Plane tickets are expensive. They might not be as expensive as they used to be thanks in part to the poor economy. Now there are too many seats and not enough passengers. Most tickets are 30% cheaper than they were last year. Airlines are closing down routes. They are offering great deals. Now is a good time to fly. To find those great deals, here are some tips that I have found to be useful in search out bargains.

My first advice is to book your flight around 8 weeks before you travel as the airlines know you still have chooses to pick from. As an early bird you can get cheap airfare on your ticket. If you book to soon, airlines know they can charge you a lot because if you need it. If you book really fare in advance, companies might raise or lower fares and they keep fares high in case operating costs go up. So this is one of the best times too book. Use sites like farecast to see if ticket prices are going to go up or down.

Fly round trip. Round trips are always cheaper if you book round trip. The airline gives a “discount” on these tickets because they know it ensures that tickets are sold and seats are filled. Often times the price difference is not a lot but it is enough to make buying this ticket reasonable. You might even get lucky and find one of these tickets a lot cheaper than a one way ticket. In that case, book the round trip but only use one way portion you need.

If you can you should avoid traveling on the weekends. Most travelers think it is more convenient to travel on weekends so more flying happens on the weekends and airlines increase their prices to reflect the demand. Therefore, the middle of the week is the best time to fly.

Shop Around. Not all websites are created equal and you can find a lot of variety online for the same flight. Make sure you look at all the travel websites, including the airlines, before you make a purchase. Don’t just go with your favorite. If you want to get a cheap flight, you have to visit the various websites.

I spent two weeks in Tokyo two years ago visiting a friend that was studying abroad there, and had an absolutely amazing time. Tokyo, and Japan in general, is one of those places where a Westerner has no frame of reference culturally. Everything that you encounter is new, strange, and intoxicating. When I first arrived at Narita airport, I had to navigate the subway system on my own to find my friend, which was an experience and a half.

I was the proverbial fish out of water. I am blonde-haired and blue-eyed, and got stares from what seemed like every single person in the subway car. There was to be no blending in on this trip. I was incredibly relieved when I reached my friend’s apartment, and I was also incredibly grateful to have a tour guide of sorts that had been living in the city for the past 8 months. I spent two weeks wandering the city, often on my own, because my friend was still in school at the time I was visiting.

Let me be the first to say that Tokyo is like some Bladerunner-esque city on the moon. The fashion is loud and cutting-edge, and often ridiculous. In the park on weekends there are endless people dressed up in anime character costumes, alongside four guys that sing Elvis every single weekend rain or shine. The nightlife is amazing, especially the karaoke. You can rent your own room, complete with drink services, and sing to your heart’s content with your friends. It is a bit different than the cheap bar setups you usually find in the United States. If given the chance, I would definitely return to Tokyo for a reunion tour, because that city is absolutely insane. There was never a dull moment while I was there.

Buenos Aires has been my home for the last 7 months, and I love it here. I currently live in a hostel, working nights, and write in my spare time to earn a living. I am constantly running near-broke, but I absolutely love it. I could not be happier about my decision to come down here. South America is a breathtaking place, full of cultures and peoples that are completely different from what I am used to in the United States. And that is what I think the most important aspect of travel is, the discovery and experience that comes with living in another culture and language.

My Spanish is starting to come together pretty well after my time here, and I hope to have it mostly mastered by the time I leave at the end of July. I have managed to snag myself an Argentine gal pal, and what they say is true, it is by far the best way to learn the local language. If you can manage to get yourself a local girl, I highly recommend it. I have learned a whole lot more about the city and its people with her than I would have trying on my own with lessons and what not.

I think my favorite aspect of Buenos Aires is its people. I spent time in Sevilla, Spain studying abroad, and the people there are very different than the porteños of Buenos Aires. Here, people are much more open and welcoming to foreigners like myself. I have had no problems whatsoever making friends on my own in a bar, which is how I got around for the first month or so while I was waiting for my roommate to arrive from back in the United States. If you can, come on down to Buenos Aires.