It’s almost that time of year again: Deal-seeking shoppers, get ready to open your wallets for Amazon Prime Day 2023. This year, Amazon Prime Day will take place on July 11 and 12.
Not sure what all the fuss is about? Amazon Prime Day is an annual two-day shopping bonanza where Amazon offers some of its best deals of the year on everything from luggage and electronics to home goods and shoes. While it typically occurs once a year, there were two major sales in 2022: Amazon Prime Day in July and the Prime Early Access Sale in October.
Whether you’ve got a wish list ready or are new to the retail giant’s Black Friday–like deals, we’ve put together a quick rundown of everything you need to know to make the most of this year’s Amazon sale—including top-selling items from last year’s Prime Day to consider adding to your travel gear haul.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
What is Prime Day?
In case you’ve been blissfully unaware of the shopping holiday mayhem that is Amazon Prime Day, let’s get you up to speed: Amazon Prime Day is an annual 48-hour event that typically happens once a year, in which Amazon discounts thousands of products across every single category. Tech and home sales tend to be the most popular during these events—and amount to the biggest savings—but you can also score deals on clothing and shoes, luggage, beauty products, outdoor gear, and family travel essentials.
When is Amazon Prime Day?
Mark your calendars: Amazon announced Prime Day will begin July 11 at 3 a.m. ET and run for 48 hours through July 12.
What’s new about Prime Day this year?
This year, shoppers can expect to save on popular brands like Yeti, The Drop, Peloton, Sony, and new Amazon-exclusive deals from Alo Yoga and OPI. Even better, Amazon announced invite-only deals: members can request an invitation to unlock exclusive Prime Day deals that are expected to sell out, with discounts like up to 75 percent off an Amazon Fire TV 43″ Omni Series, 55 percent off JBL Live 660NC Noise Cancelling headphones, 50 percent off Foreo Luna 3 Facial Cleansing Brush, and more. In a press release, Amazon said “Members who are selected will be notified during Prime Day with instructions on how to purchase the item at the exclusive deal price.”
Now through Prime Day, Prime members can also shop select deals on other brands’ websites using Buy with Prime, a new shopping perk offering up to 40 percent off at participating stores (Briogeo Hair is among the participants). Eager shoppers can set up personalized deal alerts to receive notifications if a recent Amazon search or recently viewed item goes on sale. To set up these alerts—and avoid missing out on the deals you’re most interested in—visit the Prime Day event page on the Amazon Shopping app.
Do I have to be a member to participate?
Yes, you do have to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of these deals. Membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year (college students get a discounted rate), but you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here to try it out without committing to a full year. If you do keep your Prime membership account, you’ll have access to same-day, one-day, and two-day shipping on millions of products, two-hour grocery delivery via Whole Foods, Prime’s Try Before You Buy program, and more.
What sales can I expect?
During Amazon Prime Day, you’ll find a variety of can’t-miss sales: Lightning Deals, which only run for a few hours; Deals of the Day, which run for one specific day; and Best Deals, which extend beyond the two-day sale. There are likely to be deals on Amazon devices, like Amazon Echo and Alexa items, Fire TV sticks, Kindles, and Audible subscriptions. In-demand products from brands like Apple, Sony, and iRobot are likely to sell out, so if you see something you really want on sale, don’t hesitate to add it to your cart.
What did Traveler readers purchase most last Prime Day?
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most-purchased products our readers bought during last year’s July and October sale events through our recommendations. As always, tech essentials—especially noise-canceling headphones and Apple AirPods—were popular, with both travel accessories and comfortable sneakers among the other top items.
Are there any can’t-miss Amazon sales I can shop now?
While official Amazon Prime Day deals aren’t here yet, there’s already plenty of can’t-miss sales you can shop now, with big savings across categories including electronics, outdoor gear, sneakers, and more. Some of our favorite Amazon essentials are on sale right now, including select Bose speakers, Adidas running shoes, the Intex inflatable kayak, and the Bluetooth transmitter that makes watching movies in-flight easier than ever.
