We are traveling to Paris next September and have picked out two apartments for our stay, we will be staying in both as our trip is broken up by three days in Normandy. We will be staying in the 11th and the 18th.
We obviously do not have our plane tickets yet so hesitate to book when I don't know our exact dates..
I know alot of people here book their accomodation before they get their tickets. Its a year off exactly now so I am thinking its too soon plus there's the money issue as well.
I know what dates we want to fly but what if I can't get a good price I might have to change the dates and then of course have to change apartment dates.
What do you guys do?
Posts: 1718 | Location: Seattle, WA for now... | Registered: 02 May 2005
I have always booked as soon as I know I will be there for those dates, checking on what cancellation policy is, and once when I did have to cancel I did not have a problem. Read the small print.
I think I usually book my apartment/house first (when it's a Saturday to Saturday stay) and then book my airfare, understanding that I may have to put up in a hotel for a night or two if a mid-week departure means that much of a savings in airfare.
Also, because of the kids, a lot of our trips are relatively inflexible on the dates. Some day though, I hope to be one of those people who can see a cheap airfare, take advantage of it and then book accommodations to suit my needs.
Usually we book accomodations before plane tickets. Most times, long-term accomodations are booked a year in advance.
For example, we have booked our Paris apartment for one month in Nov 2007 for Nov 2008 but then cancelled the Nov 2008 booking and rebooked for Oct 2009. In this case, our deposit for the earlier booking was credited to our current booking.
Our Venice apartment for two months starting Nov 20, 2009 was finalized last January, with the same rental company we used for our Venice stay over the 2008 Christmas holiday but different apartment.
We still don't have our plane tickets for our October 20th departure.
I figured that there are a lot more flights than desirable rentals. We are also flexible as to arriving a day earlier or a day later, staying in a hotel if need be.
Posts: 832 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: 22 April 2005
I generally book the apartment before the plane tickets. For this upcoming trip (latish October) I only booked the Rome apartment in early August. But that's a bit late, I think.
As for the airfare: I just wait for it to come down, hope it does, and them book it regardless. It's most important for me to get accommodations I'll be happy with. In the scheme of things, I try to take the long view that the airfare (from EWR) is not necessarily the most expensive part of the trip.
Like everybody else, I always book my rental before I book my flight. For peak season such as xmas-new year, the good rentals go fast. I book 9, 10 months in advance (and have been told that my top choices had been booked already). For other periods, I book 6 months in advance. With the desirable rentals, booking this early is not too early.
Usually I book the flights and car rental about 3 months before departure. As Kim pointed out, one can always stay in a hotel for a dau or two, in order to accommodate an especially advantage airfare's dates.
Guess we're just different, but since we use FF miles for our trips abroad, we wait until we get the dates with AA, and then I can go ahead and start looking at the places where we want to sleep.
I have already booked an apartment for next May 2010 in Antibes. But, we needed a 2 bedroom, 2 bath (taking grown son) in a location where we didn't need to have a car -- and those are more difficult to find than 1 bedroom in that area.
We haven't booked our plane, but are flexible and would stay in a hotel for a day before/after if necessary.
In February 2009, we booked our May 2009 apartment for Paris at the same time that we booked our airline tickets (one FF, one not).
Normally, I find an apartment, set my dates, and then deal with tickets. Earlier this year, however, I found a good deal early on a flight and snapped it up for 15 days in Rome. Then I began the task of finding the right place. I kept dithering and didn't find a place until less than 8 weeks out. I told the landlord my dates and asked him to make an offer, for my 15 days, which he did, and half-off the listed rate. So I was happy. And it's a nice place.
I guess I'm opposite from the posters here. I always book my flight first, which is an indication to myself of committing to the trip, especially since I always buy nonrefundable air tickets. My ticket purchases, however, were done more than 6m ahead of time. Although I'm limited to what apartments were available at the time, I have not had problems finding ones that look interesting and, for my purposes, the assortment was quite ample. However, if you are interested in a particular apartment, then it would be better to book it first.
Posts: 215 | Location: Burbank, CA | Registered: 14 April 2006
I book the airline tickets first (often months and months in advance)so I have firm starting and ending dates and then fool around with the time in-between and then book the apartments. Since my husband is still working we usually don't have a lot of flexibilty on dates but there are so many great apartments that I have felt I had more flexibilty there. BJinNM
I always book my flight first and then my apt. Sometime a day of so can make a big difference on the flight price.
I travel in the Off-season so I book my flight about 2-3 months before. In may 2008 an opportunity came up with my daughter where I booked only one month ahead of time, but on that trip we just stayed in Hotels.
Posts: 4354 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
Thanks all..we have decided to go ahead and book our apartment as we really really like it!
Just have to hope we can get reasonable flights on or around the dates we need...if we can't we can only hope that the apartment dates can be moved or we will just get a hotel for a night or two..although we only have room to move on these dates going not leaving as we have a wedding/b-day party to attend in Normandy.
For me, accommodations first and flight second. So far, that's worked for me. I book apartments first because I really love finding a fab accommodation! So, half the fun is the search. Then, I tailor the flights to the rental dates. So far, I've never have had to alter my reservation because of a flight, so lucky me, I think! I usually fly AC and they have flights mostly every day of the week, so I've never had to change apartment rental days.
I book a year or so in advance, again because I really do love certain apartments and want to make sure I get my first choice!
"If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport." ~ George Winters Brenda
well you should book your flight and then booked your apartment. Imagine if you do not have any flight at this date or become suddently very expensive ?!
I would personally recommend booking the flights first so that you are 100% on the dates when you will travel. There is a wide range and choice of rental apartments in paris and you'll always find something.
Yes I agree, we would normally always book the flights first but as we have a wedding to go to so we are not going to have the wiggle room like we normally do anyway. So we are going to have to be satisfied with what fare we can get for the days we need it...plus we love this place!
Posts: 1718 | Location: Seattle, WA for now... | Registered: 02 May 2005
Generally, I book flights first. This year, I am a few ff miles short, so I am waiting to hit the magic number!! It is killing me! I have booked one apartment because the landlady has said she can be flexible if I have to expand my dates. I have booked the second week although I know where I want to go. It is always a challenge until everything is finalized.
Posts: 7 | Location: near St Louis, MO | Registered: 22 September 2009
Depends on where and when to us. If it is a busy time of the year or if I know exactly what time off we have, or it is a big city and I am really fussy about location etc, I book as early as possible. We booked our Rome apartment about 6 months ahead and booked an apartment in Amsterdam this Xmas around July.
If it is a less busy time or we just want ´somewhere in xyz county in UK´, time is less of an issue.
As we travel from within Europe, we would generally check flight schedules, and whether the apartment has fixed start and end days, or fixed booking periods, as is often the case. Usually we would book the apartment first, but closely followed by the air tickets.
I always find the apartment first, usually many months ahead, with a caveat to the owner that I will need to book flights and may have to make minor changes to the dates. I haven't had any problems doing it that way. I find if I don't like the apartment it will ruin my stay, so that's the most important element and the one to be nailed down first.
Aargh... I travel completely differently to you guys! For my slow trips, I do book my flight first, whenever there's a good deal on. Then a week before departure I usually book the first day or two's accommodation. Then after that... I go with the flow!
I'll sit there with a map and decide... where do I want to go next? Then I'll rock up in a bus or train, get out the map, have a wander around town and find my next accommodation, be it a hostel/guesthouse (if I'm feeling stingy but sociable) or a hotel (if I'm feeling plush and need some time to myself!).
Anyone else on here that "flies by the seat of their pants", as it were?
Ah- those were the days. I once traveled when the spirit moved me but now I have a husband who needs stuff including his own toidey!! So, I am now an inveterate planner. Some things are just not worth arguing about.
Finally, bought the last 1000 FF miles. I couldn't stand it anymore! So, now we have our flights, apartment in Athens for 8 days, apartment in Santorini for a week, and a plan to visit some friends for a few days in Germany in early May '10. I always feel better once we get the basics covered. Now I can sit back and read everyone else's advice.
Posts: 7 | Location: near St Louis, MO | Registered: 22 September 2009
Flights always first. Our last 3 trips to Europe have all been booked on points.. I have non left now..sob...Then once the flights are done, I'll work on accommodation. We're in France next June/July for three weeks and all but one of my accommodations are booked.
I always book our apartment in Tuscany as soon as I possibly can, it locks in the rate in USD. The flights are more flexible, we can usually go earlier and/or come back later and add on days elsewhere if we need or want to.
I always book accommodations first and then the flights. My accommodation for Tuscany and Umbria next June has been booked since last month. Now for that perfect flight deal!!
Bravo, Lesfaye. Do I recognize rue La Vieuville? We lived on the street for 10 years. Then it got very hip -- after we left. You'll love the street, you'll love the whole Abbesses neighborhood. We'll be practically neighbors.
Bravo, Lesfaye. Do I recognize rue La Vieuville? We lived on the street for 10 years. Then it got very hip -- after we left. You'll love the street, you'll love the whole Abbesses neighborhood. We'll be practically neighbors.
How cool is that?? We'll be over for a cup of sugar!
Posts: 1718 | Location: Seattle, WA for now... | Registered: 02 May 2005
I am like others in that I book as far ahead as I possibly can - i.e. at the very earliest time I know I am deinifitely going somewhere - I book. That can be anything up to 1 year in advance.
