Going abroad and staying in a hotel can be exciting, especially if it’s on your first solo vacation. As you become more accustomed to staying in hotels however you’ll quickly realise the process is nightmarish. Hospitality businesses seem to make it their mission to ensure things are as complicated and difficult for customers as they possibly can; previously simple processes like checking in have been made more complex than they ever were before.

In this post you will learn a little bit more about checking into hotels, so you can breeze through the process when it comes time for you to visit one.

Selecting Hotel

If you are planning on taking a trip abroad then it’s a good idea to find a hotel that has facilities in place to allow for contactless check-in. You cannot argue with the fact that contactless hotel check-in is the most convenient way of getting the keys to your room. With contactless check in you don’t have to wait in a queue or deal with an unprepared clerk or receptionist. Conduct extensive research before booking and finding a hotel with such facilities; it is not hard to find such hotels.

Considering Traffic

Traffic is a consideration that’s worth making as well. Most hotels give you a fixed check-in time; if you do not arrive at the hotel to collect your keys on time you can actually be turned away. When you are planning your trip from the airport to the hotel factor in traffic times. Unless you take traffic into consideration you could end up arriving late and may find yourself unable to get the keys to your room. Going back to selective bookings, try to find a hotel that allows late check-ins. Make sure that you find the quickest mode of transport you can. In most countries this is a taxi although some places have fast public transport too.

Online Bookings

Do you want to book your hotel over the phone? The answer to this question is likely a firm no. Telephone bookings are a thing of the past. Thanks to modern technology you can book a hotel room using the internet. Booking online gives you a lot more freedom and control over your reservation. Something else worth noting is that online bookings allow you to choose a specific check-in time. Make sure that you factor in flights, traffic and anything else that could delay you so that you can ensure you arrive right on time.

Lock Boxes

Not everybody wants to stay in hotels these days. Some travellers choose instead to stay in Airbnb rooms or privately rented accommodations. Such travellers are given very specific check-in times. If they do not check in on time they are nearly always turned away. If you intend on staying in an Airbnb room then it is a very good idea to find one that offers a lockbox check-in.  Lockbox check-in is when you collect your keys from a lockbox, using a code. You can arrive at any time and are not forced into a time slot.

Online Check-Ins

Some hotels actually give guests the opportunity to check in online, saving them a lot of time. Such hotels follow the Airbnb method listed above. Rather than requiring guests to stand at a desk and deal with a clerk they can check in on their phones and pick their keys up from a locker situated in the hotel lobby. Online check-ins are the easiest way of picking up the keys for your room so if you are able to find a hotel that’s offering them definitely go with it; an added bonus of online check-ins is that even if you are late nobody can turn you away.

Understanding Risks

You do need to understand the risks associated with in-person check-ins. Until you know what these risks are you should not be booking hotel rooms. The most obvious risk is that if you are late you can be turned away; this might not seem like a big deal but if you have just arrived at an expensive hotel after a long flight the last thing you want is to be turned away. Being turned away means that you will have to go elsewhere in search of a room.

Asking Friends

If you are not going to be able to get to your hotel on time then ask a friend to go in your place. As long as you call ahead first most hotels will be more than happy to accommodate such arrangements and release keys to named collectors. Bear in mind you are probably going to have to sign some kind of contract releasing the hotel from any kind of legal responsibility in case the person collecting your keys steals from your room or breaks the hotel’s policies resulting in you being kicked out.

Specific Policies

Before booking a hotel room it is a good idea to read its specific policies. Each hotel has its own rules regarding check-ins. Some hotels will not complain if you do not turn up on time while others will. If you are unsure about a hotel’s policies or do not know where to look then reach out to their customer support team. A hotel’s customer support team are without a doubt the best people to get help from when you are struggling to grasp its check-in policies. You can also see if there is a page devoted to the topic on their website.

Reaching Out

The very last thing you need to know is that if you are going to be late for reasons out of your control, you should reach out to the hotel’s front desk immediately. Sending a text message or making a phone call can go a long way. Even if the hotel you are staying in is very strict and does not accept late check-ins, calling ahead can sometimes save you your room. As long as there is a genuine reason for why you are late there is no reason for a hotel to turn you away. Turning up late without calling ahead will usually result in some kind of punishment. Some hotels issue late fees rather than turning people away. Again, refer to your chosen hotel’s specific policies in order to find out what they are.

Staying in hotels can be lots of fun, especially for people who are not very well travelled. However, individuals new to hotels should first educate themselves on check-ins. If you do not check into your hotel on time you can be turned away. Follow this guide’s advice so that does not happen to you.