Traveling to Spain May 2005. Had thought to book hotels ahead in Madrid and Barcelona but to find accomodations as we go along for the rest of the trip. Is this feasible? Plan to stay overnight in Seville, Granada, Avila, Salamanca, Segovia among others.
Thanks for any suggestions.

sandyb

If you care at all where you stay, it is good to make reservations. We had difficulty making reservations in Grenada and in the white villages at the places we wanted to stay so were forced to do quite a bit of research before we could find hotels that had vacancies. And if you are just staying overnight in some of these places, it is a shame to have to look for a place to stay, wasting your precious travel time.

I see that you posted this same question just six minutes later. Perhaps you did not understand how to find your post. Just click on your own name.

As for reservations - - those who DO reserve, who get the better hotels with the better features in the better locations at the better prices - - will thank you for not competing with them, and settling for what's left.

Also, they will thank you for not crowding the restaurants and attractions they choose - - since you will be standing in local tourist offices and traipsing from place to place to find a place to sleep.

Sarcastic on my part? - - well, sure - - but it is my view of traveling without spending some of the next <i>TEN</i> months, planning, writing to hotels, finding the best places to go, and to stay.

Best wishes,

Rex

Sandy,

It would be nice to hear from some people who booked in Spain on the fly, wouldn't it, instead of just having folks express their opinions.

We've booked on the fly in both France and England, booking tonight's stay the morning we're leaving one city for the next, and we never experienced bad accommodations. I don't know what the TI situation is in Spain, and I'd want to know that if I were in your place.

Selecting very nice yet moderately priced accommodations has become very important to me, as the accommodations so often contribute a great deal to my enjoyment of a town or city - perhaps too much. Yet, there is much to be said for having a general itinerary and filling it in as you go along, rather than locking it in by booking lodgings before you leave home, when you know little about the place you'll be visiting.

Hopefully, you'll hear from some folks who've done what you propose and have lived to tell a happy tale.

My first question is, what advantage is there to not booking ahead and I assume you have asked yourself that question and already answered it.

I know there is a great deal of satisfaction in finding what turn out to be wonderful accommodations as there is in not being tied to a specific itinerary or schedule.

I would be more inclined to take your approach in May than in, say, August. Be prepared for some disappointments and also the possibility of using up valuable vacation time searching for places to stay. But if you feel comfortable with that I say go for it because I think the results could be wonderful.

Have a great trip.