Need reservations in April?
 

We have 20 days on the ground from April 15 through May 4 with a rental car. Flying in/out of Zurich.

We'd like a relaxing drive through Switzerland and Northern Italy (Tuscany/Chianti et al).

We'd like the flexibility of not being locked in to hotel reservations. Is that advisable this time of year? THANK YOU!!!

You might want to make reservations around the weekend closest to May 1 because this is Labour Day in a number of European countries (it varies by canton in Switzerland). Even if it isn't a holiday exactly where you are, there will be people from other countries in Europe taking long weekend breaks around the 1st.

Truly helpful. Thank you.

You also might like to reserve your first night, in or near Zürich, just to be sure.

the week before and the week after Easter are peak season in Italy - many Europeans and schools have two weeks off. So if it's a tourist mecca like Florence you may want to reserve.