Susan

We are staying @ Marriott Ocean Pointe over Christmas and have just been told that we cannot check in til 4:00PM and have to check out by 10:00AM! The check-in seems later than "normal" to us & check out appears earlier than "normal". What do you think are standard check-in/check-out times??? (We have asked for late check out b/c our flight does not leave West Palm ubtil 5:00PM and Marriott has said NO!)

Dan

4:00 seems like a VERY late check-in; is there a special event or something at the hotel , or is this their "normal" check in time? Check in is usually anywhere from 12-2:00 on. Did the reservationist give you those times? I would call the hotel directly and ask again, maybe the first person you talked to made a mistake?

Mike Hocksbigg

I think 4pm is becoming the standard...seems like everywhere we have been this past year has been 3-4pm

it sucks

Julie

I usually see check-in between 2-4pm and checkout and check-out 11am or noon. The times you've quoted are at the edges of what I would consider "normal," but are not unheard of.

Ross

Check in was 12-2 PM about 10 years ago in most places.
I see a lot more 3 and 4 PM times these days.
Most check outs are now 11 and 12.
I've never been to a hotel that requested 10 AM and I stay at dozens of hotels per year.

jill

The last place we stayed, check out was noon and check in was 3:00 although we got there earlier and the room was ready.

There was a place in Japan once that had a 10:00 am check out, I hated it!

jill

BTW- if you want to go for the money, which we did once in Las Vegas when we had a late flight, we paid for another night, keeping the room until we checked out at 7:00 pm.

Nancy

Ocean Pointe is really a time share facility that also offers rooms/apartments as hotel rooms (most are indivdually owned and let out by owners to Marriott), so they have different check-in and check-out times to accommodate for the longer time it takes to clean the large units between guest departure and arrival. Given this, they probably cannot be flexible with check-out time on the day you depart, but it is worth asking when you arrive or the day before you check out, as if your unit will not be re-occupied on the same day, they may let you stay later.

You should be able to use the pool and all facilities while waiting for your flight, and would imagine you could use the shower facilities in the health club.

Hope this is helpful.

xxx

I think 4p.m. is late check in. We have arrived at varous hotels around 1 or 2 with a 3p.m check in and have always been allowed to go to our room when we arrived. Most resort type places have a holding room where luggage is stored. There are showers and use of the facility if your flight time doesn't coincide with the check out time. I would think as above poster states it is a timeshare and this is the reason for the times not being normal. Also why they can't accomodate your needs.

Patrick

Since everybody is so "sue" happy these days, I think the hotels have to protect themselves. People become violent when they can't get into their room when promised, so if a hotel had a day when nobody checked out until the last minute, there is no way they could get all their rooms ready for a normal check-in time. I have found lately that 3:00 is somewhat standard and 4:00 is not all that unusual. And check out has consistently moved more and more towards 11:00 from the old noon.

But you always need to request early check-in. About nine times out of ten my rooms have been ready on arrival even though it is well before check-in time.

I certainly understand the "no" to a 5:00 check-out as generally the regular housekeeping staff will have left by then, and they will have needed that room for a normal check-in by that hour.

katie

Lol! Patrick, imagine sueing a hotel because you could not check in early! I must admit, in Paris once, when we were reeling from lack of sleep and the room was not ready, it probably would have crossed my mind! But I think the sight of me-nodding on their sofa in front of the desk, might have pushed them to hurry and get me to my room and out of sight!

x

For some perverse reason, resort-type properties often have more restrictive check in/out times than regular hotels.

It never hurts to show up early and ask to get in or to call and ask for a late check-out.

The above requests are usually better received if you are a member of the chain's frequent stay program. You can sign up for most online for free and you should do so even if you only plan to stay once.

Barry

I'm not sure it's perverse.
Think about it.
Business travelers don't go to resorts as often as families and weekenders.
Business travelers are seasoned travelers and more familiar with hotel rules and policies, while leisure travelers often either don't know the rules or want to bend them because they're on vacation and they don't want to be rushed or put out. The vacation mindset is the difference.
The vacation mindset is the bane of the hotel in that they have a hard time getting guests to follow the rules.

As a result, they have to treat guests more like children at vacation destinations and make restrictive rules to keep them in line.

r-travels

I concur with "x" that it won't hurt to show up and ask about early check in. Whether or not the hotel is worried about being sued - I think they just don't want confrontations - they do list a rather late check in, so that the rooms are most likely to be cleaned & ready at that time.

Does the hotel have an area (such as pool, health club) where you could "freshen up" later in the day, while they hold your luggage? I find that a friendly smile & a polite request works wonders getting around "the rules" (and a tip afterwards will always be appreciated) but one must be prepared to be turned down.

Make your request for late check-out one more time, on that day. The clerk has a better feel for what hours guests will be checking in then they do today. Also ask about a "day rate" if you are willing to pay an extra half-day rate for the room.

persona

There is a good chance that the room will be ready when you show up. They start cleaning the rooms very early, so there are rooms available very early in the morning. They just post 4:00 pm becuase that's the longest you should have to wait to check in.

I wouldn't get upset about it now, you may be able to get in earlier, and if you can't, there isn't much you can do about it except to pack your bathing suits in a carry on bag, change in the spa and relax at the pool or beach until the room is ready.

Susan

Thanks for all the feedback!
And, to Patrick....just to clarify: We did not request a 5:00PM checkout! Our flight is @ 5:00! We asked for a noon checkout.

Patrick

OH, Susan, that is quite different and really pretty bad. No reason they shouldn't be able to extend a check out until noon.

One idea for frequest travelers though is to always sign up for the free "membership" in each hotel's rewards program. Early check-in and late check-outs are one of the first standard perks you get as a member. I'd still suggest you join Marriott's, Susan, and perhaps they will give you a late check-out once you are there.