Every year as the holidays roll in, our inboxes fill with “BIGGEST SALE EVER!” subject lines, countdown timers, and more promo codes than anyone knows what to do with. While we love the excitement of the season, as a small, women-owned travel company, we choose not to participate in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday chaos and we want to share exactly why.

1. We Don’t Want to Get Lost in the Noise

The holiday season is a whirlwind. With every brand shouting louder and flashing bigger discounts, small businesses, like Women Who Explore, often get buried. Instead of throwing ourselves into the storm, we’d rather focus on what we do best: creating meaningful, life-changing trips for women around the world.

2. “Holiday Sales” Often Mean Inflated Prices and That’s Not Our Style

Here’s the not-so-fun truth about the holiday sales cycle: to offer deep discounts, many companies have to raise their prices earlier in the year. That’s not something we’re comfortable doing. We believe in honesty and transparency - not marketing tricks.

We know the psychology behind sales and how our brains light up when we score a good deal, but we don’t want to mark something up just to mark it back down later. It doesn’t feel good. It doesn’t feel real. And it definitely doesn’t align with our values. We have a strong community and loyal guests so we believe that they value our transparency more than the sales high.

3. We Want Our Trips to Be Affordable All Year Long

Instead of big sales twice a year, we focus on keeping our prices as accessible as possible every single day.

No gimmicks. No surprise inflation. No “buy now or you’ll miss out forever” panic.

We want to offer fair, consistent pricing, because we know travel is an investment, and we want as many women as possible to experience it. We firmly believe that that travel and adventure is empowering and encourages women to become empowered in their daily lives as well.

4. We Want You to Feel Confident Booking Anytime

Travel shouldn’t come with pressure. You shouldn’t feel like you have to jump on a trip right now because of a 48-hour sale. You should be able to book your adventure when it feels right for you, your life, your budget, your timeline.

That’s why our pricing stays steady.

So What Do We Celebrate During the Holidays?

Community. Connection. Reflection.

We celebrate the women who show up year after year with courage, curiosity, and a love for exploring this big, beautiful world.

We celebrate the fact that we get to do what we do—not because of hype-filled sales, but because of the incredible women who travel with us, support us, and believe in this community.

Thank You for Supporting a Women-Owned Small Business

Does this mean we will never offer sales? Of course not! Sometimes it's worth having a sale to ensure a trip fills up, sometimes we're feeling like a little sale to celebrate a special date (like our business anniversary) is worthwhile. But, if you've followed us for any length of time, it's usually $150-$250 off... meaning it's a bit of a treat, but no hidden inflation.

Choosing not to participate in the holiday sale rush might make us a little unconventional, but it also keeps us grounded in our values and those values are the heart of everything we do.

Whether you’re dreaming of your first adventure or planning your next one, we’re here year-round, offering the same thoughtful experiences, the same transparent pricing, and the same intention behind every trip.

Travel when you’re ready. We’ll be here.