Previously, I briefly covered the complexities of check-in and check-out times. If you recall, there’s quite a bit involved including efficiencies in payroll for the housekeeping department, but most importantly enhancing the guest experience.
The guest experience is enhanced by allowing a guest to have a timely check-in as early as 3pm as well as making sure their departure time is maximized to 12pm in most cases. But what if your flight doesn’t depart until 5pm and you would like to check out later? Or what if you encountered no traffic and arrived at 10am?
You can ask for a late check-out or early check-in at the front desk. For the reasons we previously mentioned, most hotels will charge for these services. And if you don’t mind paying for them, they should be readily available to you, but how can you get these services for free?
First and foremost, be nice. Kindness and information are your biggest assets in these situations. Personally, I would call the front desk and chat about how their day is going. Ask them how busy the hotel is and if they have a busy day ahead of them. The busier they are, the less likely you are to get this service for free, but if they say they aren’t very busy, that’s a different story. Ask politely if it would be possible to have a complimentary early check-in or late check-out.
An early check-in will be easier to get. Most likely, they will tell you that if the room type you have requested is available and clean, they will get you into the room. They will probably tell you to check when you arrive.
The late check-out can be a little trickier. You might start by asking how late you could check-out without an additional charge. If the time they quote to you is good enough, then you’re all set. If not, you may ask for additional time and if you have played your cards correctly, they may give you more time.
Overall, being well-informed, polite, and understanding is the best way to get what you want from your hotel stay.
If you are traveling soon and have questions, please feel free to reach out to Practical Insider Travelers Tips at [email protected]. Until next time, be safe and happy traveling!
