🖤 Our Black Friday Shortlist: Tried, Tested, Trusted.
Mad Over Exploring
Hey there! We are Chai & Sunkist, travel content creators based near Washington, DC. We are just like most of you, with a 9 to 5 job trying to make the most of our paid time off.
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Nov 24, 2025
UPDATED - Friday, Nov 28 (the actual Black Friday)
Hi Reader,
If there’s one thing about us… we will never gatekeep the things that genuinely make our travels smoother, cheaper, and stress-free. We only recommend what we’ve tried, tested, worn out, replaced, and used again.
And with Black Friday in full swing, we’re rounding up the exact products, tools, memberships, and travel essentials that have become part of our real lives—not random Amazon picks or sponsored fluff. Just the things that help us travel better, spend smarter, and make every trip feel easier.
If it’s in this email, it’s because it’s in our home… or our backpacks… or our phones.
If you’re planning to travel smarter in 2026, start here. 👇
✈️ Thrifty Traveler Premium (50% Off)
Example of a cash deal from TTP
We can say this without blinking: TTP Premium has paid for itself hundreds of times over. So many of our best award flight wins started with a TT alert dropping into our inbox:
Our very first business class flight on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul
United Polaris biz class home from our Christmas markets trip
A crazy-cheap TAP Air Portugal economy fare to Lisbon
Multiple Air France/KLM economy deals to Europe (later upgraded to biz 🥂)
Last-minute Caribbean steals on AA — DR, Barbados, and more
And here’s why this subscription is genuinely worth it:
⭐ 1. It removes the stress of searching for deals
Finding the right award availability or digging through dozens of cash fares takes hours. Their team of experts does the hunting, so we can do literally anything else.
⭐ 2. It helps us pick our next destinations
If TT says “this is a crazy deal,” we listen. Many of our trips started because the deal picked the destination, not the other way around.
⭐ 3. Their award-booking guidance is unmatched
Cash deals are easy. But TT Premium spells out the exact steps for maximizing award redemptions — airline program to use, credit card points to transfer, exact routes and dates, best aircraft types and seats to choose, how long the deal will last, taxes/fees to expect, and everything in between.
And to prove how detailed they get, here’s the kind of intel we mean — this exact Virgin Atlantic business class deal dropped just days ago 👇
Pretty detailed steps on how to book this deal and what to look out for!
For $50, TTP becomes your 24/7 deal-hunter for the next 12 months. Future-you will be very, very happy.
If TTP helps you save on flights, CardPointers helps you earn the points that get you there.
It’s the app that removes every ounce of guesswork from maximizing your credit cards — no spreadsheets, no overwhelm, no “ugh, I should’ve used a different card.”
Here’s why this is an instant add-to-cart deal:
⭐ 1. It tells you the right card to use — everywhere
Groceries, dining, gas, travel — you’ll always know which card earns the most. And with the browser extension, CardPointers will even recommend the best card while you’re online shopping and surface any money-saving offers you can activate.
⭐ 2. It tracks all your credits so you never miss free money
Travel credits, Uber Cash, hotel credits, streaming, airline fee credits — everything in one clean dashboard with reminders before they expire. Most users report saving $750+ a year in a mix of cashback, credits, and points.
⭐ 3. It’s ultra-secure (no bank logins ever)
CardPointers never asks for your login credentials or card numbers — just the name of the card. Your financial security stays exactly where it should be: with you.
⭐ 4. It works everywhere you do
Available on iOS, macOS, Apple Watch, Android — plus a browser extension that can auto-add offers from Amex, Chase, BoA, Citi, Wells Fargo, and US Bank, saving time and money!
Point your phone at a store, and a bubble pops up telling you which card is best for that exact location. Fast. Simple. Weirdly satisfying.
For just half the price this Black Friday, CardPointers becomes your everyday points optimizer — making sure every swipe, click, and checkout makes you richer in rewards.
🎁 Tinggly Experience Boxes (33% Off)
If there’s one gift we keep coming back to year after year, it’s Tinggly.
It’s our favorite for newly married couples, anniversaries, holidays, and anyone who’d rather collect memories than things. And with 33% off through our exclusive code valid through Dec 7, it’s perfect for both early planners and last-minute gifters.
⭐ 1. One gift, endless experiences
From cooking classes to hot air balloons, romantic getaways to city tours — the recipient chooses from hundreds of experiences worldwide. No guessing, no pressure.
⭐ 2. Valid for years + redeemable anywhere
No expiry anxiety. They can redeem it whenever and wherever — from Europe to Asia to right at home.
⭐ 3. Beautifully giftable (physical or digital)
Choose a premium gift box or send it digitally in seconds. Either way, it lands with a WOW.
The public website offers a sale of 30% off, but if you'd like to stretch your dollar, use the link above and enter the code MAD to avail 33% off.
🗺️ Enjoy The Wood ( ̶6̶0̶ 65% Off + Extra 13%)
Snap from our housewarming party
We’re obsessed with this one — our wooden world map from Enjoy The Wood is front and center in our living room, and it’s become one of our favorite ways to display our travels. We’re constantly pinning new countries and states, reminiscing on past trips, and daydreaming about the next ones.
And here’s the insider secret about these viral wooden maps:
The public Black Friday sale is up to 65% off, but our code gives you an additional 13% off on top.
⭐ 1. A stunning, handcrafted piece of travel decor
Minimalist, modern, and super aesthetic — it instantly elevates a wall and always gets compliments.
⭐ 2. A meaningful way to track your adventures
Add pins for every country or state you’ve visited and watch your map grow with you.
👟 Kiziks — Our Everyday Travel Shoes (Up to 50% Off + Extra 10%)
These are more than our favorite travel shoes — they’re our everyday shoes.
We've worn them in all the continents we've visited so far: Europe, Asia, and the Americas… they’ve been our reliable slip-on, sprint-through-airports, walk-20,000-steps-a-day companions everywhere we go.
Us wearing our Kiziks everywhere we go!
And right now, several styles are under $80, some even under $60, with deals up to 50% off.
⭐ 1. Zero-effort slip-on convenience
Slide them on without bending down — a dream at airport security, on long-haul flights, or when you’re constantly on the move.
⭐ 2. Lightweight + crazy comfortable for big walking days
Perfect for roaming the streets of Italy, climbing viewpoints in Turkey, exploring markets in India, and strolling through Paris without sore feet.
⭐ 3. Durable through every terrain
Rain in Germany, heat in the Caribbean, altitude in Peru — they’ve handled it all like champs.
If you want photos of yourselves without asking strangers, this is the sturdy, reliable phone tripod we’ve taken everywhere. Lightweight, durable, and zero fuss.
🎉 If You Stuck Around — Here’s the Cherry on Top
Because you made it all the way to the end… here’s something extra sweet: all our guides + masterclasses are 50% off.
Need destination guides? — every itinerary, tip, and hidden gem, laid out.
Want miles & points resources to get started (or level up)? We’ve got that too.
The 50% sale ends on Sunday, Nov 30 at 11:59 PM EST.
If there’s a destination you’re dreaming of—or a miles & points topic you’ve been wanting us to break down—let us know! We’re already planning for 2026, and your wish list goes straight to the top.
That’s a wrap on our favorite tried-and-tested deals of the season. If you grab anything, we hope it genuinely makes your travels smoother and smarter. And as always… shop thoughtfully, shop responsibly, and only get what you’ll actually use.
Hey there! We are Chai & Sunkist, travel content creators based near Washington, DC. We are just like most of you, with a 9 to 5 job trying to make the most of our paid time off.
