Booking an extra night at hotel for early arrival or late departure

[Sprucegoose]

But so much nicer than HI!

Yes the DRW HI has been controversial of late in a few regards. Smoke and fire

 

[NYCguy]

I generally pay for an extra night when I'm arriving at dawn's crack, although I found that hotels in Asia were usually less hung-up about allowing early check-in, especially if I had warned them in advance that I would be arriving very early, and even more so if it was a hotel where I was a regular customer.

Departures are a different matter, and I tend to push hard when negotiating late check-out. If the flight is leaving at a truly ridiculous hour; e.g. SQ62 to DME that departed SIN at 0245 (that was fun... NOT); I just pay for the extra night. It's not worth spending 8 hours in an airport lounge, although I realise that is not an unattractive proposition for many of those who frequent this board!

 

[harvyk]

If it's a really late departure (eg a red eye) I'll usually leave my bags at the hotel (or at a friends place) and go have dinner in the city which I happen to be. (Usually PER, so I'll take the train down to fremantle to watch the sunset whilst eating fish'n'chips and drinking beer)

If it's a really early departure (eg 5:00 am) I'll usually stay the extra night in a hotel. A few times I've taken an OMG'oclock flight from AKL-MEL where I've checked out of the hotel at 3:00am. I've also taken a OMG'oclick flight from MEL-BNE where I've left my sisters place at 3:00am as well.

 

[straitman]

Yes the DRW HI has been controversial of late in a few regards. Smoke and fire

There are two HI's in Darwin.

Which one are you referring to as I'm staying in one of them the week after next :?:

 

[JohnK]

It all depends on the circumstances.

I have been known to book a hotel room and check-in around midnight and check-out around 5:00am or possibly later depending on time of flight.

Last year I booked a room at the Dorsett Kowloon in Hong Kong knowing we were going to check-out around 8:00pm after an early arrival into HKG and a late departure. Went to the hotel earlier than advertised check-in time and they let us check-in early.

These days depending on the airport I may spend the night at the airport rather than spend money on a hotel room and taxis to/from airport for short(ish) overnight transits.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I personally try to save money hope for the best, but for other people this might not be the best (eg parents with young kids).

In Feb this year, I caught an overnight train from Prague to Warsaw arriving at 7am. Arrived at the Sheraton in Warssaw a bit before 8am, and luckily they had a room. However it did help i had booked a club floor room, and being a Monday morning not many business travellers staying over on a Sunday. After a quick shower, we had breakfast in the club loung .

2 weeks ago in HKG, arrived at HKIA 5:15am, at hotel, Harbour Grand aroun 6:30am. Was advised room available but needs to be cleaned and to come back in 2 hours. 8am we had our room .

More often i many hotels have rooms available a few hours before official check-in.

 

[tuapekastar]

Cannot recall having booked an extra night at either end of the trip for the subject's reasons.

Had an ~0630 arrival at LHR from SIN, with a booking at HI London Heathrow. Utilised AA Arrivals lounge in T3 with the intention of having a shower (tick), a feed (tick) and a few internet duties (tick) before going to the hotel with the intention of dropping bags off and heading into London for the day. When I got there at ~0930 they had a room ready for me to occupy. London had to wait for another day.

At the other end of a trip, I recall a school reunion in Singapore some years ago where the hotel (Miramar, midrange, and 'hotel central' for the reunion) had a couple of modified rooms dedicated for/to guests who had checked out the same day to return and use to shower/freshen up before getting evening departures from SIN. A nice touch I thought (this was a usual arrangement, not just for our reunion)

 

[Sprucegoose]

There are two HI's in Darwin.

Which one are you referring to as I'm staying in one of them the week after next :?:

We have had better luck at 122 than the one next door. now fully refurb, good mgr and quiter ac.

people who had complaints about next door didnt feel they got a fair hearing.

look forward to hearing your experiences of recent times!

 

[wandering_fred]

Downtown check-in in HKG solves some of the baggage problems there while waiting for that late flight.

Almost all BKK hotels will allow 18:00 or so check out for 50% day rate.

The transit hotel at SIN is useful if you can plan far enough ahead.

Pity that the lounges don't have recliners with embedded alarm clocks in quiet areas for those jet-lagged daytime layovers. MEL?

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Timba-Jet]

Downtown check-in in HKG solves some of the baggage problems there while waiting for that late flight.

Fred

Absolutely agree, the service in HKG station is superb. When you arrive by cab, its like being dropped at the airport but without all the riff-raff. You can check-out of hotel in early morning, check-in at station get boarding pass, and spend the rest of the day sightseeing in HK. And this service is for all airlines, not just select or local carriers.

 

[HardieBoys]

On your inbound flight, I don't think you'll get 7 - 8 hours' sleep, as mentioned. If your plane arrives at 03:00 and you have bags, it may be up to an hour before you're actually in your room. If you have a 12:15 flight to ADL, then you'll have to be at the airport by around 11:15 at the latest. I think if you'd be lucky to get 5.5 - 6 hours' sleep at the most, but it may still be worth it.

 

[MissBurrill]

I've seen plenty of people lying comatose on the floor next to the baggage carousels - one couple actually pitched a small tent in the terminal :!: or in some uncomfortable foetal position on couches, never mind taking up two spots when there's limited seating for all.

A hotel room is a lot more restful than hearing constant PA's chasing up fail to board pax that have gone MIA somewhere between customs and their boarding gate!

Sounds like you're referring to when you found me trying to sleep at the airport (at least I didn't pitch a tent). I just had a fortress with my trolley and all my luggage.

The PA's were entertaining - well, the looks on faces when a flight was cancelled.

 

[markis10]

Its become a new feature at DRW since JQ started flying there, I counted 10-15 people at the end of the terminal near the car rental desks last time I arrived early afternoon, maybe there is an opportunity for a tube hotel, or even a F1?