When booking a holiday on a budget, it is very important to thoroughly research all aspects of the trip before any bookings are made. This is so that you can, after much reading, make an informed decision with regards to both flights and vacation accommodation.
The internet is your best friend in this scenario. Don't be deterred by the masses of leading promotional content. Conduct a straightforward search both for cheap flights and for holiday accommodation at your preferred destination.
Bear in mind that the longer in advance you plan, the cheaper your holiday will ultimately be so start thinking about where you'll be staying in Rome or Paris, a good few months before you actually want to leave. In addition to a basic internet search, be sure to enter your details into a comparison site which will allow you to see your options laid out in an accessible manner.
As well as the internet, you might want to talk to friends and family who are experienced travellers and get their advice on where to stay and how to fly to your destination of choice. You might even find there are connections in the city or town which could drastically reduce your costs.
In short, it is important to plan travel on a budget well in advance, and to thoroughly research the trip before any bookings are made. If you want to save money, you unfortunately cannot afford to be spontaneous, so careful organisation needs to be the watchwords of your vacation.