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Leap Day travel deals 2024: Holiday for less with offers on flights, hotels and packages

Planning for some shoulder season sun or an Easter city break? These money-saving deals will put a spring in your step

Natalie Wilson
Thursday 29 February 2024 13:49 GMT
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There’s big discounts on travel from Southwest Airlines, Hard Rock Hotels and HF Holidays this 29 February
There’s big discounts on travel from Southwest Airlines, Hard Rock Hotels and HF Holidays this 29 February (Getty Images)

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It only comes around once every four years, but this Leap Day, airlines, holiday providers and hotel groups are giving customers an incentive to seize the extra calendar day with some serious sales.

In our opinion it’s never too early to book ahead for a bargain holiday. Although winter may feel never-ending, evenings are getting lighter and balmy summer days and poolside parasol lounging could be just four months away.

If you can’t wait until summer, spring has plenty of calendar events to celebrate with a trip. Whether a foodie city break to chocolate heavyweights, from Belgium to Switzerland, a getaway to some far-flung winter sun destination, or a last-minute retreat to a snow-coated ski resort, penny-pinching off-peak breaks are plenty.

Here are the top travel deals of the week to save hundreds on early bird summer deals and final hour February adventures.

Read more from Independent Travel:

Best Leap Day travel deals:

Southwest Airlines

30 per cent off flights

Save 30 per cent on stateside flights today
Save 30 per cent on stateside flights today (Getty Images)

Looking to fly stateside? In honour of the leap year Southwest Airlines has 30 per cent savings on select US flights when code “SPLASH” is applied at checkout. Book a trip between March and May by the end of 29 February to enjoy the spring travel offer.

Book now

jetBlue Vacations

Savings up to $629 on holidays

Spend over $2,000 on jetBlue for $129 off your holiday
Spend over $2,000 on jetBlue for $129 off your holiday (Getty Images)

This Leap Day holidaymakers who spend over $2,000 on a jetBlue Vacation can save $129 with code “LEAP129”, and the more cash you splash the bigger the savings. Save $229 off $3,500 and up holidays with code “LEAP229”, $429 off $5,500 and up with code “LEAP429”, and $629 off holidays worth $7,500 and up with code “LEAP629”.

Book now

Qantas Airways

$250 off round-trip economy cabin fares

Get airborne in Australia for less this February
Get airborne in Australia for less this February (Getty Images)

Travellers can get airborne in Australia for a fraction of the price this February with Qantas Airlines. Those looking to go down under can enjoy $250 off round-trip economy cabin fares from the US to Australia and New Zealand with the code “LEAPDAY”, before 11.59pm on 29 February. 

Book now

Hard Rock Hotels

29 per cent off Hard Rock Hotel New York

Celebrate 29 February with 29 per cent off a NYC stay
Celebrate 29 February with 29 per cent off a NYC stay (Getty Images)

Headed to the Big Apple? Hard Rock Hotel’s NYC hotspot is celebrating the Leap Day with 29 per cent off the best available room rate and a $50 food and beverage credit to use during stays over two nights long – one lucky city breaker will even receive a complimentary upgrade to the Rock Star Suite. The offer ends at midnight tonight for travel until 2 September 2024.

Book now

PLAY Airlines

25 per cent off selected flights from Stanstead and Liverpool

Iceland’s budget airline has a flash sale until tomorrow
Iceland’s budget airline has a flash sale until tomorrow (Getty Images)

Transatlantic flights are taking off for 25 per cent less with Iceland’s PLAY Airlines this leap year. Select routes departing London Stanstead and Liverpool to destinations including Iceland, the US and Canada will enjoy the discount until 1 March for travel between April to May and September to December 2024.

Book now

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

29 per cent off with code “LEAP29”

There’s also breakfast and a one-time $229 resort credit
There’s also breakfast and a one-time $229 resort credit (Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort)

Looking for a leap-year deal in St Lucia? Viceroy Resort’s Sugar Beach has 29 per cent off superior villas including breakfast and a $229 room credit. Book before midnight on 29 February for stays before 19 December 2024 using code “LEAP29” .

Book now

Graduate Hotels

29 per cent off hotel stays

Save 29 per cent on 33 Graduate Hotel locations
Save 29 per cent on 33 Graduate Hotel locations (Graduate Hotels)

For one week only, Graduate Hotels have up to 29 per cent off stays taken before 31 May when code “LEAPYEAR” is applied at checkout. With 33 university-anchored hotels in the UK and US, memorable holidays to Oxford, Cambridge, New York and Nashville are on the cards with a cheaper price tag.

Book now

Marine & Lawn Hotel and Resorts

A complimentary night when booking two night stays

A night’s shut-eye at Slieve Donard comes free on 29 February
A night’s shut-eye at Slieve Donard comes free on 29 February (Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts)

Until 3 March Marine & Lawn Hotel and Resorts is offering guests who book two nights or more at any Marine & Lawn hotel their last night entirely free. Impressive properties featured in the offer include Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, Rusacks St Andrews and Marine North Berwick in Scotland.

Book now

HF Holidays

29 per cent off selected self-guiding walking holidays

Rack up your steps for less with HF Holidays
Rack up your steps for less with HF Holidays (Getty Images)

HF Holidays leap year offer sees 29 per cent off selected self-guided walking holidays, including weeks in the Shropshire Hills and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Full-board ensuite accommodation, a cream tea on arrival day, and easy-to-follow routes await keen walkers who step up to claim the discount.

Book now

loveholidays

Five £1,000 holidays for Leap Day birthdays

Five lucky Leap Day babies could win £1,000 in holiday vouchers
Five lucky Leap Day babies could win £1,000 in holiday vouchers (loveholidays)

Those born on 29 February are in luck this Leap Day. They may only get to celebrate their birthday once every four years, but loveholidays has a sweeter. The company has five £1,000 holiday vouchers up for grabs by leaplings’ who enter before the end of Thursday. You can win a short-haul beach trip, city break, or long-haul package holiday.

Book now

Ongoing February travel deals:

Interrail by National Rail

15 per cent off Interrail Global Passes

There’s £30 savings on Interrail passes until 5 March
There’s £30 savings on Interrail passes until 5 March (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Rail fans keen for a summer on the tracks in 2024 are probably prepping to book their next interrailing adventure. Interrail by National Rail has savings of 15 per cent on Interrail Global Passes until 5 March that are sure to get the wheels rolling across 33 participating countries. With this offer, solo passes are just £155 for sustainable journeys to the Netherlands, Slovenia and Italy during peak travel season.

Book now

Citalia

Save up to £250 on multi-destination trips

Visit Sicily, Sorrento and Lake Como for £250 less this summer
Visit Sicily, Sorrento and Lake Como for £250 less this summer (Getty Images)

If the allure of Italy and the dolce vita is just too strong to resist this summer, Citalia’s savings of up to £250 on multi-destination trips to three or more hotels may appeal. The trips combine the cities, lakes and coastal greats on an epic Italian tour. There’s also up to £150 off when you combine just two and up to £280 savings per couple at Hotel Alpha, Sorrento this May.

Book now

Eurostar

Fares from £39 each way

Roll to classic European capitals with Eurostar from just £39
Roll to classic European capitals with Eurostar from just £39 (Getty Images)

With rail fares from just £39 this winter, Eurostar promises budget journeys to capitals including Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam less than two hours from London St Pancras International. The lowest fare seats are up for grabs now so you can secure a Parisian spring holiday or a canalside cycle in Amsterdam this summer. 

Book now

Crystal Ski

Last-minute ski deals from £397pp

Slide past surcharges with a last minute Crystal Ski trip
Slide past surcharges with a last minute Crystal Ski trip (Getty Images)

Crystal Ski is offering a range of last-minute deals to various European ski resorts in countries such as Bulgaria, Austria and France. Prices to hit the pistes start as low as £397pp for a week-long B&B break in Bansko, Bulgaria, with seven nights self-catering in Pinzolo, Italy, including coach transfers coming in at £408pp. 

Book now

Need some travel inspiration? Check out our roundup of balmy winter sun destinations and read up on where’s hot in April to plan your Easter break

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