Should I Book My Flight or Lodging First?
8.24.2023
By: Ray SaVonne
“Should I Book My Flight or Lodging First?” I get this question a lot! I personally usually book my lodging first. Booking the lodging first just makes the rest of the trip planning process run so much smoother in my opinion. I say this because once I know where I’m staying, I have an idea of what’s in the vicinity like: what airport to book my flight into, where to eat, and what excursions are offered in the area.
The only time I’ve booked a flight before my lodging was when a roundtrip ticket was super cheap and I didn’t want to take a chance on prices rising. Sadly, I did learn this tip the hard way. When I originally started planning one of my trips, the roundtrip ticket was $463… ROUND TRIP! I was like “ehh it’s 10 months in advance, so prices will probably be the same over the next couple of months or so.” When I tell you the tickets went up to over $1,200!! I was SICK! I made a promise to myself that if I ever find a roundtrip ticket, especially one outside of the country, for less than $500 I’m booking it on the spot.
If you’re uncomfortable with booking your lodging first every trip and you want to weigh out your options, try using these three simple questions to make the choice easier for you:
Is it a solo trip or a group trip?
How far in advance are you planning the trip?
Does the trip have set dates or a flux in dates?
Is it a solo trip or a group trip?
If you’re going on a trip alone, the first thing I advise is to book your lodging. I say this because safety should always be a main priority when traveling solo and you’ll want to ensure you’re able to book a stay in an area that reflects that. If you’re going on a group trip, answering questions 2 and 3 first may be of more help for you to decide (since group trips tend to rarely make it out of the group chat, lol).
How far in advance are you planning the trip?
If the trip is planned 6 months to a year in advance, I advise booking your airfare first since airfare tends to be cheaper the earlier you book. If you’re going with a group, I always say “book with a buddy,” that way you’ll know it’s a real trip to put on the books and can coordinate your flights. If the trip is less than 6 months away, I advise booking your lodging first to make sure you have a guaranteed place to stay that you want to stay in versus what’s open and available later on.
Does the trip have set dates or a flux in dates?
If the trip has specific dates, I advise booking the lodging first because you don't want to get the crumbs of the lodging choices (especially if it’s during a peak or holiday season). If the trip has a flux in dates and you’re going with a group, do a little research on both the lodging and airfare costs and book whichever is cheaper at the time of your research (while keeping my “$500 self-promise” in mind).
If you still don’t have a clear answer, I always say, “when in doubt, book the lodging first.” When it comes to deciding when to book your airfare, you can use apps such as Expedia and Hopper to track airfare costs for you. These apps allow you to set notifications that notify you for the best time to book your flight, while also keeping you updated on when prices start to rise or fall.
I hope this helps in your decision-making process!
XO,
The Kléi
