10 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid During Hotel Check-In

One of the most hectic tasks tourists have to handle when planning a trip is to make appropriate hotel reservations, ensuring they choose suitable accommodations and can relax stress-free at a secure and comfortable place. However, the check-in process is the biggest challenge people face regarding the hotel stay. Why? They often book in haste without reviewing the hotel meticulously and get to know the ground reality once they reach the hotel reception. To avoid such inconvenience, it would be best to avoid the most common mistakes customers commit during the hotel check-in.

Here are the “10 Biggest Blunders to Avoid During Hotel Check-in:”

1. Not Comparing Hotel Rates

Open a hotel booking app and choose the desired accommodation; that’s how most people search for hotels. This is the biggest blunder anyone can make because relying on one platform limits the options and advantages you can access. Instead, it would be better to scroll and surf through multiple hotel reservation websites, platforms, and apps to get a wide variety of choices and ensure you can opt for the one that suits your preference and budget the best.

2. Using a Third-Party Website

As a sensible and responsible customer, you must always prefer booking your hotel from the authentic and original website of the concerned organization. This ensures you get the most affordable hotel charges and can avail yourself of discounts and deals because most agencies provide these features through their original website. If you want to make your bookings through a third party, it would be best to choose reliable platforms, such as MakeMyTrip, Agoda, Trivago, and many more. These platforms ensure authentic bookings and reduce the chances of any fraud.

3. Not Checking the Reviews

Before you pick any room or even choose any website or platform for your hotel reservations, you must go through its review. Most tourists skip checking the reviews of the customers who have already accessed the services of your selected platform or agency. This will provide you with a better picture of their services, how their staff treats its customers, their response in case of emergencies, and much more, which will help you make a better decision in making your hotel reservations.

4. Ignoring the Checking Timings

If there is one pointer that is most overlooked regarding the hotel check-in, it is its timings. Most hotels’ check-in is available between 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. However, you must check the check-in timings of your selected a specific room of the chosen hotel. Furthermore, many hotel agencies provide special allowances, such as additional check-in timings, to their premium members. Please note that many hotels offer the flexibility to choose your own check-in and check-out time, so you must prefer such hotels.

5. Scrutinize Your Bookings

Another common mistake of the customers during hotel check-in is they usually do not pay much heed to check their bookings before finalizing it, and face issues during the check-in and have to quarrel at the reception desk. Whenever you book a room, you must check whether it welcomes guests of all ages. You can also reach out to their administrators for your queries, such as whether you have to provide a valid Government ID as proof of age, whether unmarried guests are allowed, and more.

6. Skipping Reading the Policies

Every customer finds reading the policies, rules, and regulations extremely hectic and time-consuming; this is why they often skip them. However, it is essential to go through the guidelines of the hotel you choose to stay in. Why? Unavoidable circumstances can arise at any time, and they may often lead to issues and inconveniences, causing you to cancel your bookings, request a refund, or face other particular circumstances. For such cases, you must know about their policies to ensure you can get the appropriate compensation without any hassle.

7. Inappropriate Booking Timings

“Inappropriate Bookings” is one of the most common blunders customers make regarding hotel reservations and check-in. Why? It is the most basic and root cause that leads to hassle during the hotel check-in. As a responsible consumer, you must check whether your room is spacious and sufficient for the number of travelers you applied for, whether they provide timely service, keep their rooms clean, and other queries. If you find suitable answers to all your questions, you can unquestionably make your bookings with the concerned hotel.

8. Not Inspecting the Rooms

Once you check in your room, the first and foremost thing you must do is inspect it. This provides you with a verification that you are provided with all the necessary facilities and amenities as mentioned during the booking. If not, you can apply for a refund or compensation because you have not accessed their room yet. Moreover, you must conduct particular security tests, such as checking the bed mattresses, mirror, bathroom, and other private areas before you start using their rooms.

9. Not Asking for an Upgrade

There can be instances when you may not be satisfied with your booked room once you visit and check it physically. In such circumstances, you must ask for an upgrade at the reception, and they will alter your bookings based on the room availability and accommodation strength. Furthermore, if you notice any mistake in your bookings initially, you should not wait too long and request the desired changes as soon as possible. This saves immense time, and you no longer have to stand in the long queues at the reception, making it easier to process your request.

10. Ignoring the Itemized Bill

Once you have availed yourself of the concerned hotel services and completed your stay period, the check-out time arrives. Most customers are in a hurry to check out of their rooms, so much so that they even neglect the “Itemized Bill.” This bill consists of all the charges that you have incurred throughout your stay, including taxes and other fees. You should always pack your bags and be ready to check out at least a few hours before the check-out time so that you do not have to hurry at the spur of the moment and have ample time to review and everything carefully.