Start off by looking for airfare specials online. Secure the airfare first. Some websites include Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline,Travelation, ect. If you are flexible with the dates that you can travel, Priceline may be a good option. You can name a price, and see if an airline,or hotel if you are looking for a place to stay, will accept your offer. A friend uses this frequently and can travel for cheap. About the travel sites; if you can find a good deal on your airfare on on of these sites, check the airline's website. Often times, you can save a little money. For example, if you find a good deal on an American Airlines flight on Expedia, go to American's site (AA.com) and see if you can find the same flight for less. Shop around, you still have plenty of time! You can combine your flight, rental car, hotel, ect on most of not all of the travel sites, and you can save money. If you are planning on going to multiple cities or destinations, this may not be for you. It is a good idea to have the airfare secured before you reserve hotels. You are being smart by planning in advance. You will have more options available, and you can also save alot of money by purchasing airfare in advance.