Should accomodations be finalized to obtain European Visa?

You don't "apply" for a VISA - the VISA is automatic when you present your passport. No one is going to ask for your accomodation arrangements when entering the EU. You just need your passport. You may be questioned about the purpose of your visit and how long you plan to stay, but even that happens rarely.

We don't have US passport. We have Indian passports. Would that change the requirements?

We assume that: A) You are a US passport holder B) Your trip will last shorter than 90 days. C) You are not planning to work or enroll as a student. If all three conditions apply, than no, you do not need a visa. If some of the conditions do not apply, contact the embassies of the various countries you plan to visit.

Yes, you'll need to apply for a visa in advanced. Contact the embassies for the requirements.

Hi, I am also in the process of getting visas for my upcoming trip (I'm not a U.S. citizen). I am applying for a Schengen visa via Germany, and for them, accomodations are not required, but I would recommend that you just pre-book and include confirmations, as it will definitely help your case.

I would also strongly recommend calling the French/Italian consulates that represents the region you live in (most likely in SF or LA). When I called the German consulate to double check some items needed, what they told me actually differed from what is stated on their website (for example, I don't have to apply in person and some documents that must be originals according to the website can actually be notarized copies). If you are not flying down to San Francisco to get your visa in person, you might save yourself the trouble of possibly mailing the incorrect documents.

And I'm sure this is probably redundant and you already know this, but FYI, the countries you are visiting are in the Schengen zone, so you only need to apply one of them (where you will spend the most time or where you will be entering Schengen).

Sonia and Anna, there is an honorary German consul on Mercer Island- I don't know if she does Visa work, though. http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/04__Legal/01__Consulate__Finder/HC/02__ABC/Heussner.html

It was really a shame when we lost our German embassy in Seattle!

German honorary consulates are not authorized to issue any legal documents. It's a purely symbolic diplomatic role, unfortunately.

I didn't know there used to be a German Embassy here! Now I'm sad it's gone, too!

I know she can deal with the biometric stuff, because my friend is getting saved taking her mom to San Francisco for her passport renewal. She can also do notarization, because my mom was referred to her for that, but ended up going to the honorary in Portland, due to schedule conflicts.