8. Ignoring the Checkout Time
Checkout times exist for a very specific operational reason, not just to inconvenience your travel schedule. The brief window of hours between the standard checkout time—usually 11:00 AM—and the standard check-in time of 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM is the only opportunity the hotel staff has to thoroughly clean, sanitize, and restock every single room in the building.
When you stay past your designated checkout time without securing prior approval, you create a stressful, cascading backlog for the housekeepers waiting patiently with their heavy carts in the hallway.
If you genuinely need an extra hour to finish packing your suitcase, take a final shower, or wait for a delayed taxi, simply call the front desk early in the morning and politely request a late checkout. Hotels are often happy to accommodate these requests for free or a small fee if their daily occupancy rate permits it.
Once approved, the front desk updates the system, allowing the housekeeping manager to adjust their staff’s routing accordingly. Never just lock the deadbolt, ignore the knocking, and refuse to leave.
12 Responses
Tips for Budget hotel staff don’t hide in the office watching on CCTV guests standing around the reception area hoping guests will check in them selves
Thank you for the helpful information about proper room etiquette when staying at a hotel/motel.
I worked as a housekeeper. I strip the beds as a guest putting pillow cases in a pile, fitted sheets in a pile, sheets in a pile and duvets. I do this because I worked with a woman who just kept all that on if it looked “clean enough”. N I loved when people did it for me. And I wipe ALL mine and my families hair out off the bathtub. Cause that was the worst
I don’t want to sleep on used sheets that someone else left body waste on
Touché
Don’t forget a tip
Be honest… they don’t want the beds stripped because they don’t always replace the sheets and definitely don’t replace the duvet covers!
That’s what I thought. So I just pile them neatly -easy to see there are no remotes, etc in the pile.
Exactly!!!
I was a hotel housekeeper while in college. So, I do follow these rules. Yes, they are helpful reminders to treat hotel staff with respect.
Great information
All good points, but I also suggest stopping by the front desk (or calling right before you depart) and telling the staff that you’ve actually left – especially if it’s very early in the morning. That way the housekeeping staff can get an earlier start on that room. Several desk clerks have said they appreciate the courtesy
After reading all the 10 Things Hotel Staff Hate I can only imagine how frustrating the staff would be since all the things are what COMMON SENCE should show in this article. I have never done any of those things and can’t imagine that there are people who would not respect some ones property. I believe most of the things is how people were raised poor parenting!