Skip to content

Want to get into your hotel room early? Try this

Aug. 14, 2022
8 min read
Practical Pointers_Hotel Apps
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
New

Quick summary

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

There are lots of ways to get a late checkout at a hotel and plenty of reasons to want one. The ability to sleep in and milk the final hours of a stay or just pass time comfortably before your flight home can really simplify logistics on the final day of your vacation.

Seasoned travelers know all sorts of tricks to help them score extra time in the room before leaving, including the fact that Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt and other major hotel loyalty programs include late checkouts as a benefit you earn with elite status.

But what about checking in early?

This can be equally important for some travelers, particularly those who arrive at their destination early in the morning. I found myself looking for early check-in just last week when I arrived in London in the morning from an overnight flight.

Some hotel loyalty programs give travelers check-in flexibility as they reach high-level status tiers. For instance, IHG One Rewards makes it an explicit benefit for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite guests (subject to availability). Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite members can take advantage of the "Your24" benefit, which allows you to pick your check-in and checkout time.

World of Hyatt has a fairly robust system for reserving an early check-in or late checkout at Hyatt Place hotels. Depending on your status, it may cost you, but it's a pretty good bargain. Members without elite status or with Discoverist status can reserve a 9:00 a.m. check-in for $10. It's a free benefit for Explorist and Globalist members.

Regardless of the hotel brand, there are tricks that might get you into your room early. In some cases at no cost. Will each tactic work every time? No. But it's worth a shot.

Try this: Check in on your hotel's app

I've had quite a bit of luck getting into my room early simply by using the mobile check-in feature on a hotel app.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

A few years ago, I remember arriving at about 7:30 a.m. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with a lot of time to kill, wishing I could just get into my hotel room early.

I had a reservation at the Marriott Tysons Corner — not a top-tier Marriott Bonvoy property by any stretch, but not a budget brand either. Fortunately, I had checked in on the app the day before.

I was in my room at Tysons Corner at about 9:00 a.m. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)

A second later, my phone buzzed. My room was ready. It was about 8:00 a.m. and my room for that night was ready for me. It felt like a lucky draw, but I've had similar scenarios play out several times since then, including twice in the last month.

I recently got this notification my room was ready — and was able to access my mobile key — before I'd even arrived in town. (Screenshot from marriott.com)

None of this cost me anything extra, and for many of these stays, I had either no status or just Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. (I'm now Gold Elite thanks to recently adding The Platinum Card® from American Express to my wallet).

On each of these occasions, I used the mobile check-in feature on the app to alert the hotel I'd be arriving early, the hotel had a room ready at the time I noted I would arrive.

A room at the Ritz-Carlton Turks and Caicos. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)

Many hotel chains will give you the option of a mobile check-in 24 to 48 hours ahead of your arrival. The app will generally ask you what time you plan to get to the hotel.

With some apps — including the Marriott Bonvoy app — you have quite a bit of latitude to put the earliest time you might arrive. This doesn't mean the hotel will honor your request, but you have nothing to lose by putting the time you actually plan to get there.

Again just this past week, while driving to Iowa for the Field of Dreams game I marked "noon" for my arrival time, hoping to get some early afternoon rest in my room after a morning flight. It worked.

(Screenshot from marriott.com)

Now, this obviously isn't a foolproof tactic. I've generally had greater success getting into my room early at less in-demand hotels. Are you as likely to be successful getting into your room hours early at the Ritz Carlton Turks and Caicos or the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa? as I was at a hotel in rural Illinois?

Probably not. It's worth a try though.

Sunrise on the patio at the Westin Verasa Napa. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)

Set yourself up for a smooth trip: make the request elsewhere, too

If getting into your room early is important to you, there are some other steps you can take to try and maximize your chances of getting an early check-in.

For one, some hotel chains give you the option to make the request when you actually book the stay. At Marriott, if you know when booking your room that you'll want to get into your room early, you can click "early check-in."

(Screenshot from Marriott Bonvoy)

Then, note your anticipated arrival time. Again, this isn't guaranteeing anything, but it can certainly help give the hotel an early heads-up that you'll be wanting to get into your room early. It's all based on availability, Marriott says. The company also has a chat feature in its app where you can go in and make requests after booking the stay.

(Screenshot from Marriott Bonvoy)

Using Hilton as another example, there isn't a specific "early check-in" box when you're booking a room, but there is a place where you can write in a "special request."

(Screenshot from Hilton)

If all else fails, you can try using the app to chat with the hotel to request an early check-in, call the front desk or visit the front desk in-person to see if they have a room ready for you ... or if they can accelerate the process of getting one ready. At the very least, the front desk can generally secure your belongings so you're not lugging your bags around while waiting for a room.

A suite at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)

Bottom line

Some hotels have protocols for getting an early check-in. At many properties, your options grow as you earn elite status.

But regardless of status, we all find ourselves with a need to get into a hotel room early from time to time. From checking in on your mobile app and marking your arrival time, to making use of live chat and special request features to the timeless strategy of asking nicely, there are any number of tactics you can try.

Ultimately, it's a question of availability and letting the property know — as early as possible — what you want.

Read these stories for more hotel tips:

Featured image by (Photo by Morsa Images/Getty Images)
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.