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Rent apartment before airline tickets or vice versa?

I am going to Paris in April or May, 2019. Should I book the apartment first or get the airline tickets first? Seems like there is a lot of availability in apartments that far out.
Thank you

Posted by
23177 posts

I always pin down travel first. There are far more options for housing than there are airline options. The price of housing does not vary if I travel on a Tuesday or a Saturday.

Posted by
414 posts

I book flights first and then add hotels- or B&B- apts- so many options - and if you use Orbitz, Expedia, or Priceline, if you create a account you can get “bucks” or “credits” toward each accommodation you book-

Happy Travels✨💫

Posted by
122 posts

We are going for 10 days in May. Leaving DTW on a Monday afternoon arriving in Paris the following morning. Then taking the train up to Bayeux and spending 2 nights there to see the Normandy sights. We booked our private tour months ago and booked that hotel at the same time. We just booked our 6 nights in Paris (in the 9th) 2 weeks ago. Husband works for Delta and we are flying standby, therefore we aren't making flight ressies. I would secure your airfare then look for hotels. Most hotels have their booking windows open for May now, but I'm not sure about June. Be sure to look for a registration number if you're booking an apartment to be sure it's legit. Happy planning...

Posted by
68 posts

I wondered this exact question a year ago for our trip in July. Because we are a family of five and looking for an apartment / house rental instead of a hotel, I found it easier to book accommodations first. I booked our London rental in October and Paris at Christmas, then flights in February for a July trip. Happy with how it all worked out.

Posted by
46 posts

Planning a trip for June 2019. I have already booked an Airbnb apartment with a registration number (great location in the Marais) and I'm following plane ticket prices. Thankfully the apartment has a fairly liberal refund policy (can cancel for full refund, less Airbnb fees, up to 5 days before check-in).

Wanted to make sure I locked in a good place to stay and now I'll deal with airfares (they've only been available for about 2 weeks so I still have plenty of time).

Posted by
31 posts

This year I booked my apartments 11 months in advance as I wanted to get more bang for the buck as we had 17 nights to pay for. We had specific apartments we wanted to stay in so I wrote each company two weeks before I could get frequent flyer tickets and explained the situation. Basicially, they penciled me in. Later I was able to make it happen. Of course, it probably helped that I had booked at these agencies multiple times before.

Posted by
1362 posts

I will be booking my Switzerland & Paris May/June 2019 flights, hotels & apartment on the same day at the end of this September.
Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
16 posts

I just did accommodations first for our Spring 2019 trip. I found as I was looking, I saw dates around my window being booked so I snagged mine. I am watching flights but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Posted by
12172 posts

I always shop and shop (and shop) for my flight. When I finally book a flight, usually two to three months before a trip, I start making lodging decisions. Before I book the flight my dates, going and returning, times, arriving and leaving, and even destinations/routes/stops are flexible.

I usually only book lodging for fixed portions of my trip - locked in because of a flight or train ticket. The other days I prefer to keep things flexible by scoping out some potential places but booking them as I go. I've taken my family from Amsterdam through Germany and Austria to Italy with no reservations (except Rome where my Italian friend insisted I reserve rooms at his recommended hotel).