I am looking at flights and have a good idea re prices, now I'm trying to look at apt availability.

Or, is it better to book apt first, then book flight after.

My plan is one week in London, then Eurostar to Paris for one more week.

It might be a silly newbie question, but I've read/researched and my head is spinning. Appreciate your thoughts.

I always find the apt first and then book flights.

I'd always want to have the flight locked down before moving on to the chore of figuring out where to stay. If you have your heart set on a particular apartment, that might be a different scenario.

We are doing the same basic itinerary as you are at the end of the month. We essentially booked our flights first based on fare prices and then booked hotel and apartment. BUT I had done a lot of research and checked availability of hotel in London and Apt in Paris before booking the flights. So I guess you could say we did it all at the same time.

I think its really dependent on if you have, as Underhill mentioned, your heart set on a particular place and then you would need to work around that availability. If not, once you know general fare prices and dates ask for availability on apartments to finalize your decisions and dates and then take the plunge and BOOK IT!

Agree with crsnyder4. If you know what airline/flight you want to book and also have preferences for apartments, why not do it at the same time? You would be very unlucky to miss out on your choice of apt. in the short space of time it takes to book flights!

Remember that most apartments book from weekend to weekend, so take that into consideration when you're booking your flights.

I think the Saturday-to-Saturday rule applies in holiday locations (beaches, mountains, rural areas) more than in cities. At least in my searches for apartment rentals in major European capitals, there is often a 3-day minimum, but no 7-day requirement. Of course, it makes sense to know the rental customs in the area you intend to visit if you book air first.

hi phatfree [love the screen name, BTW]

like other posters, I do a combination of both, usually starting with researching flights, then looking at accommodation and working out what my preferred options are, [and possibly making cancellable bookings if there's something I really want] then booking flights, and finally confirming accommodation.

nine times out of ten, there are alternatives for accommodation; you can book all the hotel bargains under the sun, but if you can't get there, they aren't much good!

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm ready to book my flight/eurostar. Problem is I can be so indecisive. I know French Open is happening the same time as my visit; hopefully, it won't affect my apartment hunting. Thanks again.

It depends which is your top priority, that's all. Usually I know about the dates I want to travel, it depends on where I want to go, work schedules, holidays, etc. Then I might vary that by one day on either end or so if it really affects the fare a lot.

Although I may have decided on a hotel or apt. from looking at that point, I never book it until I know my dates for sure, as I'm not so picky that I can only stay in one particular place.

oh, BTW, I have several times added a day or two at a hotel pre or post an apt. booking if that was necessary (ie, if the apt were not available the entire span I picked). I wouldn't do that unless I were staying long-term, of course, to begin with.

I always pick the closest 2*-3* hotel to the apt I'm renting. I actually kind of like that, as you can pack everything up and just move to a nearby hotel by walking for one day, and then your last day is free to do whatever you want without worrying about spending all your time packing or having to do stuff in the morning before your flight.

I wholeheartedly agree with Christina. There is more price fluctuation with flights than apartments depending on the day you fly so I always book flights first.
I'm also not that fussy about where I stay or rather the things that matter to me can usually be found accommodation-wise.

I might book hotels before flights if I find a good rate provided I can cancel without penalty.

Eurostar.. I book as far in advance as possible for best rates.