Early check in means that you get access to your hotel room earlier than the regular check in time. For many travelers, this is a welcome option, especially after a long flight, an early arrival, or when you simply want to rest and leave your luggage directly in the room.
Why do hotels often have check in only from 3 PM
Most hotels usually allow guests into their rooms at three o clock in the afternoon. There is a clear reason for that rule. Previous guests often check out at 12 noon, and after that the hotel staff usually have around three hours to prepare the room for the next guest.
During that time, the room needs to be cleaned, the beds made, the towels changed, the bathroom cleaned, and everything checked to make sure it is in order. In larger hotels, there are also many rooms that need to be ready at the same time, which makes the time between check out and check in important for smooth operations.
Why is early check in not always possible
Even if there are sometimes available rooms early in the day, hotels often do not want to promise early check in right away. The reason is that it cannot always be offered. A hotel does not know for certain how many rooms will actually be ready in time, whether guests will check out as planned, or whether delays will occur during cleaning.
That is why many hotels are careful about guaranteeing early check in in advance. They want to avoid promising something that cannot later be delivered, since that can create dissatisfaction among guests.
When can you Still check in earlier
Of course, it does happen that hotels have available and fully prepared rooms before the regular check in time. If occupancy is low or if certain rooms were not used the night before, the hotel can sometimes offer early check in without any problem. In such cases, it often depends on availability and the situation that day rather than on a fixed guarantee.
Some hotels offer early check in as a service and a friendly gesture, especially if they have the opportunity to help. It can be a way to give the guest a better start to their stay.
Why early flights are often cheaper
Did you know that cheap airline tickets often apply to very early departures? One major reason is that many travelers arrive at their destination early, when early check in at the hotel is not yet possible. This means that you often have to sit in the hotel lobby and wait for the room to be prepared.
For many people, it feels less convenient to land early in the morning if they still cannot check in right away. The trip then becomes less smooth, which can make those flights less attractive to some travelers. That is why early departures can often have lower prices than flights that arrive closer to the regular check in time.
Does early check in cost extra
At some hotels, early check in is free if the room is already ready and the hotel is able to let the guest in earlier. But many hotels also charge extra for that service. This is because early check in is seen as an add on beyond the standard booking, especially if the hotel has to make special arrangements to make the room available earlier.
The fee can vary depending on the hotel, the time, and how early the check in is requested. The earlier you want access to the room, the greater the chance that it will cost extra.
It is best to ask the hotel in advance
Anyone who wants early check in is wise to contact the hotel in advance. Then you can find out what rules apply, whether the service is available, and whether it costs anything. In many cases, the hotel can note the request even if they cannot promise anything until the same day.