I like to book the transport first
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31053)
United Kingdom
November 29, 2012 9:03am CST
I can't book European trains until 90 days before departure. I don't know what the fares will be like. You see I can look at any date in the next 3 months. It is winter and I wish to go in the spring or summer. I don't want to book accommodation now but if I don't it might all fill up.
I want to visit Ukraine and some other countries in Eastern Europe. I might stop off in Amsterdam, Prague and Krakow on our way out to there. I need to plan my route after Ukraine and think Budapest would be a lovely place to travel. It is midway between Bosnia and Ukraine.
Maybe I will change my mind and book flights elsewhere. Maybe I will get inter rail pass. That would give me lots of travel and then I could pay for trains in the Ukraine and Moldova.
Have you ever had a challenging time arranging a trip?
Did you think of a trip then change your mind ever?
Would you book accommodation before the transport?
4 responses
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
4 Dec 12
Yes, at times I wonder the same thing too. Should I book
my time sharing accommodation first, or book the flights
first. I think it depends on the destination. Some destination
have many alternative mode of transportation and promotions.
Some of the accommodation are limited. Then the accommodation
has to be put as priority. If there is changes in plan, we must
be creative enough to come out with alternative solutions or
Plan B.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
4 Dec 12
Yes, I need a Plan A and a Plan B. I might get Euro Star London to Brussels out to mainland Europe and Euro Star Paris to London back to my home country.
I could book Amsterdam to Prague, Prague to Krakow and Krakow to Lviv when the booking days open. It is more complicated to book the trains in Ukraine and Moldova.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
29 Nov 12
When it comes to booking I prefer to get it all done at the same time, that's why I like travel agents, you can go in book your holiday and almost everything is included, the flights and the accommodation. My ex used to book everything and they were pretty methodical in their approach to booking, we used to stay with friends abroad so the accommodation was sorted. I think there was only once when we had to do the two separately, when we went to Amsterdam, we got the train tickets first then we sorted out the accommodation, it was out of season so we were more likely to get accommodation easily.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
4 Dec 12
It can be cold to travel out of season. I won't ever forget how cold it was in Turkey at the New Year time. In the peak tourist seasons accommodation gets booked up quickly. I liked visiting Amsterdam and think it is very scenic. The sort of trip I am booking is so independent compared to one a travel agent could arrange.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
20 Dec 12
My husband and I were going to travel around in the Uk and Ireland for one month, that was the original plan. Some months later we read about an interesting cruise in Russia and we decided go to there instead, but when we discovered that it would be quite complicated and expensive to get visas for Russia we changed our plans again 
We finally decided to visit South East Asia and we had an amazing trip.
We didn't buy a package tour, I planned and booked everything on my own and it took me some time to find the best itinerary. At first I thoght that we were going to start in Vietnam and fly back from Bangkok, but then I discoverd that it was cheaper and eaiser to start in Bangkok and end in Vietnam. I always book transportation before I book accomodation. I write down the dates that I wish to travel and then I buy my tickets. When I know that I will be able to travel on the days that I have picked I book accomodation.
We finally decided to visit South East Asia and we had an amazing trip.
We didn't buy a package tour, I planned and booked everything on my own and it took me some time to find the best itinerary. At first I thoght that we were going to start in Vietnam and fly back from Bangkok, but then I discoverd that it was cheaper and eaiser to start in Bangkok and end in Vietnam. I always book transportation before I book accomodation. I write down the dates that I wish to travel and then I buy my tickets. When I know that I will be able to travel on the days that I have picked I book accomodation.
@sonaimajumdar (950)
• India
29 Nov 12
Yeah something same is with me also. But yeah, i like to book my flights first not the accommodation. I never change my mind for a trip unless until there is any specific reason or work related reason. Some times my parents make the trip plan, so I just give my opinions and ideas and never do any change to it.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
4 Dec 12
In some past trips the flight was booked and it got canceled so I wouldn't have liked to have paid for accommodation that I wouldn't have been able to use. For example Halifax in Canada for 2010 and Cancun in 2005. So I went to Vancouver instead in 2010 and to the Maldives in 2005.
I looked at the website ideal for planning train trips called Man in Seat 61. Some train services have been canceled due to economic reasons like Sarajevo to Belgrade. I am more sure about where I am planning to go first: Ukraine and Moldova.
