Good evening!

Suerich68: Hello! To be honest, Ive never known of a day rate until this issue presented itself. I would agree with GoTravel that day rate would end in the early evening hours (which seems to coincide with the day rate/procedure I was able to obtain at another hotel).

hockeymom: Hello! Ahh yes, that would be very nice! Unfortunately, Ive got to be in northern NJ for another bar exam the next morning, otherwise, I could completely agree!! Haha!

Thanks again to everyone for all the help and suggestions!

Hi Naturegirl. I don'thave any specific advice on the hotel. I will leave that to Sue, GT, and Howard (and yes, you do get charged if you shorten your stay once you have checken in or past your "you have to cancel by this time". It is always on your reservation. I just want to say make sure you take the names down of the people you have been talking to and the dates and time and good luch on your exam!

hockeymom, good thought but I would think after a long tough exam, I would want to relax and celebrate with the people I care most and yes, have a drink but perhaps somewhere near home. Unless those people are the ones naturegirl is taking the exam with, I can see why she would want to go home.

howard et al - the practice of applying a penalty for early checkout is not universal, even within the same chain. If a property does have that policy it is usually disclosed at the time the reservation is made and/or at check in. In cases where lodging was booked as part of a package (as opposed to an "a la carte") many places do not allow refunds for early checkout.

Hotel day rates are not always available. If they know they're going to sell out at full rates they won;t take day rate reservations.

It's perfectly possible that when you inititally called things looked loose and a day rate was possible. If things look much tighter now she is probably saying that they don;t know NOW if they can do it or not - but will when the time comes.

I do a lot of meetings (through destination companies granted) and these are simply the rules. Availability of special deals changes constantly - you chose to cover the eventuality of needing the room. Now - you need to wait to see if they can accommodate a different request.

I don't think they're playing games. It's just inventory management.

I "moonlight" p/t at a chain hotel.

Day rates are strictly offered on a day-by-day basis at most hotels. We often have one group checking out while another group is arriving -- and all want an early check-in.

We cannot allow both the departing group to stay late AND the arriving group to check in early (the reason for posted c/o of 11 or so, and c/i of 3pm or so) resulting in no day rates being offered.

Does the hotel you're staying at have a health club, or is there a nearby gym/spa? You might be able to have your bags held by your hotel.. keep a change of cloths in a smaller bag that you claim after the exam .. so you can freshen up at the club/spa/gym, then claim the rest of your bags and depart.

At reputable hotels, day rates are strictly a courtesy, and that's why you'll never see day rates posted ... except at "those" places that practically put a parking meter on the bed.

HowardR, I travel weekly on business, and RARELY encounter penalities for early checkout. Actually, the only places that do so in my territory are oceanfront hotels at the coast. I often book a 3 night stay and check out after 2 if I've concluded my business. I give notice and soon as I know of course. Opposite case too. Book two nights and stay a 3rd if they have availability.

As others have mentioned, I think the difference is NYC, big cities and tourist destinations vs. the "rest of the US". My options don't usually include the Sheratons, Marriotts, etc. I usually stay in a Hilton group hotel, most often a Hampton Inn, or a Holiday Inn Express or LaQuinta Inn and Suites.

Just a normal part of life as a road warrior - operative word being "road".

I have worked front desk at a hotel, so I know a little. A day rate is a cheaper rate than if you were staying the entire night. Usually with a day rate you need to check out by 6PM (around there). Typically the rate is half what the rate would be for the entire night. Many hotels do not even allow day rates. Yes, if you booked with your group your rooms/rates have been "blocked" and there is very little room if any for any deviation from the rates. If hotels do offer day rates, then yes they do depend on availability. If the room is low on occupancy then they can offer day rates/late check outs. Even though OP has booked room for 3 nights, if the hotel is now sold out they probably no longer offer day rate (even though she would be cancelling her last night) the hotel is probably "oversold" and are expecting cancellations. Make sense?

For further clarification, day rates are tyically offered to people in the travel industry. Bus drivers can get day rates because for example they drive a group to the Grand Canyon, while the group is touring, the driver will get a day rate at a hotel to rest before making the drive back. We used to allow day rates for pilots, drivers and TA's. Hope this helps!