When a hotel stay ends, it's tempting to just stroll out and get on with your next journey. Don't. Go through this list of simple checks to make sure you're actually squared away and ready to roll.
For most guests, checking out of a hotel may only involve a quick glance at the room folio—whether at the front desk or on the hotel room TV—before hopping into a cab headed for the airport. Other guests may not even do that much, choosing instead to just pack their bags, slink out unnoticed, and deal with the final charges when they get back home. But whatever kind of checker-outer you are, here are five things you should remember when leaving your hotel room for good.
Do a final sweep of the room.
Whether it’s five in the morning or five minutes past check-out time, make sure to give your hotel room one last good look for your belongings. Look under the bed, shake out those bedsheets, peep into the shower, and double-check the closet and the safe. If you leave something behind in a hotel room, it can be surprisingly hard to track it down once you’ve checked out.
Grab some “souvenirs.”
One way to remember your hotel stay, especially a good one, is by grabbing a few of the freebies that are included like the little toiletry bottles, notepads and pens, slippers, or room key cards. (But not the towels or hotel robes, as the hotel will charge you for those.) And no, this is not a cheap move or even stealing: Housekeeping will throw toiletry bottles away as soon as you leave, so you might as well save them for when you run out of body wash at home.
Tip the housekeeper.
Increasingly, gratuities are seen as a way to overcome poor wages paid by the hotels. If housekeeping has come by during your stay and made the bed, fluffed the pillows, replaced your towels, and straightened out the clothes you haphazardly tossed from your suitcase, leaving a small tip is seen as a nice gesture of appreciation. The general rule of thumb is a couple of dollars for each day. You should leave the tip out in the open, like the nightstand, and with a note so the housekeeper doesn’t confuse it with cash you’ve just left out (which you should never do, by the way). Renaissance Hotels actually has a special tip envelope that it places on the bed at turndown service to facilitate the tip-giving. One problem with tipping is the person you tip may not have been the one who tidied your room yesterfday, but one thing is true: Housekeepers definitely aren't getting rich cleaning your room, so tips help.
Let the hotel know of any problems.
If something bothered you about your hotel stay, whether it be a noisy neighbor, a leaky faucet, or a shower that never seemed to heat up, make sure the hotel knows about it. Not only will it fix the problem (hopefully), it may even take off a few charges on your room bill to make up for the hassle. Hotels are hyper-concerned about online guest reviews, so they will do what they can to make you happy during your stay rather than have you leave unhappy, ready to rant on a review site. Similarly, if a hotel is doing a good job, let staff know that too.
Closely review the final charges.
If you purchased something during your stay—Wi-Fi, an in-room movie, minibar snacks, or room service—make sure these charges are correct on your check-out folio. Hotels make "mistakes" all the time and it’s common to find that they’ve charged you twice for something you bought—"accidentally," of course. If you’re leaving the hotel early in the morning, review the charges the night before. It can be a pain on your last night, but resolving mistakes after check-out with your credit card company is far more annoying.
FAQs
If you purchased something during your stay—Wi-Fi, an in-room movie, minibar snacks, or room service—make sure these charges are correct on your check-out folio. Hotels make "mistakes" all the time and it's common to find that they've charged you twice for something you bought—"accidentally," of course.
What are some mistakes you should avoid when checking out of a hotel? ›
- Hotel Checkout Mistake #1: Failing to Double-Check Your Bill.
- Hotel Checkout Mistake #2: Leaving Something Behind.
- Hotel Checkout Mistake #3: Forgetting to Leave a Tip.
- Hotel Checkout Mistake #4: Not Allowing Enough Time.
- Hotel Checkout Mistake #5: Letting the Hotel Call You a Cab.
After leaving your room, head to the front desk and inform them that you're checking out. They'll likely request your room key, confirm the card on file is correct, confirm your loyalty number, and provide you with an itemized bill that you can settle in person.
What are the rules for hotel check out? ›
The early check-in from 6 am – 11 pm is charged 50% and before 6 am is 100% the room price of that day. Aside from that, because late checking out could affect negatively the hotels' system and next check-in, the guest is recommended to check out before 12 pm as regulations.
How do I help housekeeping when checking out of a hotel? ›
Gather all towels
Many hotels have signs in the guest room bathrooms instructing guests to leave towels they don't plan to use again on the floor (or in the bathtub) as a sign to housekeeping that you want them replaced.
How clean should you leave a hotel room? ›
Gottsman advises guests to leave their rooms tidy so that hotel staff can clean thoroughly without having to “filter through personal items on the floor or dresser.” As such, she recommends designating spaces for belongings like “dirty towels in one corner, shoes put together in a corner, [and] clothes in your suitcase ...
Should you strip the bed at a hotel when checking out? ›
Some of the well-mannered among us may even strip the sheets, offering a helping hand or gesture of gratitude to the hotel's team of hard-working cleaners. But according to a former cleaner, leaving the bed neat and tidy might actually be more of a burden to the staff than if you had left it in dishevelled disarray.
Do I need to go to the front desk to check out? ›
Hotels today don't always require you to stand in line at the front desk to check out. You usually just have to make sure you vacate the room on time, whether that's at the designated checkout time or a previously agreed upon late checkout time.
Can you just leave hotel keys in room? ›
Other hotels may have drop boxes or designated areas where guests can leave their keys after checking out. This is a convenient option for those in a hurry. In rare cases, hotels may allow guests to simply leave the keys in the room, as they will be automatically deactivated or collected by housekeeping staff.
What happens if you don't check out of a hotel and just leave? ›
If you leave a hotel without checking out, the hotel may assume you're still occupying the room and continue to charge you until you check out properly, resulting in extra fees. Additionally, hotel staff may need to enter the room to verify your departure, which could breach your privacy.
No, you don't technically have to, but physically checking out of a hotel allows you to double-check your bill and make sure your receipt looks okay. It also gives hotel staff a clear heads-up that your room is ready to be cleaned for a new guest.
What happens if you fail to check out of a hotel? ›
What happens if I don't leave my room by the check-out time? Eviction laws do not apply to hotel guests. Unlike apartment or house rentals, hotel staff can evict you if you stay past the agreed time. Most hotels will understand short delays and accommodate you, but the hotel can still evict you.
What happens if you check out of a hotel early? ›
Abruptly leaving the hotel makes the problem more difficult to fix. The hotel will likely charge your credit card for the entire stay, especially if you don't let someone know why you're checking out early.
Where to leave dirty towels in a hotel? ›
“Leave soiled towels hanging on hooks or … in nice neat piles in the bathroom, not on the carpet, where they could leave a wet stain.” Ms. Meier says you shouldn't take things from the hotel that aren't yours either, such as a bathrobe or decor.
How much to tip housekeeping when checking out? ›
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), guests should tip housekeeping anywhere between $1 to $5 per night for a mid-range or business hotel. For luxury hotels where the staff offers daily cleaning services and nightly turndown services, guests should leave a little more.
How can I improve my hotel check-out process? ›
Here's what you need to master:
- Step 1: Receive check-out reminder. Inform guests of check-out times during check-in and provide reminders the night before and the morning of their departure. ...
- Step 2: Pack belongings. ...
- Step 3: Settle bill. ...
- Step 4: Return keys. ...
- Step 5: Provide feedback. ...
- Step 6: Depart from the hotel.
In most cases, you can just leave your room. The hotel will then check you out and send you the bill. You'll want to make sure that they have your correct email address. The charges should also be available on the hotel's website or app.
What are the do's and don'ts of a hotel? ›
Hotel Do's And Don'ts Every Hotel Guest Should Know
- DO treat hotel staff politely. ...
- DON'T blame the hotel staff if he or she barges into your room if you wish not to be disturbed. ...
- DO reuse your towels. ...
- DON'T leave a mess. ...
- DO consider privacy and safety in mind.
When to tip your hotel housekeeper. Some guests leave a lump-sum tip on the last day of their stay, but a better practice is doling out incremental tips daily, as hotel housekeepers might have different day-to-day room assignments.
How strict are hotel check-out times? ›
The standard 11 AM checkout time is deeply ingrained in the hotel industry. This timing allows hotels to efficiently manage the turnover of rooms. After guests depart, housekeeping staff needs sufficient time to clean, sanitize, and inspect each room before the next guest arrives.
