Effortless Traveling

Sync with Check In and Check Out Hours

In transit
Passenger pushes a suitcase at an airport terminal in Osaka.
almost dark night
A lantern and a fire dimly illuminate the soft twilight that seizes the Okavango Delta.
boreal architecture
The glass igloos of the Kakslauttanen hotel, created on purpose to facilitate the observation of Northern Lights.
Text: Marco C. Pereira
Images: Marco C. Pereira
After a long flight or sequence of flights, he arrives at the hotel on a slop, but has to wait to be admitted to his room. Find out what you can do to prevent or soften this drama.

early check in 

Start by contacting the hotel even before booking. Explain your logistics and give unquestionable reasons why you need an early check in.

Especially if you have a reservation for several days, the hotel will probably be concerned about keeping you satisfied.

If it's not possible to check in earlier for free, ask if it's possible with a price adjustment.

Above all, ask for the agreement to be registered in the system so that on arrival you are not faced with refusals or other confusion.

Alternatives to Early check in

1- If this is not possible at all, if this service is available at the airport of arrival or nearby, you can always choose to take a shower – almost always possible at airports – and sleep a few hours in one capsule hotel or cabin, increasingly used by travelers in transit but not only.

2- Proceed to the hotel and ask for your luggage to be stored, something no hotel should refuse. Without this inconvenience, depending on the waiting time, you have three possibilities:

a) move to a capsule, cabin or other valid hotel that covers shorter periods and rests until check-in time

b) leave a contact number at the hotel, wake up as best you can and go out for an invigorating meal and – if applicable – a tour of the city you are in.

c) the classic solution: settle in one of the most comfortable rooms in the hotel and rest as best as possible, entertain or take the opportunity to plan the rest of the trip. 

Problems with Check Out

Without exception, the most common problem with checkout is the untimely and irrational pressure that some hotels – or their employees – do to get guests to leave their rooms.

It's that typical situation of still half an hour before check-out time, which I was counting on to rest, but someone knocks on the door to announce “housekeeping”.

Or call to ask if they can check the minibar or other such intrusion.

But in certain parts of the world, checkout time itself can be a drama.

For example in Australia and New Zealand, almost all hotels, motels, guesthouses and inns follow the rule of requiring, without appeal, guests to leave before 10 am. I

This is even when some entered only at 11 pm or midnight as happened to us, several times.

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