Guides
What to book first on a multi-city Europe trip.
Direct answer
Book your flights first if they aren't already set. Next, book the hotel that sets the dates for your first major train. Then buy those train tickets. Next, book your second hotel. Timed-entry museums can wait until your city dates are confirmed. Restaurant reservations and neighborhood activities can wait until closer to your trip.
Recommended action: reserve your Paris hotel before purchasing high-speed train tickets.
- If train dates depend on hotel check-in and checkout, book the hotel first.
- If a museum ticket is strictly limited on your dates, book it once your city days are locked.
- Don't book a fourth city's hotel until both parents agree on the overall pace.
- You always pay providers directly. See booking help.
A clear booking order, not a random checklist
Generic advice to “book flights, then hotels, then trains” leads to costly mistakes. On this route, your Paris hotel checkout date determines when you take the high-speed train to Switzerland. Buying non-refundable train tickets first risks locking you into dates before you find a great family room.
Recommended booking order for our 14-day route: Flights → Paris hotel → Paris–Lucerne train → Lucerne hotel → Lucerne–Munich train → Munich hotel → Frankfurt airport hotel → Museum entry times (like the Louvre). See the complete table on booking help and our 14-day itinerary.
What to verify at each step
- Room capacity fits your family comfortably (e.g. two rooms or family suite).
- Hotel cancellation windows cover your planning timeline.
- Train seat selection is completed during checkout so the family sits together.
- Your booking confirmation dates match your itinerary plan.
Ready when the flights are locked
Tell us where you land. We'll figure out the rest.
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Request early accessGood to know & updates
- This booking order is a planning recommendation. Train operator reservation rules should be checked for your dates.
- Continue with booking help and our travel boundaries.
Written by the Trip, Figured team · Regularly updated for current travel conditions