One of the first things that budget travelers learn is that traveling during high season is a death sentence for your pocketbook. Demand is high, rooms, cars and flights are booked and providers jack up rates during the high season. As a result, consumers end up paying top dollar for their favorite experience. But some things like the Super Bowl or the Running of the Bulls you just can’t miss, so you bite the bullet and try to make the best out of the situation.

Mardi Gras is a perfect example of the high-season choke hold. Taking place around the same few weeks in early spring every year, everyone knows when the droves of tourists are going to be descending upon New Orleans, and as a result it’s difficult to find a bargain. Despite the predatory pricing, however, there are a few things that you can do to stay frugal during this southern festival. Here are some suggestions.

There’s a great deal of value in staying right on top of the Mardi Gras festivities in down town New Orleans, but staying outside of the epicenter also has its perks. To begin with, it’s quieter and safer, with no late night hijinks and a lower propensity for crime. Naturally it’s also cheaper. Homewood Suites has a few properties on the perimeter of New Orleans, and even if the hotels are full you can check back for cancellations. Otherwise, the neighboring wards near the French Quarter (see: The Garden District) provide excellent opportunities to find boutique hotels, quaint apartment rentals or the ornately decorated bridge under which you can sleep.

As we suggested in last year’s piece, finding you way off of the beaten path is also helpful for building g a thrifty Mardi Gras. Those restaurants and bars off of the main strip are going to be the best place where you can find a good happy hour deal, a bite of inexpensive food or some lower cost live music. A great resource for cheap eats around the city is over at Trip Advisor, where a lovely handful of restaurants covering all sorts of foods is broken down for the weary traveler. Just make sure you prepare for the long lines and high prices that come along with high season.

Like all well planned budget endeavors though, research is key. For the savvy traveler, a few resources out there including a robust article full of resources at Budget Travel and an SEO-tastic piece at AmEx’s Mint are great places to continue your research. There’s also a great deal of generous advice over at Flyertalk, though you’ll have to put up with the word-heavy format if you want to extract the right stuff.

More than anything, however, keeping a good budget is all about managing the right expectations. It’s not going to be the cheapest adventure going to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. You may well spend more than you expect. But keeping this in mind and letting the good times roll will ensure that your vacation is a great success.