Early check in and late check out

If you travel for holiday or business purposes and stay in a hotel, you will normally be asked on what time you will arrive at the hotel on your check in date as well as what time to depart from the hotel on your check out time.

It is easier to predict the time when you travel by flight or train since you already have the confirmed trip schedule with you.  Of course, a different circumstance will happen if you experience a delay or changing schedule which sometimes happen.

Travelling by car will be different since you can be flexible with the time and transit in some places if necessary.  Nevertheless, you will still need to estimate the arrival time as the hotel will require this information.

Why does a hotel ask your arrival time and departure time information?  This is because a hotel must prepare and ensure that the room is ready upon your arrival as well as estimate the room cleaning time when you depart for the next guest to check in.

How about when a guest request to have an early check in and a late check out? Is this request possible to grant?

Early Check In

The normal check in time applied at a hotel will be at 14.00 or 2.00 pm local time.  Depending on the city destination or the season when you will travel, sometimes, some hotels will implement a little late check in time at approximate 15.00 or 3.00 pm local time due to busy periods.  This information will usually be shared at the time of your room reservation made or written in the confirmation letter.

What happen if you need to check in at the hotel earlier than the normal check in time? Here are what you need to do and consider.

• At the time of your room booking is made, inform the hotel that you want to request an early check in.
• If you only know your arrival time a few days before checking in, then email or call the hotel to inform your plan.
• Do note that an early check in is a request, which means, the hotel will take and consider your request and will come back to you with the confirmation. So, your request to have an early check in can be confirmed or rejected depending on the hotel situation.
• If the hotel is on a busy period, your request may not be possible to be honored and the hotel will provide an alternative to store your luggage while waiting for the room to be available and ready.
• Does a request for an early check in chargeable or at no cost?
  • If your early check request is at a reasonable time, for example, at 1.00pm and the hotel is not too busy, then your request might be granted at no charge.
  • If the early check in requested is in the morning, says for example, at 10.00am, there will be two possibilities, which are,
    • If the hotel is full on the night before, then, your request will not be granted since there is no room ready at your requested check in time.
    • If the hotel room is available, then, there will be an additional charge applied.
  • What will be the additional charge applied for an early check in request? It will range from 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% (full charge) of the room rate based on your requested early check in time.

Late Check Out

Hotel check out time is normally applied at 12 noon local time. Occasionally, due to peak season periods, some hotel might implement earlier check out time, for example, at 11.00am local time which will be communicated to the in-house guest in advance.

Due to certain circumstances, some guests might require late check out in which the time will vary depending on their needs.  For example, a request for late check out is due to late afternoon or evening flight schedule, prolonged meeting hours, or any other valid reasons.

Here are several points for you to consider before requesting a late check out.

• A request for late check out is better to be asked to the hotel at least one day prior to your check out date. This is because of the hotel will need to check the hotel situation prior to confirming your request.
• The hotel situation is dynamic, which means, the level of occupancy might possibly to change, either to increase or decrease within one day or same day lead time, and therefore, your late check out request will only be possible to be confirmed at least within 24-hours or less of your check out date.
• You can always inform your late check out request when your room booking is made, however the hotel will not be able to provide the confirmation early. The hotel will note on your request and come back to you on the possibility as soon as they can.
• Similar like an early check in, an additional charge might or might not be applied for a late check out request depending on your requested time.
  • If the request for late check out time is within reason, for example a one-hour extension time and the hotel is not busy, then it is possible for the hotel to honor the guest’s request with no additional charge.
  • Additional charge will be applied if a request for late check out is for example, until afternoon, late afternoon, even evening check out, then the charge will range from 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% (full charge) of the room rate.
  • If your schedule allows to extend your stay, then I would suggest for you to add one more day staying at the hotel than evening late check out, because either way, you will be charged at full room rate. Of course, you will need to inform the hotel on your changing plan as soon as possible to ensure that the room is available.

Several hotels have loyalty program which offer an early check in and a late check out as part of the program’s benefits when you have reached a certain level of membership.  Check with the hotel upon check in if you are interested to know more on the loyalty program.

Have an enjoyable stay.