Sorry if I am not properly asking this question since a prior posting has been made on this issue, but I'm a first time user.
My wife and I are planning a trip to Ireland in late April and early May of this year, for 21 days, using Ricks suggested 21 day itinerary. A previous person posted the prebook question in connection with a 5 day trip and was advised to prebook. Does the same advise also apply to a 21 day trip. Thanks.
In late April and early May you'll be ahead of the big tourist crush that begins in June when schools let out for the summer, so playing it by ear will entail less risk than later in the season. That said, to ensure that you get your first choices it's generally good advice to book ahead and lock everything in, knowing that the trade off will be that you're then committed to your choices and will have less latitude to deviate from your itinerary.
Personally, we always book ahead, if only to preclude having to spend time searching for the next night's accommodation on the fly so to speak.
Thank you to both people who responded. We normally book in advance when traveling at home and your response confirms that would should do the same in Ireland. Thanks again.
Carr Smith
It depends on your travel style :-)
If your dates are fixed by train tickets or specific events then you may as well pre-book all your nights. But if you have a car and a loose agenda, you could book as you go. You could book a few days ahead or just drive up to places you find along the way. The later approach is most flexible and potentially the most stressful. I have done it and gotten great rooms at a good price and other times had to drive further to find affordable lodging. But that was mostly in France and Italy, not in Ireland. Walk up booking while using public transportation is not something I would try.
The last few trips we left a block open which we planned and booked while on vacation. For our next trip in March-April, I only have the first night booked and will probably book the last three nights soon. The remainder depends on getting snow in the ski resorts, so we are doing snow dances and changing our itinerary with each storm. B-)
Enjoy the trip!
We always pre-book as I hate wasting time finding accommodations.
