Book Accommodations first or air flight?

I always book airfare first because there aren't as many flights compared to lodging. Between hotels, B&Bs, airB&B, apartments, monastery stays, etc you can always find a place to sleep. You might have to compromise, but you will find something.

First, I develop an itinerary, then I book flights, and lastly I book accommodations. It's always useful to check first if there are any events that make accommodations outrageously expensive around a certain timeframe (like Easter or Octoberfest, etc.) before locking yourself into certain dates/cities. The rule of thumb for me is that accommodations are much more easy to cancel/change than a flight which comes with steep fees. I'm also more price sensitive with flights - because I can always find accommodations at different price points (not always with flights). I wouldn't put the cart before the horse - first you need to be sure you can get to your lodging at a reasonable price.

You'd be surprised how many people write to this forum after they've locked in their flights but don't have their itinerary planned out...or don't even know where they want to go. Big mistake IMHO, because often they have to backtrack where an open jaw flight makes more sense. So I think getting a (realistic) itinerary down is the most important first step - then you can play around with dates, airline carriers, times, etc when booking a flight. Lodging is very easy to book, unless some crazy event is throwing off the inventory (or raising prices) of available lodging.

Yes, I agree with the others, itinerary, flights, accommodations, tickets for special attractions. However, if money is no object and you can book whatever air you want, then maybe it doesn't matter.

It does seem like you really answered your own question- "I booked an apartment for next spring but now I'm finding it difficult to match up the timeframe with good airline prices."

If there is a specific place I want to stay then I might book it ahead of time, knowing that I can cancel. I booked an adorable little house in a small village in France for next summer back in February! But, I've been watching the reservations for this house for a long time and I know they book up way ahead of time. I've booked it for the middle of our 4 week trip so I'm flexible on either side of it. And, I can cancel if it doesn't work for me. But normally I do not book ahead. But, the minute I get my air I start booking accommodations.

It seems to me it would be a real hassle to book in addition to your rental in Rome for one night and then move. Maybe you can adjust that reservation to fit if they are flexible, or find something else so you don't have to do that. It wouldn't be worth the hassle for me.

Yes, it seems I did things a little backwards. I just wondered what others do. I have been in contact with the owner of the apartment and she is getting back to me with the possibility of moving my stay if she can.

I do see that there are endless places to stay if you don't have one particular place in mind. I just know I wanted to stay in or near Cortona.

Last time I did book air to Rome as it was a great deal and from there I found a place to stay during the timeframe I needed. It worked out wonderfully but it was only a one way flight as we cruised back. I love that way of doing things. I would rather cruise than fly any day.

I've always been a proponent of booking air before lodging, but I think I've found a happy medium.

For this upcoming trip late winter to Rome and Sorrento, I booked an apartment in Rome and a B&B in Sorrento first, but with the ability to cancel within 14 days of arrival without penalty. At the same time, I put a trip itinerary on Kayak--into Rome and out of Naples--with desirable carrier, departure, layover & arrival times, and watched. Within about six weeks, the price had dropped $300/pp and I grabbed it.

I suppose I could cancel and rebook the apartment and B&B if those specific rooms are available at a cheaper but non-cancellable rate, but we're not talking that much money so I think I'll leave them as is.

I often book hotels before airfare. You haven't done anything "wrong" or backward. Here is my rationale:

If you are renting an apartment and have to meet up with someone to get keys, oriented to the appliances, amenities, and neighborhood, I would recommend doing that after a good night's rest in a hotel somewhere. Especially if you suffer from jet lag. It also prevents someone waiting for you for hours if your plane/train is late, and reduces your stress, too. Just put a change of clothes in your carryon or personal item and you won't even have to unpack that first night (sometimes I keep a change of clothes in the outside zipper compartment of my carryon if my first stop is a one-nighter).

I've never book an accommodation that I couldn't cancel, at least soon after booking, so I really should book first, then book flights for when I know I will be there, but so far I've always booked flights first.

However, I first put together an itinerary so I know where I want to be, including where I want to stay, for the entire trip. Then, since I book directly through the properties, I usually write to them in advance about availability. Then, when I know that I have available accommodations everywhere I'm going to be, I pull the trigger and make flight reservations. As soon as I have my flight reservations, I send emails requesting confirmed reservations at all of the places I've previously picked. I make my arrangements far enough in advance that I have never had anyplace reserved out from under me before I get back to them after reserving the airfare.

Hi,

It all depends on any deals or promos available. Last week I booked the flight for May 2017 as I could not pass up a flight deal. The hotels and Pensionen I can reserve in Feb. The longest will be two weeks at the Pensionen.

We rolled the dice and booked airfare on 9/1 before knowing my vacation schedule. We got a killer deal of 1420 round trip for two from SFO to Venice. Then we booked our accommodations and figured out our itinerary. Once you get to Europe travel is cheap. It's just getting there can be expensive. And by the way I did get the time off for our trip in June. Luckily it worked out. Still might tweak our itinerary .

Maybe backwards to some, but I always plan the itinerary first, the basic outline of what city and how many nights. Then immediately I book the apartments because I am very particular about what we need and we are usually staying 2 weeks to a month in one place so it needs to be a home away from home. It is more important to us where we will be living than what day we will depart and return. I have booked sometimes a year in advance and have no problem getting 2-3 nights wiggle room from the landlord on either side. Last, we book the flights. Has never failed to work perfectly.

I sketch my whole itinerary out way in advance - flights and lodging. I've checked the availability of my lodging but not booked it. I've checked every possible flight option. But I actually book and pay for my flights first because there's very few flights/connection length/prices I'm happy with and a way bigger spectrum of lodging I can work with if I somehow don't get my first choice.

Just call your accommodation to see if you cannot arrive on the evening a day earlier. If not possible, then you might want to book a hotel in San Gimignano or Siena.

Some good advice. Yes I will ask if we can add a day prior to our stay so it gives us a better price for air.

Sometimes it just works that way. I've just finalized my itin for our trip next April, but most likely won't book the flight until Jan (waiting to amass a few hundred more airmiles to get that flight) - but seeing as how we are going to be in Amsterdam, I really don't want to wait too much longer to book accoms since I am looking for 5 nights during a busy time of year. At least looking at the Air Miles flights, if worse comes to worst, we have the option to book thru Mtl or TO if the direct flight from Halifax isn't available.

I always look at it in terms of options. Generally book airlines first since those options are almost always more limited. We tend to book open jaw business class via ff so those options are very limited. After that we find it very easy to fill in the space between. Hotel options are generally endless. Generally we try to book at least a four and sometimes a five week window. At the moment we are working on early to mid Sep to mid Oct, 2017. Also juggling it with a very limited river cruise in the middle. For us that generally works best for us.

Just as an update. I have booked our airfare. There was a better deal the following week so we booked it and by emailing the owner of the apartment, she has graciously allowed us to move our weeks to correspond with air.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and advice.

1) Map out daily itinerary- JUST dates and towns-no daily activities
2) Secure lodging-this can be up to 10 months in advance
3) Book flights -3-6 months before departure.
4) Fill in daily itinerary with activities-make bookings 1-3 months before departure

Because we are on a budget we like to book hotels/apartments with high ratings for a reasonable rate, which tend to go fast. We are going high season next year and have most of our lodging locked in and the ones we did not lock in are no longer available, so now we go a little pricier than wanted in the same part of town.

This system works for us!