Ten mistakes to avoid when checking into and out of a hotel.
1. Not asking about resort fees
The last thing you want on vacation is to be hit with unexpected fees. Sometimes, though, additional costs—like resort fees—are unavoidable. The best thing you can do is find out if they are applicable so you can budget them into the cost of your room rate. Still, I recommend asking if the resort fee is optional when checking in. Sometimes I get lucky and it is (or the clerk agrees to waive it).
2. Not requesting an early check-in or late checkout
A few chains are making moves to nix the typical check-in and checkout rules. For example, the Hoxton hotels have introduced Flexy Time, eliminating check-in and check-out times altogether. When requesting an early check-in or late checkout, it’s best to be flexible about your room type, as it may increase the likelihood the hotel will be able to grant your request. I’ve found securing early check-in and/or late checkout can be as easy as asking nicely for it at the front desk, especially if I’m willing to trade a particular room type for early access.
3. Not asking for a specific room if you’re a light sleeper
If your sleeping habits dictate the type of room you’ll be happiest in, speak up. I’m a light sleeper, so I always ask for a room far from the elevator, on a high floor, and facing the least busy street or a courtyard.
4. Forgetting to do a final sweep of your room
Do you ever stop before leaving your house and think, “Wallet, phone, keys?”? You should ask the same question when you’re checking out of a hotel room. Go through a mental checklist and do a walk-through of your room before leaving. Take it from someone who’s left behind a device charger or three. (Now, I make sure to look at every outlet during my final sweep of the room.)
5. Not providing your contact information at check-in
During check-in, I leave my email address and ask for my folio to be sent to me after checkout. That way, I can skip checkout and walk out of the hotel knowing I’ll have a chance to review any charges later.
6. Not leaving a tip for the housekeeping staff before checkout
We instinctively tip servers, bartenders, hair stylists, and cab drivers. Leaving gratuity for the housekeeping staff at a hotel should be second nature as well. If you’ve forgotten to tip housekeeping daily during your stay, the best thing to do is leave a tip in the room before you check out.
7. Waiting in line to check out if you’re crunched for time
Now more than ever you want to avoid standing in line at the front desk to check out. Your responsibility is to vacate the room on time, whether that’s at the designated checkout time or a previously agreed-upon late checkout time. You also need to ensure you have a way to review your bill, and that the hotel staff has a credit card on file for any room charges. If you prefer to review your bill in person, or you need to switch the billing information on the room, you have to line up for checkout. But if you’ve given your email address and credit card info upon checking in, you can just head out. Don’t forget to leave your keycards in the room so the hotel can reuse the plastic.
8. Forgetting to look at an itemized bill before leaving
Most hotels allow you to review your bill via your room TV and skip the check-out line. If you don’t want to go this route, leave yourself extra time to review your bill with the front desk before checking out.
9. Not asking nicely for an upgrade
Ask for an upgrade if there’s an opportunity to do so politely. On the day of your arrival, the front desk has a lot of discretion to assign rooms. If have a few nicer rooms they have to put someone in, that someone could be you, so ask nicely.
10. Overpaying for an upgrade at check-in
If you are interested in a room upgrade, make the request as soon as you can and have a limit on the amount you’re willing to pay. My rule of thumb is to offer ten percent of what the room is costing me.
Twist’s Take: Avoid these ten mistakes for a better check-in/check-out experience at your next hotel.
