We have - Check out time is 12-00 , check in time is 13-00 , ( I hope its a good time for check out and check in ) but if the guests arrived early morning , can I allow them check in before 13-00 ?
14 years
I have check-out at 11 and check-in at 15:30.
If a guest arrive early and I have the room for him ready then he can have it. If the room is not ready then it's not.
I also offer a place to leave bag's and such so if someone want to come early, leave his heavy stuff and go for a short trip he can.
14 years
Last Saturday , I ad very busy weekend and by chance I checked the people in , just because I had the beds in that moment available.
The people started to complain about some thing , and I realized that its not even time to ceck in for them.
So I said ; '' hey ! you suppose to check in at 13-00 , and you already complain about some thing not even paying for the time you entered the hosel ( they checked in at 5-00 at the Morning .)
Some times the couple or some traveller can rent a room for hour or two , but they pay as for one night , so its really make me to think that
Why notto let them check in later ,
when there is a time for check in ?
14 years
I think that if there are beds available, the guest should be checked in as soon as they arrive even if it's early in the morning. Hostels aren't rented by the hour, so if it doesn't negatively affect the hostel and a bed is available, I would just check them in a guest with full "rights" even if it's 5am. I would also give them free breakfast (if included in the price) even if it means they get an extra free breakfast during their stay.
Traveling can be rough, and I think one factor in common between the best hostels is that there are no hassles. Guests want everything to work smoothly without anything stressful.
I remember one time I had to change rooms in a hostel and was told by the front desk that I had to check out by 10am, put my bags in storage, and then wait until three o'clock to check back in. I knew the room was already clean though because no one had slept there the night before, and I was already an in-house guest. From a traveler's perspective, having to suffer discomfort just for the sake of following a procedure or regulation is very frustrating, and will give them a reason not to give a top review.
I think the best thing to do is make sure guests are as comfortable as possible. Regulations and procedures are just guidelines that should be broken anytime you can make a guest happy without causing a problem for the hostel or for the other guests... :)
14 years
That is true but you need to keep into consideration something more.
I am pricing a "night" according to several things.
A guest that come very early uses more and this relate to the price. And there is a difference between arriving an hour ahead of check-in time and arriving half a day early.
Also the guidelines are not just for this. I am planing my day (or at least trying) in advance. It mean my cleaning, or a girl who come and clean while I only do the finish. Gardening of the area, small fixes and renovations and even lunch. I hate it when people come early, nothing is ready and I have to change my schedule and run like crazy to finish there room first and quickly.
But all in all it depend on the situation.
I will happily wake up at 4 or 5 am and go pick up someone from the train station and show him to his room if it was coordinated in advance. and depends on the situation I might charge him for half a night or any at all.
14 years
Regulations and procedures are just guidelines that should be broken anytime you can make a guest happy without causing a problem for the hostel or for the other guests...
GOOD WORDS !!
14 years
But all in all it depend on the situation.
I will happily wake up at 4 or 5 am and go pick up someone from the train station and show him to his room if it was coordinated in advance. and depends on the situation I might charge him for half a night or any at all.
I was writing from the perspective of working in hostels that are open 24 hours... having to wake up early and drive somewhere could be more of a hassle. :)
13 years
I'm with Josh on this, but then again I treat my hostel as an extension of my home and afford every person who stays there the same consideration I would someone in my home. I train my staff the same way. Rules are there for a reason, if there is no reason there shouldn't be a rule. If someone comes in early and I don't have a bed for them I apologize in spite of the fact that it may be against our policy to check in early, then I offer them coffee, bag storage, internet access, and the couch if they're tired.
I believe over-considering a hostel as a profit center is counter to profitability especially in our modern ratings-driven hostel economy. Specialized service, making people feel comfortable, and solutions over problems, these are the things that separate a good hostel from a bad one. You may have been able to rest on your laurels with a listing in Lonely Planet 10 years ago but the game has changed and in some ways for the better.
13 years
I hate it when people come early, nothing is ready and I have to change my schedule and run like crazy to finish there room first and quickly.
Don't you hate it when those pesky guests ruin your day :) :) :)
I remember arriving very early in the morning one time in Xian, China and I thought I was too early to check-in so I hung out at the 24 hour McDonalds for a few hours. I eventually got fed up and checked with the hotel if I could check in early. They had no problem with it.
I was annoyed at myself for not asking earlier! It was a great place to stay and I recommended it to my sister.
We had guests the other day who arrived early and we just gave them breakfast for that day. Sometimes I think it is better to be a little flexible and I am sure your guests will really appreciate it.
13 years
I remember one time I had to change rooms in a hostel and was told by the front desk that I had to check out by 10am, put my bags in storage, and then wait until three o'clock to check back in. I knew the room was already clean though because no one had slept there the night before, and I was already an in-house guest. From a traveler's perspective, having to suffer discomfort just for the sake of following a procedure or regulation is very frustrating, and will give them a reason not to give a top review.
Very well said.
The worst experience happened to my friend when he arrived in an hostel at 3am (because of the bus schedule) and was told by a security guard that he can't even stay inside and wait because there's a rule that "NO VISITOR IS ALLOWED AFTER 12PM". He was regarded as a visitor until he checked in to become a guest, but the staff only show up at 8am.
To me, I had a very good experience with an hostel that offered me to sleep in a big soft couch (and even a blanket) to wait for my check-in time. I think a guest usually doesn't understand (do they have to?) how difficult to do a bed and clean it quickly, but they may appreciate any efforts to make them comfortable.
13 years
He was regarded as a visitor until he checked in to become a guest, but the staff only show up at 8am.
A traveler's nightmare... I wonder if the security guard had never traveled and just had no idea how to interpret the rules.
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