I am leaving May 30 for a month-long trip to Italy and France. It will be my first time in Europe, but not my first experience in international travel. I booked this trip kind of last minute (bought the tickets at the end of March) and between working full-time and finishing my masters, I haven't had as much time to plan as I would like.
I will be flying into and out of Rome and all I've done so far is develop a tentative itinerary and book hostels for the first four nights I will be there. I'm planning to visit Rome, Florence/Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Turin, French Riviera, Paris, Venice and then back to Rome to fly home. I will be spending between three and six nights in each destination because I like to move slowly. Anyway, my question is, since I know the tentative dates I will be in these places, should I book all of my accommodations prior to leaving the states or can I book as I go? I kind of like the security of knowing where I'll be sleeping each night, but I'm also afraid of being tied down to a certain itinerary. I will be staying mostly in hostels because if I do that, my budget will allow me to see more and eat better, which are the real reasons for travel.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Sara,
Given the time of year you'll be travelling, pre-booking accommodations would be a good idea. Your trip takes place during the peak of the "spring shoulder season", so it could be busy in Europe.
You could either pre-book accommodations before you leave home OR pre-book your next stop when you arrive in each city (if you'll have access to the internet). That way you won't have to waste time or money when you arrive in a new city, trying to find someplace to sleep.
In addition to Hostels, you might also consider budget Hotels as the cost isn't much higher in some cases. There are lots of good Hotels listed in the Guidebooks, which would give you a choice not only in price range but also which part of each city to stay. I find that it's nice to splurge for Hotels at regular intervals, as the privacy is nice and it's a break from "communal living" in Hostels.
As this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend pre-reading Europe Through The Back Door before you leave. Read the section on "Rail Skills" carefully so that you're knowledgeable on how the trains work. I assume you'll be travelling with P-P tickets rather than a Railpass?
Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Memphis, TN, US
4 posts
Thanks for your advice.
I am traveling solo, so I was thinking hostels would be the best option money-wise and in terms of reducing the potential for loneliness. I was also wondering about trains and figured point to point would be more cost effective than buying a railpass. How far in advance do those tickets need to be booked? Will it be ok to purchase my ticket to leave the city when arrive in each one or is that something I need to do further in advance?