Airlines Ticket 1st or Vacation rental 1st? (rentals, hotels, price)

[Goldwing]

I want to take a trip to the Netherlands and I want to rent a vacation rental off Craigslist and wonder how I should do this.
Get a ticket first or a vacation rental 1st.
Thanks

[Bob The Builder]

The Craigslist Rental pricing will have more stability and the date flexibility than the air ticket.

You can price out and buy your ticket and save hundreds whereas the rental price will not change much.

[findinghope]

if you get the rental first, you may not be able to get those airlines dates and you will be paying for the rental without being there.

[Goldwing]

Thanks very much, sounds like very solid logic to get the ticket first now

[cb at sea]

I always wait until ALL the arrangements are made BEFORE doing the airline things--once you buy, you're pretty much locked in! Most rentals, hotels, excursions, etc... can be cancelled--tickets are generally non-refundable!

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

I always wait until ALL the arrangements are made BEFORE doing the airline things--once you buy, you're pretty much locked in! Most rentals, hotels, excursions, etc... can be cancelled--tickets are generally non-refundable!

I agree with every point.
Also, lots of airlines fly to major cities; there's always a wide choice, usually at a variety of prices. But if you lock yourself in to unrefundable flight dates, you won't know yet whether or not the rental choice(s) you want is/are available for those dates... Air tickets last, has always been my experience.