When my wife and I visited Switzerland in June, 1987, we had no problem getting off the trains and finding hotels without reservations. We looked for the 'zimmer frei' sign and it was fine. The Rick Steves Switzerland guidebooks states that this is still the case in late September.
But as I call TIs and hotels, I'm getting a different story. I'm hearing that it depends on the weather and time of week, but it seems we need to plan ahead, no such thing as a 'light season' at that time of year. Has anyone experience in travel without an itinerary--with no reservations? We plan to go late Sept and early Oct. Thank you.
Posted by
Amsterdam
574 posts
We used to do it. 25 years ago. We had our Eurorail passed and were good to go.
20 years ago, got burned in Collioure. Saturday and EVERYTHING was booked. This was pre internet. I haven't done it since, and would never do it now. Especially now that it's so easy to make reservations.
Posted by
Houston
3522 posts
Although I enjoy the freedom to be flexible by not making reservations, I am finding that harder and harder to do. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I don't want to scramble and waste my vacation time searching for a place to sleep when I happen to hit a location that for whatever reason is booked solid when I arrive.
So, no, I would not suggest traveling without reservations any more. But you should still be able to make a reservation over the internet as close as 2 - 3 days before your arrival. And if you find all is booked, you can adjust your travels to possible stay nearby your desired location.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7158 posts
Not to mention that the competition among travelers for rooms is a 'wee bit' heftier now than 30 years ago. Because of the sheer crowds of tourists visiting Europe these days, the 'off season' months of March, April, October, November are no longer that. I might be comfortable if I had confirmed reservations at my first location and from then on making reservations a day or so ahead as soon as I know my next location. That's as flexible as I'd be these days. I don't need to spend half my first day in a new location finding a place to stay or moving on if nothing is available.
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
I have not done this, I think it is so easy to make reservations ahead now that almost everyone does it, meaning that more places are booked ahead.
My best advice is to balance it by making reservations a day or two ahead online (or more when you can, less when you want even more flexibility - book that morning for the night). If you have a smartphone or ipad, you have access to a variety of booking websites (booking.com, airbnb, hotels own sights, and more). If you aren't horribly picky you should be able to find something with availability a day or two ahead. Sure beats wandering around the train station neighborhood asking 10 hotels if they have vacancy!
Test it by looking for 2 days from now, see what is available. Fall is likely to be a bit less busy than now, unless there is a festival.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you. These are about the responses I was expecting. I've been booking ahead online and over the phone for years, but I thought I would compare recent experience with the Steves Guide which indicates that there are 'light' seasons when it's not necessary. I doubt that I can get away with it nowadays.
Posted by
Washington DC
28073 posts
I travel without making reservations more than a few days in advance except for costly, high-demand destinations like London and Barcelona. I value the flexibility, but there is very often a trade-off in terms of higher prices (the best deals are gone) or less-central location. Perhaps it's different if you're not shopping the budget end of the spectrum, but the cost level in Switzerland is so high, I'd be terrified of the cost penalty of booking late. I can afford to be stuck with moderate-level hotel rates in most countries for a night or two, but that would be painfully expensive in Switzerland.