Taking an overnight flight to Europe can save you a vacation day, but there’s one catch: You’ll probably land early in the morning, and your hotel room won’t be ready until the afternoon. And after a long flight, the only thing you want is a shower and a quiet place to recharge before you start exploring your destination. There’s a simple work-around, though, and it’s something that many travelers swear by. Here’s how it works.

Book the Night Before

Say your flight from New York lands in Lisbon at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, but the hotel’s standard check-in time is 3:00 p.m. If you reserve a room starting Thursday, you may have to wait most of the day before you can check in. Instead, book the room starting on Wednesday. While it’s an extra expense to pay for the room for the full night before your arrival, it will be available when you reach the hotel in the morning, giving you somewhere to shower, change, and catch up on sleep before heading out to explore. 

This method works best when you know your arrival time and want guaranteed access to a room. Early check-in is sometimes available, but it’s usually subject to availability and may cost extra. Even if a hotel agrees to note your early check-in request, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to get into your room right away.

Tell the Hotel You’ll Be Arriving Late

There’s an important piece to consider, though. Booking the previous night doesn’t automatically mean the hotel will know you’re arriving the following morning. A guest who hasn’t shown up by late evening might be marked as a no-show. Depending on the hotel’s policies and booking terms, they could cancel the reservation or release the room (but still charge you a fee or even the full cost of the stay).

To avoid that scenario, contact the hotel directly after making your reservation. Explain that you’ve booked the room for the previous night because your flight arrives early the next morning, and confirm that you’ll be checking in the morning after the first night of your reservation.

It’s worth doing this by email so you have the arrangement in writing. If you booked through a third-party website, it’s a good idea to contact the hotel directly to confirm that your room will be held for your morning arrival. Also note any instructions for arriving outside regular reception hours, as some smaller hotels and guesthouses don’t have a 24-hour front desk, so you’ll need to arrange alternative access in advance.

Consider a Day Rate

The downside with this trick, of course, is cost. Luckily, paying for a full extra night isn’t your only option. Websites like Dayuse.com let you book hotel rooms for a few hours during the day, often for a lower rate than a full overnight stay. If you don’t see this option online, call the hotel directly to ask if they offer day-use rates, which aren’t always advertised on hotel websites.

Is It Worth Paying for an Extra Night?

It depends on your plans and budget. If you’re arriving at 6:00 a.m. after a long overnight flight, having a room ready can make a big difference. You can shower, rest a little, and start your trip feeling reasonably human rather than totally exhausted. (However, you may not want to hit the sack immediately — depending on your destination’s time zone and when you arrive, sleeping for several hours in the morning could make it harder to adjust to the local schedule.) 

If you land closer to midday, it may be easier to leave your bags with the front desk at the hotel and explore for a couple of hours until check-in. Many properties offer luggage storage; some also have lounges, cafes, or showers you can use while you wait. At the end of the day, an extra hotel night isn’t always necessary, but when you really need a place to rest, it can be money well spent. 

Featured image credit: © Alonso Reyes/Unsplash.com