Most of us work jobs that only give us a certain amount of time off. Or if you are like me you may have children and thus you can only take a holiday when your children are in school. The travel industry tries to take advantage of this and thus they change prices to accommodate the flow of travelers to popular destinations.
You can however take advantage of situations and use certain events to your advantage.
A few years ago, the Tsunami devastated Thailand and many lives, but fortunately for some resorts, there was little to no damage. Of course what many of us saw in the news told us otherwise.
If an area is hit by a storm, check with your resort to see how badly the damage was. You may be surprised to learn that the resort of your choice was not only safe but fully operational. Since most travelers were cancelling trips to the entire area, all the hotels would be offering excellent discounts to entice travelers back. You could save up to 90% off of the price of your hotel or resort this way.
Another great tip is to travel the week before or after a school holiday. If you have the chance to travel without children, check with your travel agent or call your hotel in advance and ask them if there are a lot of families staying due to a school holiday. You may find better rates and peace of mind knowing that all the kids are in school.
Be adventurous and travel to places during low season.
I'm not a fan of the extreme cold, but if you have a chance to travel to a place of interest during an off season: Cold climate, high amounts of rain, etc. you will find some great discounts. As an added bonus, there will be less tourists and more for you to see and do without the crowds.
A secret – The best time to see Disneyland is during a rain storm. Most of the rides are indoors but the majority of tourists stay away from the park if they see even a cloud in the sky. Don't forget to bring a rain coat and/or an umbrella.