The Best Leap Day Deals and Freebies

This post comes from Julie Ramhold of partner site DealNews.com.

Leap day only comes once every four years, on Feb. 29 of a leap year like 2020, but it’s a special opportunity to score freebies and other great deals.

Some are meant to help leap day babies celebrate their rare birthdays. However, other offers are available to everyone.

Check out our list of confirmed leap day deals for 2020 below, and learn what to expect from other restaurants and retailers as well.

Confirmed leap day deals

Stay in a D.C. hotel for $29

Traveling to Washington, D.C.? The Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle will be having a leap year sale on Feb. 29. Two different offers will be available, so you can pick the one that best fits your needs:

Choose from 29 rooms at a $29 rate (Sunday nights only).
Receive a 29% discount for any future reservation, from April 1-Dec. 31.

Liaison Washington Capitol Hill is another hotel in the district that’s offering a special package for leap day. And this one you don’t have to wait for. Simply book a trip between now and Sunday, March 1, and you’ll automatically save 29% on your stay.

Enjoy a discounted warm getaway

Like the D.C. hotels above, you can take advantage of a 29% discount at a variety of resorts in warm-weather locales.

The Marriott Cancun Collection will be knocking 29% off stays of three nights or more using the coupon code “SPJ.” It’s only valid on Saturday for either the Marriott Cancun Resort or the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa. While the sale is one-day-only, you can book for any time from Sunday, March 1, through Dec. 24, 2020. Beware that blackout dates might apply in certain cases.

You can find a similar offer for the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino via the coupon code “LPR.” The promotion is available only on leap day for stays of three nights or more this year from March through October.

If you want to stay closer to home, there are a couple of resorts in Sarasota, Florida, having leap day specials.

Book a Sunday-through-Thursday stay at the Lido Beach Resort and save up to 29% on the best available rates when you use the coupon code “OPALFLASH.” The sale will run from Saturday through Monday, March 2, and is valid on stays from Saturday through Oct. 31.

Also in Sarasota, The Resort at Longboat Key Club will have up to 29% off select stays via the coupon code “OPALFLASH.” This sale also runs Saturday through Monday and is valid on Sunday-through-Thursday stays from Saturday through May 31.

Score BOGO lobsters

Legal Sea Foods is bringing back its special leap year offer for 2020 — the year’s extra day is a chance for an extra lobster.

This one-day promotion gives you the chance to get two 1-pound steamed lobsters and a choice of two sides for $29 on Saturday. For context, diners normally only get one lobster, and the current market price of a 1-pound lobster is $27.95. So, this is practically a “buy one, get one free” (BOGO) deal.

Note that Legal Sea Foods is encouraging lobster lovers to make reservations now, as this deal could be quite popular.

Purchase discounted city passes

Shop Go City through Sunday, March 1, to receive 15% off select city attraction passes. You can find passes for attractions in 26 destinations, including:

Barcelona
Berlin
Boston
Cancun
Chicago
New Orleans
New York
Paris
San Francisco

Book a cheap hotel

Anyone can shop Hotels.com and save 29% on select hotel stays for February through March. You can also save an extra 8% using the coupon code “LEAPYEAR2020.”

And if you’re actually a “leapling” — that is, someone born on a leap day — you can tweet at @hotelsdotcom on Saturday. Tell them your biggest struggle of actually being born on a day that only happens once every four years, and Hotels.com will choose the top 29 responses. Those 29 winners will receive a discount code worth $290 each toward a hotel of their choice.

Motel 6 will be offering guests between 10% and 20% off during a flash sale. Book by Monday, March 2, for stays from Saturday through March 31, to take advantage of this leap day deal.

Enjoy free photo books

Shop Chatbooks and you can celebrate your leap day birthday for the next four years.

Simply email [email protected] by March 7 with the subject line “Longest Birthday Ever!” and you’ll be able to receive four years of free photo books. The offer is valid for printing one photo a day, as part of Chatbooks’ Ongoing Series Softcover Photo Books, into a total of up to 25 books over the next four years.

Enter to win free travel

Orbitz is hosting a leap day giveaway in which participants can win a free upgrade to Platinum status and $290 in Orbucks. You can also win things like saving on baggage fees, airport Wi-Fi and TSA Precheck.

Just post #OrbitzSweepstakes on the @orbitz Instagram page before the end of leap day Saturday night.

Leap day deals to expect

Here are all the leap day deals we found in 2016 that might be making a return in 2020.

Leap day deals for everyone

Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Diners who spent at least $10 at the Italian food chain could get any small plate for only $2.29 on Feb. 29, 2016.

Dog Haus: In 2016, the gourmet sausage outlet offered a free upgrade from single to double patties on all burgers on Feb. 29.

Krispy Kreme: The donut chain offered a dozen Original Glazed donuts for only $2.29 to visitors who purchased another dozen donuts.

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant: The chain knocked the prices of its fried ice cream dessert and Leap Year Margarita to just $2.29. Ordinarily, these treats are closer to $7 and $8, respectively, so your indulgence costs significantly less.

Outback Steakhouse: Diners could get 15% off their entire lunch or dinner order on Feb. 29, 2016.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Loyalty club members could buy a 24-ounce classic smoothie for $2.29.

Leap day freebies for ‘leaplings’

“Leaplings” are those folks born on Feb. 29 — who can have a birthday party only once every four years — and some leap year deals are meant only for them. Check out the following ways restaurants and retailers celebrated in 2016.

Achatz Handmade Pie Co.: Leap year babies could snag a free slice of pie on their big day.

Benny’s Chop House: Parties of two or more could feast on an 8-ounce filet mignon for free.

Buca di Beppo: Diners could score a free order of spaghetti and meatballs.

Del Frisco’s Grille: Dining in meant you could get a cheesesteak eggrolls appetizer for free.

Great American Cookies: Participating locations handed out Individually Yours Cookie Cakes to the birthday celebrants for free.

Hard Rock Cafe: Those celebrating leap year birthdays on Feb. 29, 2016, could get a free entree. They could choose from burgers, salads, sandwiches, and more.

Holsteins: Leap day babies got a real treat at this restaurant, as they could snag its Birthday Cake Bam-Boozled Shake and a classic burger for free.

Houlihan’s: Leap day diners could enjoy a free entree worth up to $15. Even better, they could also get a gift card for 28 more free entrees.

Olive Garden: Diners could indulge in four free Dolcini desserts to celebrate their special birthday. Dolcini desserts are Olive Garden’s mini treats, and they normally start at $2.99.

Pizza Hut: Folks who were celebrating birthdays could treat themselves to a Personal Pan Pizza for free at participating Pizza Hut locations.

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