Hi again everyone! Another question....I'm going to Italy in October. I have Rick's book and have selected (after researching many) hotels I'd like to stay at. When do you think it would be appropriate to call and reserve a room? I don't want to do it too early and I also don't want to miss out and wait too long. Any advice?
Much appreciated!
You asked about when to "call." I trust that you know that you can make almost all reservations these days either by email or over the hotel's website. And don't forget to re-confirm your reservations a few weeks before leaving. And when you arrive at one hotel, have them call ahead to the next one for you to confirm that reservation.
(The smaller mom-and-pop places tend to be pretty "relaxed" about their reservations, hence the need to confirm and re-confirm.)
45 days out.
I book hotels as soon as I have my plans set in stone. We're going to Germany in May and I booked back in December. Especially if there is a hotel you have your heart set on, and it's in Rick's book - book as early as possible. His recommendations fill up quickly.
Hi Shari, We're going to Italy in May and starting booking back in August. Never too early and this way you get their best rooms (view, balcony, etc.). It's only 7 months away, so I would begin now if you have your itinerary decided on. Do one at a time until you have them all booked.
Hi Shari
I have already booked places for 2009! If you find a place you want to stay at that is popular you should book it. I would contact them directly and you can sometimes get a better deal that way. Don't wait too long though, and be sure to check out TripAdvisor.com for comments and ratings.
I book hotels as soon as I have purchased my airfare and have my itinerary figured out (where and number of nights in each destination). I shoot out emails to all my first choices in the town. Once I confirm, I save the emails in a specific folder. If my first choice comes back unavailable or not in my price range, I email my second choice and so on until I have confirmation on all hotels for all nights. About 3 weeks prior to departure, I go back to that specific folder and send a re-confirmation. I save the re-confirmations to the same folder and I print that entire folder (which I also include maps, etc) a day or two before I leave so I have all communication with the hotel, including price and what my requests were--one bed with bath, balacony, etc.
Jody has excellent advice. Once you figure out your flights get your reservations in order. I usually put everything together and reserve rooms about 5-6 months in advance...and then reconfirm closer to my departure date. 8-9 months in advance might even be safer, though some establishments won't allow that.
This most recent trip I shot myself in the foot by forgetting to book rooms well ahead of time. I browsed accommodation listings 5 months in advance and began to seek out reservations 4 months out, in the meantime a convention was booked into town and my main and 7 alternate choices were booked up. At three months out I've only recently managed to track down a room.
Finding a room closer to your departure date might be easier for one person, however; I'm usually trying to book for two to four making the job a bit more difficult.
Once you have your airfare book your room but make a note of the cancellation policies. October is peak season for the big 3 (Rome, Venice & Florence) so book early. The small hotels will be full if you wait until August.
Book as soon as you know where you are going.
