It's time once again for that great American tradition that everyone coming back to work so highly anticipates - Cyber Monday. We've worked so hard preparing Thanksgiving dinner, spent half of our paycheck on Black Friday, spent the other half on Small Business Saturday, and spent Sunday at home rooting for our favorite football teams (because we had no money left to go out with). Now, we reward ourselves with a little more deal hunting as we keep one eye on the clock this Monday. And we're expected to highly reward ourselves for a holiday well done - as sales today are expected to reach $1.5 billion across the board.  

For my boss who is no doubt reading this: I'm not shopping today...I'm doing research. Yeah. Research.

Lucky for me, one of my favorite bloggers, Johnny Jet, made my research a whole lot easier by compiling a huge list at his blog. We retweeted the list earlier this morning - if you missed it, click here to see his list of Cyber Monday travel sales. From the list, there's a whole lot to see, and some great deals for your travel needs this winter and into the new year. So which ones do I like the best? Here are my Cyber Monday must-haves (if I were shopping on Cyber Monday...which I'm not doing until 5:01 PM):

• Amazon Kindle Fire: $129 with promo code FIREDEAL
  Amazon's mighty wonder tablet (or is it an e-reader) is on sale for a steal. And while its limit one per customer, it is still a great entry-level tablet that won't break the bank. I recommended packing a tablet in my ideal carry-on bag to keep you entertained on the flight, or while behind a trip delay at your favorite airport - and at $129, you really can't go wrong.
• eBags: 30% off, and free shipping
  Speaking of the ideal carry-on bag (to carry your tablet/e-reader and everything else you will need to survive a trip cancellation), you might be in need of a new one. I know I am — as my trusty travel backpack has at least one hole in it. Good thing eBags is offering free shipping today, and 30% off many of their items. The only downside is that I can't interact with the bags before I buy. But for the right price? I think I can live with it.
• Scottevest: 30% off select items
  Of course, you don't want to carry EVERYTHING in your bags - especially if there's a baggage loss or delay (which nobody wants). Which is where I've been impressed by Scottevest — which has enough pockets (hidden and otherwise) in their stylish jackets to hold everything you own. Nine of their best sellers are on sale today for 30% off, including their vest with 22 pockets! I'm hoping Santa puts one under the tree for me this year...assuming I've been good enough.
• Airline Cyber Monday Deals: Alaska, Frontier, Southwest, and Virgin America
  Now that you have all the gear to go, you just need a way to get there. Of course, the airlines are getting into the spirit of sales as well today! 
  — Alaska Airlines is offering up to 30% off flights - great if you're on the West Coast.
  — Frontier Airlines is also offering flights starting at $49 one way, but many of them lead back to their main hub in Denver.
  — If you don't mind flying on Christmas Eve, try Southwest Airlines - as they're advertising $100 or less one-way flights.
  — Virgin America, acquired by Alaska Airlines, deals can now be found online.
  — None of these four are your airlines? That's ok - try Google Flights or the ITA Matrix for deals too - as many airlines follow suit with the rest of the deals out there.

Most importantly, don't forget to pick up travel insurance to accompany your adventures. So what are you planning to buy this Cyber Monday? Let me know in the comments below! Whatever I decide to purchase (after working hours, of course), I'll be sure to review in a later blog!

(Ed. Note: No incentive was given to mention any product or service in this blog. Travel Insurance Services and its affiliated companies do not endorse nor guarantee any product or service mentioned in this or any blog. However, we sure would love to hear about your experiences with them!)