Hotel’s these days are getting better and better, offering all sorts of great amenities such as luxurious pools, a swanky hotel bar, and lounge areas that make great for hanging out.

When you are staying in a hotel you want to maximize your ability to enjoy these amenities. So sometimes you simply require a little more time at the hotel and therefore even better if you can keep your hotel room. Maybe you want to keep using the lavish amenities, or perhaps you need a place to hang out and kill time until your flight departs, but late check out might come in handy at times.

The good news is the majority of hotels offer late checkouts to their customers but most don’t actually ask.

If you think you can benefit from a late checkout here is our best way to request it and some helpful tips to get it approved.

What exactly is a late checkout?

Checkout is usually about midday to give the hotel staff time to clean the room, double-check that nothing has been left behind, and sign the room off on their cleaning schedule. Late checkout allows visitors to check out later than the hotel’s regular checkout time, providing them more time to shower after an early meeting, rest after a late night, or pack their baggage at their leisure.

As part of the hotel’s total service, a late checkout allows a guest flexibility and added value.

The policies for hotel late checkout may fluctuate depending on the location and hotel. Late checkout is often defined as checking out after 11 a.m. or 12 p.m.

In the event of a late checkout, you must notify the front desk agent ahead of time (a day or so). The hotel’s phone number and email address can be found on the hotel’s website.

Make sure you explain the problem to them and, if possible, ask for their assistance. It can usually be set for 2 p.m., or even later in some situations, such as 6 p.m. If a guest asks it in advance, many hotels now provide this service (sometimes they charge but if you ask nicely they can give it complementary)

After a day of work in a hotel with business meetings and a late dinner, you may wish to request a hotel late check out for the next day so they can leave the room late and get ready at their leisure the next day.

A family vacation may require the use of the hotel’s late hotel checkout service. This service is convenient no matter where a guest is staying, whether on business, vacation, or just for a single night en route to somewhere else. In addition, guests can talk with hotel staff and, if available, arrange a departure time.

When should a late checkout be requested?

There are various ways to request a late checkout, each with its benefits and drawbacks.

Booking time

When making your hotel booking, you can request a late checkout. This can be done by calling and requesting late checkout or, in some situations, noting it in the hotel app or website.

Because you’ll be reserving a hotel several days, weeks, or even months in advance, they won’t be able to promise you a late checkout unless you have elite status or another unusual condition.

Don’t have status? If you are traveling for business and using a hotel corporate code then often times late checkout is included by default.

Another strategy that might work at this point is to email the hotel manager with your request. Simply call the hotel and ask for their email address. In addition, you can enhance your chances of securing late checkout and an upgrade by composing a kind email highlighting how much you are looking forward to your hotel stay.

If you are lucky you can score the late checkout by looking for a special offer discount on the hotels page at the time of booking.

When it comes to why you’re looking forward to your stay and want/need a late hotel checkout, the more precise you can be, the better. However, there’s no need to compose a long email; simply writing in will allow you to mark your reservation as unique.

Check-in time

At the time of check-in, you can also request a late checkout. In most instances, the hotel will inform you that late checkout is not possible until the day of your departure. However, it is a good idea to notify them if you believe you will require late checkout.

You might also suggest tossing them a ten or twenty dollar bill, but because late checkout fees at some hotels may be as high as $20, you might be better off just paying the price rather than engaging in the ruse.

During your stay in the hotel

During their stay, some guests simply ask for a late checkout. The benefit of doing so might be that you can check with different individuals at the front desk on different days to highlight the need for late checkout. So, when it’s time to decide on your checkout day, they’ll remember how often you’ve asked for a late checkout and be more likely to grant it.

You don’t want to go too far and bother the staff, but this is a strategy that could work, and it’s similar to how we’ve gained upgrades by requesting them throughout our stay.

The day of departure

Calling the front desk early in the morning on the day of your hotel checkout is the most effective period to request a late checkout.

Perhaps a staff person can tell you right away if you’ll receive late checkout, but other times they’ll have to check with their manager, who will then have to verify the day’s inventory before they can promise it. Nevertheless, they usually respond within a short time.

Why Might You Require a Late Checkout?

If you truly desire late checkout, you must have a genuine reason for doing so. Consider other more convincing and precise arguments. Simply wishing to sleep in may not be enough to get your late checkout.

The following are some justifiable reasons for requesting a late hotel checkout. Any of these suggestions and techniques do not ensure that you will be able to extend your stay.

Your hotel is under no duty to supply it, either. However, if you do not inquire, you will never know. These are some of them:

• You didn’t check in until late at night and believed you were entitled to the money.
• You’re tired and could use a few more hours of sleep.
• Your flight is scheduled to depart in the late afternoon or evening.
• Your flight has been rescheduled or has been canceled.
• You won’t be able to get to your destination until late in the evening.
• You won’t be able to return to your hotel until after the checkout time has passed.
• If you or your family member is sick and needs to rest.

How to Get a Late Checkout

So, here are several tips to help you get a late hotel checkout and some other suggestions.

• Be polite at all times: Customers treated with respect and decency motivate staff and supervisors to go above and beyond. While it’s understood that long vacations might be exhausting, and even minor irritations can irritate you after a long drive or flying, they are still people, not hotel employees.
• When making your reservation, request a late checkout. It’s doubtful that it’ll be approved at that time, but it’ll be recorded on the computer.
• Call the hotel again to inquire.
• Make smart decisions about your days: If you stay in a hotel during off-peak periods, you will be far more likely to be allowed Late Checkout. This is because the staff does not have to rush about during off-peak hours to ensure that each room is clean for the next visitors who may be coming. Instead, they may schedule your room to be cleaned last, giving you an extra hour or two to relax in some high-thread-count sheets.
• If you have a loyalty card or visit the place often, inform the staff: While this does not ensure a late checkout, it will certainly assist you. Hotels don’t want to lose repeat customers, so they frequently provide more amenities. See if you can join if you aren’t already a member. Many hotels offer free memberships, which benefit both parties.
• Get the general manager’s name and write a nice note expressing your excitement for a visit and politely requesting a little additional time. Indicate the number of extra hours you’d like.
• When you arrive, request it and inform the front desk receptionist that you have previously requested it and should be in the system. You may be given a few hours leeway if the hotel is not fully booked.
• Because the hotel sector prioritizes customer satisfaction, you will almost never encounter unpleasant, arrogant, or hostile front desk staff. This is owing to the fact that they have far more authority than most customers believe, and they don’t have to be rude to make your stay unpleasant. So, keep this in mind before you raise your voice or demand more than you deserve because the agent who assigns you a room is well aware of which rooms have cold drafts, broken curtain rails, and low-battery television remotes.
• Is it your romantic getaway? Inform them!
• A $20 bill slipped at the front desk clerk might change a no into a yes.
• Offer to pay for an extra time early in the morning you are set to leave. Some hotels may be able to provide half-day pricing if they are not fully booked. You might even be allowed to stay for a few more hours for free.
• If you are allowed to check out late, you should usually display a do not disturb the notice on your door. Because the housekeeping crew may not receive notice if you have a late checkout, they may rush in with only a light knock. Therefore, a do not disturb sign may serve as a reminder that someone may be inside.
• Many hotels will let your room key expire before the end of your late checkout period. So, even if you have late checkout till 3 p.m., your room key may no longer work after 12 p.m. This means that you will need to renew your room keys if you return to the hotel after that time.
• On Sundays, late checkout is usually easier because hotels are less crowded. Being a platinum credit card holder, on the other hand, can be advantageous. Who’d have guessed that loyalty points could help you in this way? If you can acquire some additional time at a half-day cost, that’s fantastic!
• The majority of the time, hoteliers will not allow you to check out late on a regular day. For example, if it’s cleaning time, the person in charge of the job can’t keep waiting for you to depart. They must also proceed to other rooms.

Different hotel groups have different policies so make sure you browse the details when you are looking for the best way to book at Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and others.

If you are unable to obtain a late checkout,

If the hotel does not allow you to stay longer than intended without incurring additional fees for a late checkout, you have a variety of options for passing the time:

Entry to the lounge

If you have admission to the hotel lounge due to your accommodation or your elite status, some hotels will let you stay there until you have to leave (assuming it is a reasonable time). If you can’t get into the lounge, try hanging out in a bar or a restaurant.

Half-day fee

If you can’t secure a free checkout extension, you can always pay for late checkout or half-day charge. However, you may need to spend $20 to $50 or more for a half-day cost for an extension.

Request that your bags be stored at the hotel.

If you can’t stay past the regular checkout time, the hotel will most likely hold your belongings while you go out. They will often do everything for free, and all you have to do is tip somebody.

Final thoughts

Getting elite status with a hotel is the best way to go if you appreciate late checkout. Even so, for the best results, make sure you properly convey your genuine need for it to the front desk. It can feel like you’re getting a free night’s stay when you obtain a late hotel checkout. However, you can overstay your reservation without overstaying your welcome by employing all of these techniques.