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How wonderful would it be to find your dream vacation on a deal? Travel expert Aaron Levine shares his insider tips on how to get the best bang for your buck before your next trip.

1) Book Early

The key to getting a good deal is booking your travel in advance — the more time, the better! Most airlines allow you to book travel 331 days in advance as this is when most of their inventory is finalized. The real key here is the earlier you book, the more control and options you'll have in terms of flight times, connections and airlines to choose from.

Prices start to go up in increments as you get closer to departure: 21, 14, 10, 7 and 3 days in advance.

2) The Saturday Night Stay Rule

For international travel, make sure you plan to stay over a Saturday night. The airlines charge a premium to customers who are traveling midweek on short trips (usually business travelers). The Saturday Night Rule is a massive cost saver!

This rule doesn't apply to domestic travel as these fares are sold as "one way fares" so you can mix and match, and can travel midweek without being penalized.

3) The Early Bird Gets the Worm

The time of day when you travel definitely matters. Typically speaking, most people would rather leave mid-morning over six in the morning. Sometimes, you can find a better deal when you look at the earliest flights the airline is offering.

This is especially true when you're booking early and going to a place like New York where airlines usually offer hourly flights. Because of the higher demand for later flights, early morning flights will get you a better deal.

4) Don’t Wait for a Sale

If you know your dates and the price matches (or is below) your budget, then book it!

People hang on to stories where they've heard from a friend of a friend who spent $25 to go to Las Vegas at the last minute. The big risk is that the pricing on the flight you're looking at is going to increase while you're waiting for the deal! Don't get stuck paying more!