |
Levels unlock as you book more over two years |
|
VIP Rewards |
Priceline |
Member, Blue, Gold and Platinum tiers |
|
Avis Preferred, Budget Fastbreak and Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards |
Rental brands |
Faster pickup and perks, free sign-up |
Where the Extra Savings Hide
Once the big pieces of your trip are booked, there are a few small moves you can make to keep more money in your pocket.
- Click through from Rakuten for each booking, even if you use the same site twice.
- Join loyalty programs before you pay so the booking counts.
- Compare the total trip cost, including bags, parking and a rental, rather than only the ticket price.
- Save your confirmation emails until your Cash Back posts. Travel Cash Back usually posts after your trip, but the timing varies from site to site.
- Choose flexible rates for anything that’s likely to change.
Mistakes that Cost Travelers
- Waiting for a late fare drop that never comes.
- Booking a basic fare and then paying for bags and seat selection separately.
- Choosing a hotel far from the airport and spending the savings on rides.
- Adding a random coupon code that voids Cash Back.
- Forgetting about parking until the week of travel.
FAQs About Thanksgiving 2026 Travel
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026.
When should I book Thanksgiving flights?
Book your flights as early as your plans allow. Seats on the busiest days tend to go first, and holiday fares rarely improve close to departure.
Can I earn Cash Back on flights?
Yes, you can earn Cash Back on flights from several Rakuten partners, including CheapOair, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets. Hotels.com excludes airfare from Cash Back eligibility.
Does a promo code affect Cash Back?
It can, depending on the travel site. Orbitz, Travelocity, CheapTickets, Priceline and Hotels.com all say a coupon code can void Cash Back.
When does travel Cash Back post?
Cash Back typically posts after your trip is completed. Windows range from a few days to about three months, depending on the site.
Is a home rental better than a hotel?
It can be, especially for a big group. Compare the total cost, and make sure to read the cancellation rules.
