Just as the early bird catches the worm, the smart tourist makes the most of his or her time by booking in advance. Booking what exactly? Anything you can – hotels, restaurants, attraction tickets, museum tickets, tours and more. Not only is reserved booking required at many locations, but reserved booking can provide you with many other benefits as well.
- Booking tickets in advance guarantees your entrance and can allow you to skip whatever kind of line precedes entrance.
Just last week a friend of mine wanted to visit the Colosseum, but didn’t want to spend two hours standing in line (would you?) and ended having to abandon her plans and return home.
- You are guaranteed entrance and service at the time and place most convenient for you.
A Californian friend of LivItaly did not book Alcatraz tickets in advance for his honeymoon and had to miss out on this exciting attraction!
- By booking in advance you can better plan your activities and maximize your time spent around your desired schedule. In addition, by booking early you have less of a chance of having your plans spoiled by a sold out activity.
Have you ever just dropped by the Borghese Gallery to take a peek at the art? No. Because Borghese tickets have to be bought in advance.
- Booking early can save you money! Many attractions offer discounts for tickets bought in advance.
Which is cheaper, booking a flight a month in advance, or at the airport the day of? Many attractions and services work the same way, book early and get a better deal!
- Booking in advance allows you and your service provider ample preparation time in order to give you the best experience possible.
A sad but true truth – book early and you are more likely to get a better tour guide!
For any event or attraction that you consider especially essential or expensive, advanced booking is highly suggested (although advanced booking is recommended whenever possible). Not only does booking in advance save you time and money, but when it comes to service based activities, it is a common courtesy.