Once you have got a place in mind, now it's time to dive deep.  Research the spot and have goals in mind for your trip.

Is it for culture?  If so, I check the local online events page or thru Facebook to see what is happening locally.  Sometimes a great local band has a gig, a play/show, or a festival!

Is it for vistas?  If so, scour Instagram for visual ideas of places to go.  Keep in mind, sometimes the views may not be worth it if the trek to them is difficult (think major hikes), or if there is not enough other surrounding things to do.

I also join Facebook travel groups to seek like-minded travelers who have the same questions as I have and who have experienced the hits and misses and is willing to impart their wisdom. 

I also use AI like ChatGPT or Gemini to plan a preliminary itinerary which I can use as a skeleton to my eventual plans.

For discounts, I search Groupon.  I was able to score great tea-times in London, show tickets too. 

For hotel discounts, check sites within 3-4 months of travel and within 2 weeks for deep discounts to fill rooms. And apparently, Thursdays are the best days to book for international travel, while Fridays are better for domestic travel and Sundays-Wednesday will get best deals.  Book refundable to hold a room for back up in case a real gem pops up within 30 days of travel. I also look for online booking sites like booking.com, hoteltonight.com, kayak.com for good deals.  Keep in mind that some chains don't put rooms on those 3rd party sites and you may get a better deal from them directly.  Groupon also has some deals.  And don't forget to check tripadvisor or google for the real low-down from guests about whether there is truth in advertising or if the place is real dud. 

For car rentals, check carrentals.com to hold a cheap rental.  Prices often change as you get closer and you can cancel and rebook.  Non-refundable costs are much lower but you risk it.  Costco and Samclub may also yield good deals, especially if you want a free 2nd driver.  Don't forget to use Costco card for 3% cashback for travel. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card offers additional travel benefits that can suit your travel needs, like no foreign transaction fees, Travel & Emergency Assistance and Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance.  Make sure the car you choose is automatic!