What time is the ideal checkout time? How do you coordinate housekeeping shifts with your checkout time?
I've seen checkout times as early as 9:30am and as late as 12 noon.
I think the situation is different at each hostel. At one 200-bed hostel we used to have a 12 noon checkout, with a 20% late fee. If the hostel wasn't busy, it was okay for guests to stay as late as about 3pm as long as the late fee was paid (housekeepers worked until ~4pm). Housekeepers started at 10am, but there was also a "groundskeeper" who started earlier to prepare breakfast and clean the common areas. If the hostel was busy we would try to get everyone out by 12 noon and would go from room to room to remind people before noon about the coming checkout time.
Here are some hostel reviews that mention checkout times:
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ahostelworld.com+checkout+time&num=100
15 years
I've added a recommendation for making checkout time at 12 noon in the Hostel Management Wiki:
Start a Hostel: front desk operations
It might not always possible because of cleaning and laundry logistics (especially in a large hostel), but I think it's better from the backpackers' perspective.
What do people think?
15 years
From the guests' perspective it's great to have a late checkout. But if you have a late checkout you need to either scramble to get the rooms cleaned at the last minute or you need to make your check-in time later. As I'm sure you'll agree, a lot of people seem to think the chekout time is the when they have to wake up and start packing their bags rather than the deadline to get out of the room.
Luckily most hostel guests are really laid back. As long as you give them a safe place to leave their luggage, a comfortable place to hang out while they wait, and a bathroom to freshen up they probably won't scream too much about having to wait while you clean their room.
In my own travels, I am much happier to check out late than I am to check in early. As a backpacker I love the 11:30am or 12pm checkout.
15 years
...a lot of people seem to think the chekout time is the when they have to wake up and start packing their bags rather than the deadline to get out of the room.
Definitely -- from a backpacker's perspective 10 minutes before checkout means it's time to take a shower, sit down and eat breakfast, talk to a few people and then pack :D
At one hostel I worked at we had a 12 noon checkout. At around 12 we would print up a list of people due to checkout and one person from the front desk would make the rounds to let them know or to put notes on their doors. We would charge 20% late fee if they checked out late (I think it was applied to their accounts at 1pm). We made sure to clearly mention the late fee in the check-in speech.
15 years
I agree, it's definitely all about the hostel allowing you to store your luggage in a safe place and remain on grounds to use their facilities if needed. IMO the way a hostel treats you during that period of time where you're no longer really a guest but still around is very important. The good ones are friendly until the very minute you walk out the door. While the greedy places that care only about $$$ treat you like you're a nuisance the minute you check-out of your room but still remain on the grounds while you wait for your departure time.
Anyway, I always try to be packed and ready to exit my room 30 minutes before check-out so I'm not running around the place getting myself together. But I like hostels that aren't running you down to make sure you get out of their rooms. The later the check-out time the better. I think between 10AM to noon is ideal.
15 years
Was wondering if there is any common check-out time at all, or maybe it varies around the world? We have a 10:30 check-out time (in the UK) and this seems pretty normal for accommodation in this country. I'm not really strict about this, I find it easier to just start the cleaning and get on with it, even if there are still people here. It does make it difficult to clean the bathrooms, especially if you're a guy trying to clean the ladies and there are still people using them. It sort of seems to me that whatever time you give there are people who'll ignore it. I could imagine having a noon check-out and they'd still be hanging around at 1pm. I went in to clean a dorm yesterday and there were people still asleep at 11:30AM. I never harrass them, but they didn't leave until 3pm. Personally I think this is a bit unreasonable as new guests are then arriving. What do others do to make sure they check-out near the time? I've heard of places with electronic keys making them stop working at midday say. Personally I'd see this as a bit draconian, and a hassle for reception staff, as you'd have to let them back in to get luggace etc anyway. Or perhaps this is charged for?
I was talking to someone the other day who works in a hotel, probably 4*, which also has a small bunkhouse/ hostel in the grounds (it's in a rural mouontain walking area) . she said that while all the hotel guests will almost always abide by the 10AM checkout, the bunkhouse people are always lying well after this. Is this a common thing? I was just wondering as it seems to be one of those sevices that people expect of hostel, like free wifi - even though they're paying less than a hotel, and as a result there are often less cleaning staff (at least in a small hostel) they perhaps expect to be able to stay on well after check-out.
Anyone have any suggestions about how to get them out that are not too draconian? I usually just start up the vacuum cleaner, and start cleaning. Someone told me of a yha manager long ago in the past who used to play the bagpipes outside the hostel at 8am to wake everyone!
15 years
Someone told me of a yha manager long ago in the past who used to play the bagpipes outside the hostel at 8am to wake everyone!
I stayed at one in Japan where you got woken up by the manager at 6:00 and then have limited time before they have a lockout from 9:00 till 16:00. Another one plays New Age music to wake up the guests at 7:00 before breakfast and then lockout. HI Hostels in Japan are based on the old way of hosteling.
But to get back on topic. 11:00 would be the ideal check out time and what we are looking at. If guests want to check out later than that should be fine as long as they let us know in advance. I would also suggest that you tell the guests that the cleaning is done inside the rooms and bathrooms from X to Y time so they know it happens and showers / toilets maybe closed for a period of time during cleaning if they are.
15 years
I've heard of places with electronic keys making them stop working at midday say. Personally I'd see this as a bit draconian, and a hassle for reception staff, as you'd have to let them back in to get luggace etc anyway. Or perhaps this is charged for?
We would lock the electronic keys at checkout time, but it was just to make sure people came down to the desk to be reminded that other guests were going to arrive soon. It was much easier for the day shift to take care of than the evening or night shift (when there were problems like the guest thinks they paid for more days than they did).
15 years
We would lock the electronic keys at checkout time, but it was just to make sure people came down to the desk to be reminded that other guests were going to arrive soon. It was much easier for the day shift to take care of than the evening or night shift (when there were problems like the guest thinks they paid for more days than they did).
Sounds like a great idea especially for the larger hostels but we are also looking at cards as well to make our life easier and to give the guests better security as they will only be able to get access to their own room.
15 years
We would lock the electronic keys at checkout time, but it was just to make sure people came down to the desk to be reminded that other guests were going to arrive soon. It was much easier for the day shift to take care of than the evening or night shift (when there were problems like the guest thinks they paid for more days than they did).
We have the same system. But the checkout time varies form palce to place - in Riga it is 12:00 (people tend to be out of their rooms earlier) but in Liepaja (the beach, the party) we (and guests) are much more relaxed and I don't say much until 3pm and then guests usually decide to stay longer anyway. We let them stay on premises all day if necessary.
14 years
We are very flexible with our check-out times, because we are a very small hostel with only 17 rooms and 2 dorms. maybe it is wrong, but we allow a guest to stay in their room 24-hours upon check-in, because some guests from the airports or from Europe arrive at our hostel midnight or later, some guests go to nearby bars to drink up to early morning, we try to be flexible based on our 24-hours system per guest stay each day... we clean each room daily if the guests are out... Can anyone give us suggestions?
Based on what I read here, 11 am or 12 noon check-out time seems ideal... in the bigger hotels, they usually allow guests to stay up to early afternoon if we're waiting for flights, without additional costs, as long as we inform in advance... others I think charge the room's full or half-rate?
my opinion is 11 am or 12 noon is ideal check-out time, but suggest flexibiity because we're running hostel so maybe good to offer guests a more laidback experience too?
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