Do you book flights or accommodation first?

[Bobje]

So those of you who do not book package holidays, but like to book things independently, do you prefer to book flights (or other forms of travel) or accommodation first?

If you have preference either way, what is your thinking behind that?

In terms of actual booking, flights first.

For those booking accommodation first are you flying out of London?

For me flying out of a Scottish airport it might be that direct flights to destination are on specific day of the week rather than daily.

Yeah, it's astonishing the difference in choice of flights between London and other parts of the UK.

Colleague and I went to a conference in a European capital city. She flew from either Gatwick or Heathrow and had the choice of several flights every day from both airports

My only option without travelling 5 hours to London was from Manchester where there was about 5 flights a week, which meant an extra night away and a late flight back after the conference finished on Friday lunchtime.

However, it worked well for me as she pretty much flew in and flew out and didn't see anything of the city, whereas I had a day and a half spare and had a lovely time wandering around and seeing the sights.

She messaged me when she was at the gate at the airport and by that time I'd wandered around a bit, been on a cable car ride and was sitting in the sun outside a waterside bar with lunch and wine.

But to answer the OPs question, look at both simultaneously, just to check that there will be suitable accommodation available on the days reasonably priced flights are available, then book the flights first followed by the accommodation.

We don't normally take the flexible 'free cancellation' option because if you're paying loads extra, it's not really free is it? I did worry a bit on a recent mini break in an expensive location because we'd booked the flights and accommodation separately and were going on Easyjet, who seemed to be cancelling a lot of flights, but it was fine.

Flights and then accommodation. Always take the free cancellation deals on hotels. It is much easier than paying the always cheaper "buy now but we keep the money if you cancel options." I was due to fly to Norway for a long weekend on Saturday but flight has been cancelled because of staff shortages (due to covid!) No alternative flight until after the weekend so have lost the money I paid for hotel until I try to claim on holiday insurance. Lesson learned.

Almost always flights, although I have booked accommodation first if it's flexible and can be cancelled, sometimes I've needed to book accommodation first for example to get a Disney offer. Accommodation bookings tend to be more flexible.

We have scoped out availability for next September, we have asked re midweek bookings possibility, that has been confirmed, so now we wait for BA to release flights we can get there and we can come back in a fortnight, but next year we are going for three weeks. They release the slots day by day. 🙄

Yes, I will admit I do have the good fortune of living fifteen minutes from Gatwick.

I always look at both together - no point booking flights and then finding that there's no accommodation that you like/want. But I'd always actually book flights first. Accommodation is generally on a 'free cancellation' basis - I'm happy to pay the extra £10 or so which it normally costs. I'd book it in the same sitting as the flight though - just get it all done.

I have an idea about where I would like to stay but booking flights early is a good idea because I want to travel at certain times. I get anxious about travelling “out of hours” so to speak so need to know that I’ve got the flights in hand. But then I get anxious if the accommodation isn’t confirmed 😞

But I suppose, on reflection you could always have some accommodation options as backups but I dunno, it’s a tricky one!!! I like the poster up thread who has two screens at the same time and clicks the “buy now” buttons simultaneously. That seems very sensible to me

@CheersToMe I do that too

Tend to research both...get dates aligned then have two internet tabs open book flights then accommodation as I find flight costs and availability change so basically as close to the same time as possible 😊