Travel can be expensive, and thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do it on a budget.

Being aware of them can help you pick which savings tips are worth it and which arent.

Im not suggesting you avoid any of the following methods for saving on travel.

Instead, Im presenting them so you’re free to be informed when you weigh your options.

Sometimes, you’re free to save enough money that the downsidesareworth it.

But at least youll know what to expect, and maybe you could even work around the cons.

Ive booked my hotelthrough discount apps or toolslike Hotel Tonight to save some cash.

And yes, sometimes it affects my stay.

But on a separate occasion, a friendly hotel clerk joked, Oh you booked on HotelTonight?

Were going to give you the worst room.

I asked, Do hotels really do that?

He said, We prefer when you book directly through us.

Some places will give you better service.

That means the smoking room at the far end of the hall away from the elevator.

Consumerist adds that a lot of hotels have lowest price guarantees.

The Points Guylists some of those hotels with guarantees here.

Ive also booked a hotel a little far away from the city center because its cheaper.

Sometimes this works well, and you get to explore a non-touristy part of the city.

However, it can also be a drawback.

Its not always a bad idea to book a hotel a little farther away.

However, consider the transportation system of your destination city.

Does the city have a simple bus or subway system with stops near your hotel?

What time does transportation stop running?

What do cab or Uber prices look like?

Weigh all of this against your potential savings.

That aside, these airlines alsooften charge a crazy amount of fees.

So many, in fact, that it may not be worth the savings.

During our trip to Dublin, we took a cheap Ryanair flight to London.

After all was said and done, they werent much cheaper than some of the other major airlines.

But sometimes, the discount carriers flight is still cheaper, even with those fees.

Just confirm you read the fine print before booking.

Ryanairsfees are listed here, and Spiritsare here.

This can also be more convenient, since these airports are usually less crowded and stressful.

But sometimes you make up for the savings and convenience in ground travel time once you land.

The flight is cheaper, but with traffic, it takes hours to get into the city.

Factor in transportation costs, and it becomes much less of a deal.

Similarly, red eye and early morning flights are often cheaper, but you should consider your lodging.

Some hotels offer discounts for late night arrivals, but not all of them do.

Its worth asking the hotel about their policy and making your case.

Alternatively, you could also book that night usingone of those last minute hotel appslike we mentioned above.

, you might probably find a room at a deep discount in the middle of the night.

Then, book the rest of your trip at the hotel of your choosing.

Its a hell of a lot cheaper, and I still have a great time.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

For one, some destinations are cheaper during certain months because the weather is terrible.

It might be super hot or rainy, or it could even be a little dangerous.

You may want cover your bases by booking travel insurance through a third-party provider, such as

Travel Guard.

.Check out Cruise Critics

Hurricane Zone

, which provides storm updates and links to hurricane-season deals.

Ive also traveled to places in the off-season only to find they were semi-deserted because it wasnt tourist season.

Shops werent open; restaurants closed early.

Illustration by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.