For best travel bargains, think like a contrarian

To save the most on travel, resist the mainstream. Instead, think in every way—including where to go, how to go, and when to go—like a contrarian.

- Elaine Glusac

I call this frugal secret the off-travel mindset, a willingness to chart your own course to savings and possibly a better experience. The following are a few off-travel strategies I rely on.

OFF-PEAK TRAVEL
Off-peak travel, or going when everyone else is not, generally gets you the best prices on costs that change with demand, including flights and accommodations.

Ms. Kayla DeLoache, the US travel expert for travel search site Kayak, said midweek flights tend to offer the best value, while Fridays and Sundays are the most expensive, thanks to the weekend surge.

"Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are generally when we see airfare around 20 percent cheaper than on other days of the week," said Ms. Katy Nastro of Going.com, a membership service for cheap airfare.

She cited a round-trip flight between Boston and San Francisco in August at US$241 (S$309) for Monday to Friday, which drops to US$208 when the departure shifts to Tuesday.

The same approach applies to the calendar. For summer travel, flights in late May and late August can save travelers 15 to 20 percent on airfare, compared with those in mid-July, when traffic peaks, according to Ms. DeLoache.

OFF-SEASON TRAVEL
Would you sacrifice the best weather in a destination for the best price? That is the prospect of off-season travel, going when the crowds ease, usually because of weather or school holidays.