So I’m not an extensive traveler, so forgive my ignorance on this one.
I’ve got hotel reservations this Friday just a block or so off Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I was going to prepare for just a ‘backpack’ trip, but I see the weather is supposed to be cool and rainy, so I’m going to need another bag (or two).
Check-in at the motel is at 3:00pm, but I’ve got tickets for the Cubs game that afternoon at 1:20. I’m told I can check in the bags at the motel earlier than 3:00, so my question is really in regards to how this works. Would it be safe to bring a laptop? Am I checking it with a doorman/bellman or other employee? Do the bags sit behind the counter, or in a separate room? What kind of tip would be in line for this? Any other thoughts?
Go to the check-in counter and they will instruct you, maybe even giving you an early check-in. At a minimum, they will get you a bell hop or bell hop leader, who does this all day.
Very secure and reliable. Don’t let it interfere at all. I leave laptops and everything. Frequent buz traveller…and Chicago is one heck of a town. Nicest people in any big city.
Often you can check into your room early – I’ve been able to check into hotels and motels as early as 9 am – but that’s obviously going to depend onhow full the place is. If not, you can leave your bags, and they will be kept away from the public areas in a separate room. When I’ve done that, I’ve tipped $1 per bag.
I can’t speak for all hotels, as policies are going to be different, but from my experience, this is what you can expect.
If you show up before check-in time, but they happen to have a room available, you will probably be allowed to check in and take your bags to your room.
If there is no room available, they will store your bags either in a locked room, or in the employee area behind the desk, and will give you a check slip for them, which you can use to reclaim your bags when you return.
I’ve done the same thing to squeeze an extra day out of the hotel as well. If check out is at noon, I’ll surrender the room, but have them hold my luggage so that I can use the time to go and play if my flight isn’t for a few more hours. Works nicely in Vegas.
Call the hotel the day before you want to check in and request an “early checkin.” I’ve almost always gotten into my room when I wanted to when I do this.
… and since I don’t fly out until 8:00pm on Sunday, I’ll probably do just that – at check out have them hold my bags, catch another Cubs game that afternoon, then pick them up on the way out of town. This adds an amazing amount of flexibility to my schedule!
Really good hotels will take your lugage right from the airport and check them in long before you arrive. So if you’re not going directly from the airport to the hotel, when you do get there they’ll be in your room waiting.
I love this, especially when I travel on business. I may have a meeting or something to attend immediately upon arrival, or my host may want to take me to lunch or dinner.
Having to stuff the bags in a rental car trunk & hault them around, or go check in at the hotel before taking care of business is a pain and time consuming. I just have the hotel van take them over & check them in.
Of course, this is only for better hotels. The Super 8 & Motel 6 don’t apply.
I also am not the most frequent traveler, but I’ve always found this to be the case. Almost every trip I’ve been on, I had to check the bags in with the bell captain well before the room was available, and once again after checking out. It’s never been a problem. However, the OP did say “motels”, so I wonder if some of them might not be so accommodating. After all, motel guests normally arrive by car, so it may be assumed that they don’t need to be able to check their luggage in.
I know :rolleyes:. In a weird kind of way I almost (just… almost) want them to continue the losing streak this week so on Friday I can more safely vent my frustrations in public.
Yeah, you’re right. It’s the Tremont, about a block and a half west of the Hancock Tower. Hotel, I presume!
Just a little addendum to the excellent advice here – at any good hotel, don’t hesitate to ask for anything that might make your life easier. The worst they’ll do is say sorry, it can’t be done … and a lot of the time, it can be done. Just keep the tips coming when people are going the extra mile for you.
I’ve checked bags at Motel 6, Super 8, Travellodge, and non-chain Mom & Pop fleabag motels. If the desk clerk looks at you funny when you ask about checking a bag, they’re probably new.
Could you let us know some hotels with this service? I’ve had this done on cruises where I took a hotel package the day before sailing, but I’m not aware of this being available for most city hotels. There are relatively few hotel shuttles anymore, at least not in big cities.
To the OP, one more response on how standard this is. For early check in, I’ve found that being in the hotel’s frequent stayer program helps. It depends on the time and the number of empty rooms, but it doesn’t hurt to check. 20 years ago Sheratons were universally obnoxious about not allowing early check in, but maybe they’ve changed.
Sure there are. They’re just not hanging out in front of the airport like a taxi. You have to call the hotel and have them send one over. Usually though you need to confirm a reservation before they come.
Hell, even some of the Marriotts have them and they’re not that top notch of a place.
Call ahead (or check the web) before making a reservation to see if they have this service.
Some small motels don’t like taking on the liability of watching your bags, or have had bad experiences of some kind or another (you really wouldn’t believe how shady people staying in motels can be). The motel I worked at had a general policy of not allowing baggage in before check out, but that policy could of course be fudged if you had a good story.
