Hotels want each guest’s stay to feel as satisfying as possible. You can make certain requests at the front desk and have them fulfilled on the spot, but there’s one common ask you should bring to the staff’s attention as early as possible — and it could make life much easier when it’s time to check out. Here’s the question worth bringing up during check-in.

Asking for a Late Checkout

Most hotels set their checkout time around 11:00 a.m., give or take an hour. But there are many reasons why guests may want to have room access for slightly longer. As one example, maybe your flight isn’t until the evening, and you’d prefer to spend the day sitting in a comfortable hotel room rather than a crowded airport terminal.

Whatever the case may be, you’ll need to request a late checkout, and the likeliest way to make it happen is to ask early — meaning, as soon as you arrive and check in. Don’t wait until the day of your departure and ask at the last minute.

Asking early allows hotels to coordinate housekeeping schedules and plan for incoming guests. If they know in advance, staff can ensure there are enough clean rooms for new arrivals on the day of your departure, even if you stay a bit later. If you wait to ask, they may have already moved things around to accommodate other late checkouts, and they could need your room turned over earlier.

Some experts believe that it’s better to request a late checkout before arrival, or even as early as the time you make the booking. One way to do this is to simply leave the request in any applicable comments section when booking, though you could also email the hotel directly. They may follow up with you closer to your stay to let you know if a late checkout is possible; if they don’t, be sure to follow up when you arrive for check-in.

Tips for Asking

The golden rule when interacting with hotel staff — or anyone in the service industry, really — is to be polite. The more you treat staff with respect, the more likely they are to accommodate you. Keep in mind, however, that they may have limited flexibility — especially during busy travel periods when rooms are more in demand — so you should be prepared to accept “no” for an answer. 

It also helps to be flexible. Let’s say you selected a room with an upgraded king bed, but the hotel needs the room for someone arriving on the day you leave. They may be able to give you a late checkout if you switch to a room with a queen or two double beds.

Other Ways To Get a Late Checkout

In many hotels, complimentary late checkouts are treated as a perk — that is to say, you shouldn’t feel entitled to one as part of a typical hotel stay. That said, there are a few ways you can increase your odds or even guarantee a later checkout.

Some hotels offer guaranteed later departures for a flat fee, or they may charge by the hour for you to stay in the room. For example, if a hotel normally has an 11:00 a.m. checkout, they may allow guests to stay until 4:00 p.m., but charge $20 per hour for the right to do so. In this case, you might decide that spending $100 to stay in the room longer is worth it.

But if you stay in hotels frequently, you should consider joining a hotel rewards program. Chains such as Marriott and Hilton offer 4:00 p.m. checkouts for members of a certain tier. It takes time to reach this status level, but once you do, you’ll be offered late checkouts without having to ask or pay more (though this perk is sometimes subject to availability). Lastly, certain travel credit cards such as the American Express Platinum Card offer later checkouts with eligible bookings.