Best strategy for early morning arrival at a hotel

[luxury-lizard]

When flying overseas one often arrives at their final destination in the early morning and would really like to be able to obtain a (very) early check-in at your hotel. So what strategies do you use? Some of mine are:-

- Book and pay for the previous day - works every time but can be very expensive

- Book a large chain hotel - the more rooms, the more likely there will be an available room and/or offer to pay for an upgrade to higher level room if that's available

- Book a hotel where you have some sort of higher status in their loyality program - some have benefits which offers early check-in (subject to availability)

- Try to find a hotel (often airport hotels) which have early check-in guaranteed for a price (but less than a full night) - I've seen a few airport hotels which have a 24-hour policy i.e. you can check-in anytime and stay 24 hours - I believe the Novotel at BKK is one such hotel and so are a couple of hotels in Dubai.

- Hang around the lobby asking every 30 minutes if your room is ready yet

 

[kpc]

In LHR, we delay our transfer to London town and spend a couple of hours in the AA arrivals lounge, showering and having a 2nd bfast whilst answering emails etc. Otherwise, it is often dumping bags at hotel and going for a walk!

 

[Denali]

I've done all of the above, last trip I booked massage at nearby spa so dropped bags off, walked around a bit then massage.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Airline arrivals lounges are a godsend in these examples. Hotel status definitely works too as I've arrived at the Hilton KL at 7.30am and received my room.

 

[RooFlyer]

Another strategy is where they send you an e-mail from concierge/some manager the day or two before you arrive, you reply very politely noting very early arrival from long-haul flight and asking if an early check-in might be available.

Has worked for me more times than not. Mostly Accor, where I have Gold status, which in the scheme of things, doesn't bring much otherwise; also Marriott where I have no status.

I once arrived abt 7am at the Mira in Hong Kong (no prior e-mails) and had paid for the prior night so I had a guaranteed room waiting for me and on check-in and they said they'd waive the prior night's charge!! That bought them more repeat business from me than any loyalty card would have!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I once arrived abt 7am at the Mira in Hong Kong (no prior e-mails) and had paid for the prior night so I had a guaranteed room waiting for me and on check-in and they said they'd waive the prior night's charge!! That bought them more repeat business from me than any loyalty card would have!

Sometimes it's the little things.....

 

[theblank]

- Try to find a hotel (often airport hotels) which have early check-in guaranteed for a price (but less than a full night) - I've seen a few airport hotels which have a 24-hour policy i.e. you can check-in anytime and stay 24 hours - I believe the Novotel at BKK is one such hotel and so are a couple of hotels in Dubai.

I have looked at a couple of examples of these 24 hour block hotels, and its invariable cheaper to find another hotel and just pay for 2 nights.

 

[get me outta here]

I'm arriving in SIN at 0515 off SQ F straight into the TPR to kill some time, eat 2nd brekky, have 2 flat whites and shower before ambling over to a hotel. Worse case is drop the bag there and off into the day.

 

[leadman]

Status is of course the best one to have, I've only had to wait a few times at the Marriott/Sheraton, but you get lounge access. The other one is to check the hotel room price as you start to get closer to arrival. If it has increased substantially over what you paid you can have a rough guess its full and only a slight chance of getting a room early. Since i'm travelling a lot of the time i have a few spare hours in rooms so i can "play this game"

 

[kermatu]

I've checked in as early as 5am without paying for that night, but actually consider that quite unfair so usually won't try before 8am. I've in general been very successful and well looked after. One epic fail at the Tokyo Conrad.

Case-by-case basis for me -- I don't have one single method for trying.

Status helps. Big international hotels help (airport hotels obvious as well). In these cases I will usually just rock up and chance my arm, but only if there's an executive lounge I know I will be able to access and sit comfortably in the event the room isn't ready and I do not want to go out. Did this the other day at the Conrad in Singapore. Happily accepted a (very minor) downgrade to get into room about 9am. All other perks of status maintained so an easy choice.

I am increasingly contacting the hotels in advance though, to let them know. Particularly those I stay regularly and sometimes do arrive very early after overnight flights; or where I have particular room preferences and would like to prioritise that or an upgrade over any old room. In these circumstances a bit of forewarning helps. I've been able to secure my preferred high floor corner suite upgrade and 9am access at the Auckland Pullman a few times through advance email. Also had recent success in Dubai at one of their Hiltons - guaranteed room at 10am; upgraded to a suite on actual arrival.

Have decided to adopt this approach for an upcoming stay at a new hotel to me. Early emails sound positive but we'll see.

 

[leadman]

Marriott group will generally send and e:mail welcoming you to the hotel from the Office Manager. i let them know through this when i will be arriving.

 

[sh@z]

In the Swissotel, Singapore and even though checkin was in the afternoon, I arrived at the hotel at 7am, before arriving at the hotel I became a member of their hotel reward circle (its free) and it certainly helped since they checked me in straightaway without any questions and also gave a discounted buffet breakfast voucher.

In Fairmont Makkah, Saudi Arabia, I became a member of their Presidents club (it's free) and after arriving at the hotel early they did not provide an early check-in but provided a premium room and extra good service only because of the membership, so it certainly helps one way or the other.

 

[Melburnian1]

I try to be extremely polite, even if I'm tired - that has worked on occasion, though not in Europe.

 

[get me outta here]

In Tokyo, the front desk made us all wait till official check in. Was particularly difficult for a mother alone with 2 small tired unhappy children. I think they could made an exception for her to save her and us the angst. I thought is was a bit cruel actually.

One epic fail at the Tokyo Conrad.

 

[kpc]

Recently, the Conrad London allowed us to wait (about 2 hours) in the Exec Lounge with an 11am arrival. I'm Diamond. Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux told us they will store our bags and come back at 3pm - we arrived at 0930am!

 

[cove]

For my early arrivals into LAX I would be staying at either Marriott West Century or Embassy Suites North.
I would obtain swimming pool access and get the kinks out of my body from flying in economy from Sydney on QF. After a couple of hours I would go to the hotel reception (mostly dry) in my bathers a shirt and sandals and was then usually able to get an early room. It would give Courtney a bit of a laugh at Embassy Suites. Marriott had too many at reception to ever get to know anyone. I used Marilyn at Marriott’s Hertz counter for many years to hire cars.
Times have changed a lot for us since those days.

 

[daft009]

I try to be extremely polite, even if I'm tired - that has worked on occasion, though not in Europe.

I've also had the same experience. In Asia its relatively easy. In Europe haven't been successful with early check in. Late check out is easy

 

[kermatu]

In Tokyo, the front desk made us all wait till official check in. Was particularly difficult for a mother alone with 2 small tired unhappy children. I think they could made an exception for her to save her and us the angst. I thought is was a bit cruel actually.

I was able to use their temp lounge. What irked me was I had pre-arranged early arrival and was guaranteed a room at 10am. Was told there were maintenance issues. No attempt to look for alternatives. Several hours later, and 15 minutes before regular check-in time, miraculously my maintenance issues were fixed.

 

[flychrisfly]

I have found that arriving VERY early can help in that you are given any rooms that were not used the night before - you beat the people that turn up just early.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I have found that arriving VERY early can help in that you are given any rooms that were not used the night before - you beat the people that turn up just early.

Yes. I've found that if I turn up about 9am, I generally get my room. If I turn up at lunchtime, then I have to wait.....