Hotel Check In
Hotel check in can be done at the front desk or, increasingly online. Most major western hotel chains will provide online check in either 24 or 48 hours prior to check in.
Hotel check in is usually at the front desk. The staff will need to know your name and will require an imprint of a credit card for hotel charges to be assigned to. They will also ask for a copy of photo identification. Your passport is usually required if you do not have a form of identification from the local country. They will also ask you to complete a registration card. This card has you name, address and phone number and most importantly your signature, on it. Increasingly as more hotels require on-line reservations this is not required at check-in. This is because you have provided these details on line when the reservation was made. They will, however, always require a signature on check in.
Hotel check in on line is easy and usually attached to your reservation. You will likely receive a notification from the hotel ahead of time to remind you that you can check in online. Online check in saves time for the hotel which is supposed to reduce lines and save money.
Some hotel chains will also provide a key on your phone if you chose to do this. Then you will be able to bypass the front desk all together and go straight to your room. Your room number will be provided with the room key on your smart phone. The technology works like airline mobile check in. Or even just like the key card the hotel front desk would give you. Hold your phone with your room key showing against the room key scanner and it will let you in for the duration of your stay. If you chose to check in online but not accept the room key on your phone, you will need to present at the front desk to get the key.
If you stay in the same hotel regularly once these details are on file, the registration card will be automatically printed with the details and you will only need to check that nothing has changed and sign the form.
You may have asked for special requirements for the room like non-smoking and bed type preferences when you made your reservation. click here for Your Infrastructure for details on what special requests are commonly accommodated by hotels. It is a good idea to reiterate your request at the check-in desk to ensure you get your preference. This way you are sure up front that it is correct. Otherwise you go to your room only to find out you have 2 single beds instead of a king size. Then you have to go back to reception (or call them) and get this sorted. And get a new room key.
All hotels will have a policy in the small print that says they will provide your request or similar. There will be occasions when you have requested a king bed for 1 guest and there are no king bed rooms left. The hotel will expect you to accept the twin share room in its place. It should only happen as an exception so be aware of it and deal with it.
There are always “no shows” at hotels, ie guests who have booked but for whatever reason do not show on the day. As a result of this all large hotels over book their rooms. If it is very busy they will book up to 110% capacity meaning that 10% more rooms than are available will be sold. They do this on the basis that they expect up to 10% “no shows”.
Being “Walked”
This means that on some (rare) occasions, when hotels are busy, they over book. Then everyone turns up and there are not enough rooms!! Yes this does happen and they will “walk” you. This means they will have arrangements with a hotel nearby and they will transport you to. If and when this happens it is extremely frustrating because it is usually very late. They run out of rooms as the last guests check in. So you are likely to be tired and as a result, this experience will not be pleasant. There is nothing you can do about it so grin and bear it. However be sure to let your travel agent or assistant know to let the hotel know. If you were entitled to loyalty points or other benefits, be sure that they are allocated as though you stayed in the originally booked hotel.
When your passport is required for check in, they will write your passport details on your registration card. In some cities and at some hotel chains, they take a photocopyof the front page of your passport. That is, the one with the passport number and your photo on it. This is a common practice and you will be required by law to conform prior to the hotel checking you in. Make sure you get your passport back from the staff while you wait. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your passport with the staff with a plan to pick it up later. Passport theft and passport identity theft does occur. You do not want to get caught up in a police matter in a foreign country if you can avoid it.
