How much should we pre-book for our first Europe trip?

It depends how picky you are with hotels etc. I was astounded how little choice was open to us (given our specific wishes) when booking in February a trip to France in July this year.
Travel probably allows for more flexibility.

Regarding transport, you will find that you can always get to where you want to go. You may need the more expensive day of departure ticket or travel on an ealier or later train/flight, but you will get there.

Hotels come down to what is acceptable at what cost? You may be forced into a hotel far below your preferred comfort level or far above your price point.

The answer to this question really requires more information about your planned itinerary.

Thanks,
This is the general idea for the part of our trip I need advice on- dates are not correct here but general idea.

Apr 21 Fly to Budapest
Apr 22 Budapest
Apr 23 Budapest
Apr 24 Budapest
Apr 25 Vienna
Apr 26 Vienna
Apr 27 Vienna
Apr 28 Český Krumlov
Apr 29 Český Krumlov
Apr 30 Prague
May 1 Prague
May 2 Prague
May 3 Nuremberg
May 4 Nuremberg (day trip to Rothenburg)
May 5 Nuremberg
May 6 Paris

Below, what I would do. Sure, you can wait, but holidays are a big deal for me and I want what I want so why run any risk of it not being available. With rooms you can cancel, why not pin them down. Train tickets? They really dont cost that much. You could lose 20 euro on that train to Vienna!

Apr 21 Fly to Budapest: get your flights 90 to 180 days in advance. People swear to buying a year in advance. I never saw the advantage. I just bought RT tickets to the US 60 days in advance for $500. Who knows. Could have been twice that. But that’s a personal thing.
Apr 22 Budapest: Book your hotel 120+ days in advance. Oddly enough too far in advance might cost you more. Four months is safe unless you are coming for a special event or holiday, then it might be prudent to book further in advance.
Apr 23 Budapest
Apr 24 Budapest
Apr 25 Vienna: Book your train 30 to 60 days in advance. A few of the locals will swear they can show up to the train station 15 minutes before departure and buy a ticket and that’s the way all Europeans do it. Well, you are a tourist. You have a lot invested and limited time. This route has discount tickets that do sell out and the full price tickets can be more than twice the cost. So, why mess with it. When you know you are going, just buy them and get it over with. / Book your hotel 120+ days in advance. Same reason as above.
Apr 26 Vienna
Apr 27 Vienna
Apr 28 Český Krumlov: Book CK Shuttle 45 to 90 days in advance. I suspect that they do fill up on certain transfer times (I am just assuming that’s how you are going) / Book your hotel 180+ days in advance. I say a little bit earlier because there are a few pretty great hotels that will book early. Again, high season or event time, maybe even sooner.
Apr 29 Český Krumlov (personally I would do one night in Cesky Krumlov and add the night to Prague…. But what you have is okay too)
Apr 30 Prague Book CK Shuttle 45 to 90 days in advance, same as above / Book your hotel 120+ days in advance, same as above
May 1 Prague
May 2 Prague

Hi AJ,

To answer that question I would go onto Booking.com for each of your locations. Check what is available for tonight. Then check what is available for next April. This won’t give you a 100% true picture because some hotels don’t open up their booking that early, but you will get an idea if the inventory choices are practical for you. Any cities that are smaller, like Cesky Krumlov, might have nothing available for tonight. In fact, I’ve already made my reservation for two nights at Cesky Krumlov for next May.

Personally, I think the balance is how much time you are willing to spend searching for a place to stay, transportation options, etc. during your trip. I am pretty stingy with my vacation time and don’t want to spend precious time searching on the internet. But, I have pulled up Booking to do a quick reservation when I wanted to leave a city a day early and go somewhere else.

Jean and Mr E - awesome advice! I have already add these time frames into my itinerary to make my bookings! Seriously helpful and makes sense to use the time when I am planning and not travelling to book and make the most of our time when we eventaully get away.

If you have specific lodging requirements regarding size of bed or ensuite, then it is essential to get these booked as far in advance as practical and not risk not getting what you need. if you are certain of your travel days then booking train/bus when tickets become available will save serious money. For April MayI would be looking at airfares shortly, there is usually a late summer sweet spot, at least flying from the US.

AJ, it's neither right or wrong, just what I would do for my personality type.

Thanks Larry, have a couple of flights - Munich to Rome and then Rome to Budapest. Not sure if we will fly or train or fly from Nurenburg to Paris. I have not booked these yet as not sure when to.
Looking at booking.com and trying to find best ares to stay in each town/city then save to my list.

Mr E I agree with you. As I am the one that does the booking I dont want this job when we are away. Prebooking for this trip makes perfect sense.

I always book lodging in advance. Some years ago, when I didn't do so, I found that accommodations were not available in a city we planned to stay for some days was fully booked. Also, booking early, you don't get the leftovers.

Transportation, unless it means flights, I never book in advance.

Specific tours, like day tours, I sometimes book in advance.

The key to a great trip is as follows:
1) Research thoroughly- this means lodging, tours, where to go and transport.
2) Plan what you plan to see, at least the key items. Going to Rome to see St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel, as well as the Forum and Coliseum you need to book in advance.

Planning is important so you don't miss the important places and sites. Unless you know what the key sites are and how much time you need for them, you may miss out on a key item.

Thanks Geo!
I have coma a long way woth my planning due to this forum and the wealth of knowledge. Such fabulous advice and experience!

I agree that most transport doesn't need to actually be booked in advance, but you should be aware that Český Krumlov is not the easiest place to get to. Make sure you fully understand the schedules for buses and trains you'd need to take to get to and from the place. I assume you plan to take buses, as train schedules tend to be inconvenient. And a rental car would be cost-prohibitive for most people as it would require cross-border, one-way rental.