There are Pros and cons to booking and not booking and comes down to personal preference. Mine is to book in advance and have the peace of mind knowing I have a place for the night. The thought of spending half of my afternoon on the phone trying to secure a room fills me with dread, I just want to enjoy the moment. Others prefer to leave it and experience the freedom not booking offers. Late cancellation policies can offer a bit of leeway, but I always think of it as not being tied down with careful planning. I have a start date and an end date and know what I want to see and do and if all else fails I may lose a nights accomodation cost. (Never happend yet!)