1. Know the best time to go
Christina Vidal1, a travel blogger, avoids peak season. “Hawaii over Christmas! I don’t want to fight over lawn chairs and there are plenty over the holidays,” she says. She suggests shoulder season—that month or two before or after peak season. You can save up to 40% on flights and accommodations. Vidal recently visited Sydney in March, outside of peak season, as most Americans travel to Australia during our winter. “It was beautiful—75°F and sunny.” Give red-eye flights a try too, they usually have more space and lower price tags.