Book Ahead in July?

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Hi!  I know this question is asked a lot, but please forgive me since I'm a first time traveler and this is causing me a lot of anxiety.  I know that July/August are the peak travel months, so will it be necessary for me to call more than a few days ahead?  I want to keep a flexible itinerary, but I also don't want to blow out my budget by having to stay in hotels because all the hostels are full.  If someone could share their advice or experience, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Meredith

[Kim]

If you are planning on staying in dorms, you should be OK.
Basically, call as soon as you can-when you arrive in City A, call ahead to City B and make a reservation.

You might not get your ideal arrangement this way (small dorms, certain hostels) but you should be able to find a bed.

Amsterdam is another story though, it's somewhere where you want to make reservations quite a bit in advance.

Kim