Accommodations before flights?

[mamabear0222]

Would you secure your accommodations before finding decent flights?
So many people have told me this isnt a good idea but places are selling out and rates just keep climbing for where we want to stay.
I figured I should put a deposit down since our dates are firm anyways, then worry about flights.
Living where we do I have a few options (Detroit, Buffalo, and all the southwestern Canadian cities)
Thoughts?

 

[kuhltiffany]

We're from just outside Toronto and have to do the same thing. I find it's often cheaper to add a days stay before or after the time I've booked to match flight options. We have to catch a deal when we can!

 

[Sue M]

If you know your dates, there shouldn't be a problem booking your hotel. You don't have to pay in advance, and usually there is a 24 hr cancellation policy.
We fly from Seattle and stay the night before. But I've never had to put a deposit down and pay in advance? We use a Marriott Towneplace Suites. They include free parking with their park & fly rate.

 

[dis_guy]

We've always booked flights first then resort. On at least one occasion we saved about $600 in flights by staying a couple of extra days. That's after paying for the extra nights. The most absurd one was last March after a week of horrible weather I told DW we were going to Disney and booked everything, flights, resort, tickets, etc on Friday for a Saturday departure. Even with this timeline Disney had no trouble giving us exactly what we wanted for our trip. Good luck!

 

[mamabear0222]

We are staying offsite so I'm just hoping all will be well.
Owner has a 100% cancellation refund 60 days prior so hoping all is okay!

Flights aren't coming out until end of this month or Aug!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

As long as you can cancel or adjust the dates afterward, then I don't see an issue about booking accommodations before securing flights.

If your accommodations don't permit changes, then I would wait until after the flights are purchased.

 

[MedicGoofy]

I always make my hotel reservations prior to booking air. It's just the way the scheduling seems to come out. If something happens with air, like cheaper flights on different days, then I try to alter my dates, OR just add on another hotel at either end.

I have never ended up having a scheduling conflict. And I usually only book hotels that have free cancellation or changes.

 

[lizabu]

I make hotel reservations way in advance when rates are lowest and do airfare usually only a couple of months in advance. I can always tweak the hotel reservations if needed once I get the airfare sorted out.