Quiet hours
Roughly 10 PM to 7 AM. Corridors carry sound much further than rooms suggest, so take late calls to the lobby.
01
Check-in
Standard check-in opens between 2:00 and 3:00 PM — the hour by which housekeeping has cleared a room in your category. Bring a photo ID matching the booking, your confirmation, and a payment card for the incidental hold.
Arriving earlier is fine. If nothing is ready, leave your luggage at the desk and come back later; storage is free and almost always available.
Bring
- Government photo ID
- Booking reference or email
- Payment card for the hold
- Any special request in writing
02
Check-out
Rooms are usually due back at 11:00 AM or noon. A one or two hour extension is often free when the hotel is not full — ask the evening before, when the next day's occupancy is already known, rather than on the morning itself.
Once the key is back, luggage storage starts again, so a late flight and an 11 AM check-out are not in conflict.
Last morning
- Check the safe and the bathroom hook
- Review the bill before you leave
- Return every key card
- Ask when the card hold clears
03
House rules
No smoking
The most expensive rule to break. Smoking or vaping in a non-smoking room triggers a fixed cleaning fee.
Occupancy
Every room has a stated maximum. Extra guests are usually fine for a supplement — declare them when booking.
Pets
Only where the hotel allows them, usually for a nightly fee and on set floors. Confirm before you travel.
Safety
Glance at the evacuation card on the door, keep corridors clear, and never cover a smoke detector.
Extras
Minibar, parking, dining and laundry are charged to the room and settled at check-out, not on the spot.
04
Room types
Single
One single bed and the smallest footprint in the building. Efficient for one night alone.
Double
One larger shared bed. The most widely stocked category, so the easiest to book late.
Twin
Two separate single beds. Often listed beside doubles, so confirm which one you booked.
Deluxe
More floor space, a higher floor or a better view. Ask which of those applies here.
Suite
A bedroom plus a separate living area, useful when the room doubles as an office.
Family
Space for three to five guests. Check whether the extra bed is a mattress or a fold-out.
05
Before you book
- Compare the total, not the nightly rate Taxes, city levies, resort fees and parking can move a total by a fifth.
- Find the cancellation cut-off Note the exact date and hour free cancellation ends, and in which time zone.
- Confirm the beds Twin and double are frequently filed under one listing. Get it in writing.
- Check the hotel's own site Direct rates are often lower, and direct bookings are easier to change later.
- Add requests to the booking High floor, quiet side, a cot, an accessible bathroom, a late arrival.
- Keep the confirmation offline A screenshot of the reference and address survives a dead connection.
06
Common questions
Can I check in early?
Only if a cleaned room in your category is already free, so it is a courtesy rather than a guarantee. Ask when you book and again on the morning of arrival.
Do hotels always need ID?
Yes. Almost every hotel checks a government photo ID against the name on the reservation before handing over a key.
Why is money held on my card?
It is an authorisation covering extras such as parking or room service, not a charge. It is released after check-out and can take a few days to clear.
Is a late check-out free?
An hour or two often is, especially midweek. Beyond that most hotels charge, but luggage storage after check-out is free either way.