We will arrive from Honolulu in Los Angeles at 5 am on Thursday and have a reserved room in the Doubletree near the airport for that night. What should we do? Pay in advance for one more night although we won't be there until 6 am or just hope that they will check us in 10 hours before official check-in time? We will be tired after overnight flight and I think getting to bed and having shower as soon as we get there will be very important to us. What would you do?

I've had this happen before, too. It really depends on how "chipper" the person is who helps you at the desk.

My advice would be to show up and explain the situation. Sometimes they'll let you check in then at no extra charge; sometimes a little later but before usual check in time at no charge; and sometimes they will charge you for an extra night all together if you can get in earlier.

If all else fails and you don't want to pay an extra night, see if they will store your luggage while you go out and get some breakfast, and find other things to do until you CAN check in.

Good luck.

If you really want a room for when you get there, pay for the extra night. Explain your situation to the reservation manager so they dont give away your room thinking you were a no-show.

also if they are at full occupancy and by chance have an early checkout that morning, the room probably wouldnt be cleaned and ready until 10am at the earliest.

Whether or not you'll be able to check in at that hour will depend on how full the hotel is, not on how chipper the front-desk clerk is!

I'll agree with that one, Howard. But, if there IS availablity, then it will depend on how helpful they are willing to be.

Not always. Checking in at 5am could be considered a late check in from the previous night. If the books are set up in such a way to not allow this to happen, you could simply be out of luck no matter how friendly the desk clerk is.

Thank you all. Your answers were very helpful. We will pay for one more night and make sure they put a note that we will be arriving at 5 am

I have done this before (paying an extra night). You need to call (probably multiple times) to make sure they understand that you won't be there until 5 a.m.

BECAUSE, what WILL happen, is that when you don't check in the night before they WILL give your room away even if you have prepaid! So Call, Call, Call! Call before you leave Honolulu!

Sorry to be negative but if you don't, they will.

On a flight from Hawaii to London we had a layover in LA, arriving in at about 6am and departing for London about 6 hours later. We checked in at one of the airport hotels in LA and paid and half day rate, which we asked for and they were familiar with. This is probably not the first time that they have encountered a situation like this, so perhaps if they don't let you check-in early for free you can negotiate an early check-in by paying a 1/2 day rate.

IF and only if you can find someone who is willing to work outside the lines and their billing system allows it... they MIGHT be willig to prorate the stay and charge you for a half-day. A colleague recently had a chance to depart from a business trip a day earlier than planned. The hotel allowed him to check out late afternoon and charged him for only a half day. It is a hotel where he has stayed previously and perhaps this is why they showed such flexibility but it's worth inquiring. Doubtful that they would do this over the phone but it's possible.

It's LA, just find yourself an hourly rate motel.

Have you called the hotel? I just checked their website, doubletreelax.com, and under the FAQ it says they have "day usage room rates," which suggests to me this is not an unusual request.

If you arrive at 5am, you probably won't be there til 6 or 6:30 at the earliest.
That's doesn't sound as demandingly early as 5am... might even be a little late for the 1/2day rate.
I agree with those above, it doesn't hurt to ask. Phone ahead of time and see if they've heard of the rate. Talk to someone knowledgable during the day (like the manager?). Then if the night shift has never heard of the half-day rate, you can say "Ms. X told me on the phone it was available." But start by trying to wheedle early checkin...

Having worked in the hotel business - I say call the hotel.

If you definately want the room at 5am Thursday, you need to make a Wednesday reservation. If they would have absolutely had a full house Wed., they will most likely charge you full rate for Wed night. However, if the occupancy is very low, and no customers got turned away, and you're willing to forego any Thursday room cleaning, linen replacement, etc., they very well may let you enjoy those 10 hours "free".

Call and explain the situation. (no x in my e-ddress)

I completely second the call-call-call-call advice. Ideally you want everyone who ever works at the desk to know just who you are and when you are coming, whatever our arrangement. I'd be sweet on the phone each time, and say things like "I just wanted to make sure" etc. Last call--make it from the airport upon arrival, so they can have your room READY.

I wouldn't be beyond saying someone wasn't feeling well, was old, recovering for something, or something, to emphasize impportnce of having the room available on your arriaval.