Want to Score Cheap Travel This Year? Here’s When to Buy.

Traveling off-season, booking early, playing with flexible dates and going somewhere off the beaten path are tried-and-true budget travel strategies.

But each year brings traffic patterns and perennial sales that can cue savvy travelers on when to book and when to travel.

Whatever the timing, it pays to shop for travel during low-demand spots on the calendar well in advance; that means usually booking domestic airfares 30 to 60 days out and international trips three to five months in advance. Reserve lodgings ahead, too, but make sure they are refundable so that if prices drop you can rebook at the lower rate.

Caveats notwithstanding, the following are key times to put on your calendar for the best buys in travel.

January and February: ‘The best months’

The year kicks off with two of the cheapest months to travel — outside of ski destinations, anyhow.

Most travelers have returned from holiday travel and kids are back in school, leaving those with flexible schedules a lot of leeway on where to go at low prices.

“Prices are some of the lowest that you see throughout the year,” said Hayley Berg, the chief economist at the travel booking app Hopper, “and it’s a time of year where you can even book last-minute airfare, and still often get a deal.”